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THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS
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| June 22, 2016 www.watershapes.com |
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FEATURE ARTICLE
The ‘Forever’ Look
Called upon when other contractors couldn’t give the client the organic look he wanted, Matt Wilson put his skills and long experience with artificial rock to the test in creating a water- and plant-draped outcropping that appears to have been in place since time immemorial. [more]
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 FEATURE ARTICLE
Oxygen Rescues
In a well-balanced pond, the oxygen content of the water is seldom an issue. But if things move off course, notes Mike Gannon, it’s essential to find the cause — and then apply one of three possible remedies tailored to the urgency of the need and the extent of the budget. [more]
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TRAVELOGUE
A recent trip to visit family in Washington state gave Jim McCloskey the unexpected pleasure of finding a huge downtown park with an ambitious set of aquatic features. It’s worth a stop — despite the fact that the composition is still partly unfinished after more than 30 years! [more]
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ESSENTIAL
Echoes of Grandeur
In some places, observes landscape architect Lauchlin Bethune, Mother Nature sets higher standards for naturalistic installations. Where he lives near Seattle, for example, he and his clients are surrounded by the beauty that comes with ample rain, rugged terrain and plentiful greenery — an environment that makes it tough for watershapers to balance the practicalities of construction with the passionate desire to mimic local grandeur.
This article, originally published in WaterShapes in October 2002, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.
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TECHNICAL BRIEFING
Keep Weep Screeds Clear
Weep screeds are occasionally blocked by deck construction and, as a result, are no longer able to keep moisture from accumulating at the base of a wall. That’s a costly mistake, writes Scott Cohen, which is why he strongly recommends a better approach. [more]
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WATERSHAPES WORLD
A Personal First
He’s taken his time getting here, but after 30 years of observing and reporting on them, Jim McCloskey has finally designed, engineered and built a watershape. It’s up to you to decide whether his effort passes muster or if he should find another way to pass his free time. [more]
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WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .
Sound Sensations Dept.: Band performs under water with unusual instruments and eerie vocalizations. [more]
It’s not danceable, but it’s oddly moving just the same.
Crime and Silliness Dept.: UK renter ordered to remove pond as a hazard to unsuspecting burglars. [more]
Let’s hope liability is just one of many landlord concerns.
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WATERSHAPES CLASSIC
Meeting Minds
Five years back, Brian Van Bower used his Aqua Culture column to discuss a big shift he’d observed in the realm of watershaping — one he saw as being beneficial for those ready to deal with the change. [more]
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RicoRock’s New Stream Sections for Pool Waterfalls
RicoRock (Orlando, FL) now manufactures a one-piece, cast concrete panel that allows water to fall at a greater distance from a swimming pool’s edge. The new four-by-seven-foot sections provide an easy way to control the water pathway off of waterfeatures, using a simple formation of smaller rocks to imitate the natural courses found in a stream. For details, click here.
Crystal Fountains Offers Fyrefly Multi-Stream Jets
Crystal Fountains (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) manufactures the Model WMT122 Fyrefly Jet to bring multiple streams of arcing water to pools, spas and other watershapes. Made of cast bronze, brass and stainless steel with optional fiberoptic lighting, the units are not water-level dependent and can be mounted at 20- or 40-degree angles on decks or walls. For details, click here.
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WPN UPDATE
Navigating the
Decision-Making
Process
For years now, conventional wisdom has told us that the decision to purchase a watershape of any kind is a process that takes several years from initial idea to actual commitment. That’s why the WaterShapes Professional Network is so important: It gives homeowners and decision-makers an easy way to begin their research and an anonymous, private means of gathering information before they reach out and make contact with professionals whose work they admire. Click here to check it out — and get ready for your future!
The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?
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