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Dedication Stele John B Robert Dam • Albuquerque, New Mexico 2023 08-27
John B. Robert was the very first Executive Engineer of the newly-created Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA) in 1963. Governed by a non-partisan elected Board, consensus apparently is that AMAFCA has been a particularly efficient government entity, balancing the interests of City safety and developers. Robert shepherded its development until retiring in 1977.
The three-cloud symbol is the AMAFCA logo, itself derived from ancient Pueblo and Navajo (regional native tribes) symbols for rain. The upright concrete structures are the dam's baffled spillway.
BTW: Unless it's monsooning on you, you likely won't see water anywhere around here. Over the top is a wide paved platform locals use for recreation, then the huge Bear Canyon Arroyo Open Space leading up to the Sandia Mountains.
For those who don't know: John B. Robert Dam (on a wide view from across the street) is a famous location from Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and (tangentially) El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Google Maps actually shows a marker here named "Pinkmans Pickup Location." Ed the Disappearer would pick you up here to extract you to a new life – for a price.
This image was stupid hard to photograph – I'm stupid-short (under 5') and the whole spillway is on something like a 40-45° angle.
Dedication Stele John B Robert Dam • Albuquerque, New Mexico 2023 08-27
John B. Robert was the very first Executive Engineer of the newly-created Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA) in 1963. Governed by a non-partisan elected Board, consensus apparently is that AMAFCA has been a particularly efficient government entity, balancing the interests of City safety and developers. Robert shepherded its development until retiring in 1977.
The three-cloud symbol is the AMAFCA logo, itself derived from ancient Pueblo and Navajo (regional native tribes) symbols for rain. The upright concrete structures are the dam's baffled spillway.
BTW: Unless it's monsooning on you, you likely won't see water anywhere around here. Over the top is a wide paved platform locals use for recreation, then the huge Bear Canyon Arroyo Open Space leading up to the Sandia Mountains.
For those who don't know: John B. Robert Dam (on a wide view from across the street) is a famous location from Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and (tangentially) El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Google Maps actually shows a marker here named "Pinkmans Pickup Location." Ed the Disappearer would pick you up here to extract you to a new life – for a price.
This image was stupid hard to photograph – I'm stupid-short (under 5') and the whole spillway is on something like a 40-45° angle.