Sites for Flood and Drought

Sites for Flood and Drought brings the scale of the Harper Dry Lake Basin to bear on the MOISTURE project. A wide arroyo running northwest from the northeast corner of the main MOISTURE property provides an interesting path with a variety of plant life and views of geographical features, making for a nice walk in the basin. Three sites were chosen along the arroyo for locating both groupings of spheres and underground shelters.

At each of the three sites, six to ten 10-in-diameter spheres have been "planted" along a dry wash (Color Plate A No. 2). The extreme nature of desert cycles of flood and drought will be demonstrated by the action/inaction of the spheres. During periods of flood, the force of flowing water will send the spheres downstream, their location determined by the force and direction of the water. Their ultimate destination can be expressed as "where the water stops." Some of the spheres will be implanted with small transmitters to send out a high-frequency beacon signal to help guide us in locating them post-flooding. The UV-rated, enamel-coated steel spheres have a material longevity of between 5 and 7 years. Some spheres may be lost to human intervention or other unforeseen activity reflecting the inherent hazards of the area.

Coupled with each group of spheres is a small underground shelter burrowed out of the arroyo embankment and marked by a 6-ft-tall blue pole (Fig. 2). The shelters are inspired by kangaroo rats, who spend their days inside their moist and humid burrows, coming out only at night, when there is the least chance of evaporation. The simple shelters provide a shady respite, dug into the earth, with primarily north-facing views. Corrugated steel pipe serves as a resting lair for one person, while the gravel and stone beneath function as a catchment for seasonal rains. During heavy rains the shelters will be overcome with water; they will be humid as long as their catchments retain water, then dry out over the summer, until the following winter's rains. Retaining water is a key to survival in the desert. Over the course of a few years, we anticipate enhanced plant growth as well as increased animal and insect activity around each shelter due to the seasonal water that will be stored there.

Fig. 2.

SE Barnet and Kahty Chenoweth, "Site 3 Spheres," Sites for Flood and Drought, 2003-present. Each group of spheres in the project is coupled with a small underground shelter burrowed out of the arroyo embankment and marked by a 6-foot-tall blue pole.

© SE Barnet and K. Chenoweth Photo © SE Barnet

Both the shelter and the sphere elements will respond to the cyclical, seasonal water behaviors of the region.