What is a Crest Gate?
A Crest Gate is equipment mounted to the top of a dam spillway that can be raised against the force of water by pneumatically-operated inflatable bladders or lowered to maintain pond elevation during moderate river flows. It is also sometimes referred to as an: inflatable crest gate, inflatable flashboard system or bladder dam. To see what a crest gate looks like, visit Obermeyer Hydro, Inc., the manufacturer of the equipment that is being considered for the Pawtucket Dam.
