This page covers the last work day at the dam site in Maranon and the return the following day for final pictures.

Jackie puts together the new valve and pipework that will control the flow of water from the dam into Maranon.

Work shapes up the last day toward finishing up the forms for the front wall of the dam.

Cesar and friend work on some pipework.

These two boys stayed with us all week and worked extremely hard on this water project that will serve their community.

This is the joint left from the first concrete pour of the side wall.

Our Honduran kid helpers clean the threads of the pipe for the new dam outlet pipes.

Joe uses the hatchet for some fine finish work.

We discuss some of the final details of the dam with Cesar, who organized local labor for the project and will be responsible for operating the water system.

Jackie and Bill fit up the new outlet pipework.

Testing the new valves.

New, larger outlet pipes that will eventually deliver larger volumes of water to Maranon from the new dam.

The 80 pound cement bags were stacked and stored on the hillside till needed.

The concrete mixing gang ready for action.

Tim takes a break

Melinda was with the dam crew today

Blake, Joe and Time work on tieing the dam forms into the side of the hill.

This is Blake's second year in Honduras with MTMO

Upstream of the dam is a busy place as we scramble to finish the form work so the concrete can be placed on the front wall.

The Hondurans are very skilled with the machete as this fellow shows in his finish work on a form board.

Jackie works on the lower half of the front form wall.

Joe makes use of the only power tool involved in the construction of the dam.

Bill fashions a cross to be placed in the forms for the front dam wall

The heavy concrete will require that many braces be installed on the front form wall. 

Thad takes a moment to sharpen the all-important carpenter's pencil

As the pace picks up on construction the last day, it gets pretty crowded at the dam site.

It's pretty neat to look up once in a while and notice the beautiful scenery God has provided for the setting of this work

The cross set in the forms should make an inset design on the front of the dam when the forms are removed.

Large trees are used to brace the front form walls.

Concrete mixing and placing begins for the final portion of the dam. 

Joe has a "moment" as it sinks in he's built his first dam in a rainforest

It's getting late in the day as it looks like the dam will be completed on the last work day available on the January 2011 MTMO trip to Honduras.

Melinda looks cautiously optimistic as things draw to a close on this project.

It's getting late in the evening and it looks like one more support will be needed for the forms.  The lumber on hand isn't long enough, so this tree is selected for the job.

The last form brace (and nail) is used

Finishing the top surface of the dam is completed after dark on the last work day.

The morning before our flight out, we return for some daylight completion pictures

The new spillway will allow water to flow over the top of the dam when water is backed up behind it.

This project should increase the amount of water storage availalbe for the commuinty of Maranon approximately 50 times over what the old structure offered.

MTMO and Maranon would like to thank the generosity of the Gallatin, TN Rotary Club.  They provided funding for this drinking water project.