this application incorporates by reference the entirety of canadian application no . ca 2628067 , filed on apr . 2 , 2008 . fig1 illustrates another art design where an inflated water dam is used to retain low water levels of a lake or dam spillover . a pump 101 is used to fill an elastomer tube 102 which is nearly filled with water 105 to hold back a water level 103 on a lake or river bed surface 104 . this device has some advantages in rapid deployment , but is offset by disadvantages in sliding on the lake bed due to hydrostatic pressure when the water level is high , and seepage underneath the elastomer tube . fig2 a - 2b illustrate a common method of stacking sandbags for a portable dam where the sandbags are stacked in an alternate manner , both in height and depth so that the top sandbag row has a large supporting base . other stacking arrangements are common and the top row may have a larger or more narrow base , depending upon the local conditions . fig2 a is a cross section and fig2 b is a frontal view . sandbags often allow seepage , depending on various factors , and are a common method for low level water containment heights where the hydrostatic pressure against the sandbag wall is lower . fig3 a - 3b show a support for an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear . an end support frame comprising a horizontal member 301 a , a back support member 301 b , and a plate support member 301 c are joined together to create the entire end support . the back support member connects to the plate support member substantially at the middle of the plate support member . the supports are joined by welding , bolts , machining , clips , mechanical fasteners , and the like . alternately , the end support frame is manufactured or machined out of one piece . the end support frame is made from materials such as metal or reinforced plastics , such as fiberglass . in one embodiment , the end support frame is made from a material that is corrosion resistant , such as a galvanized steel or aluminum . in another embodiment , it is made primarily from aluminum or steel tube . in another embodiment , it is coated with a corrosion resistant material , such as paint . a middle support frame comprising a middle horizontal member 304 a vertical member 303 and a bottom horizontal member 302 are joined together to create the entire middle support frame . similar to the end support frame , the middle support frame is made from materials such as metal or reinforced plastics , such as fiberglass . in one embodiment , the middle support frame is made from a material that is corrosion resistant , such as a galvanized steel or aluminum . in another embodiment , it is made primarily from aluminum or steel tube . in another embodiment , it is coated with a corrosion resistant material , such as paint . the middle support frame is connected to an end support frame by mechanical clips 309 c , d , e , f on each side , as will be illustrated later . the clips are tabs with bolt holes that allow mechanical fasteners , such as bolts , nuts , or screws , to be used which connect the end support frame to the middle support frame and then another end support frame together as illustrated in fig3 a . in this manner , an entire supporting structure is built up by alternating end support frames and middle support frames , all connected together in the field . fig3 b also illustrates a top support frame , comprising a top horizontal member and two end clips 309 a , b . similar to the end support frame , the top horizontal member is made from materials such as metal or reinforced plastics , such as fiberglass . in one embodiment , the middle support frame is made from a material that is corrosion resistant , such as a galvanized steel or aluminum . in another embodiment , it is made primarily from aluminum or steel tube . in another embodiment , it is coated with a corrosion resistant material , such as paint . use of a top support frame , as conceived in the present invention is one embodiment , and not a requirement . depending upon the supporting structure rigidity and design , the need for the additional top support is dependent upon the overall requirements . similar to the middle support frame , the top support frame is connected to an end support frame by the mechanical clips 309 a , b on each side . the clips are tabs with bolt holes that allow mechanical fasteners , such as bolts , nuts , or screws , to be used which connect the end support frame to the top support frame and then another end support frame together as illustrated in fig3 a . in this manner , an entire supporting structure is built up by alternating end support frames , then middle and top support frames , all connected together in the field . fig3 a also illustrates a partial assembly of the final structure . bolts 307 a , c , e are used to join the supports together . a hole 308 in the end support is useful for field stabilization of the support frame and also for connecting to additional support to the earth , such as a spike , rod , telescoping leg , or a foot pad . it is also useful for storage purposes . alternately , the end support incorporates a telescoping leg and the hole 308 is utilized to adjust the leg length . holes 310 on the end support frame are used for a stabilization plate that will be illustrated later . a membrane supporting plate 306 faces the body of water . if a sufficiently rigid membrane supporting plate 306 is used , a top support frame is not required . the spacing of the holes 310 between end support frames is a predetermined design criterion based on the height of water to be contained , materials used for the various components , and overall optimization for weight . fig3 c additionally illustrates the end support structure and highlights the angle of the membrane support structure from horizontal 319 remains substantially 45 degrees in the initially assembled state . this provides for a supporting structure of an economic design with a primary weight load toward the lower front of the membrane supporting plate 306 . this will cause the end support frame to thrust into the soil closest to the membrane supporting plate . in the field under actual load conditions , this angle will vary in practice . fig3 d shows a front isometric view of the partial assembly shown in fig3 a . fig3 e shows a bracing plate 311 with connecting holes 312 inside an overall length 313 . the length 313 is designed based on substantially matching the width of the membrane support plate , the length of the top support frame , and the length of the middle support frame to within the tolerances needed to fit the section together . in a preferred embodiment , the bracing plate and the membrane support plates will overlap slightly when assembled to avoid the need for another set of bolt holes . the length of the bracing plate will be close to , but slightly longer than the top support frame and the middle support frame . along with the bracing plate 311 , a bracing connecting plate 314 with slotted turning holes 316 and turning connecting holes 315 are used to attach the bracing connecting plate to an end support frame . fig3 f shows a membrane support plate 317 at a designed spacing width 313 . attaching / connecting holes are spaced on the surface of the membrane support plate . fig3 g shows various cross sections of the membrane support plate 306 , and is not meant to be restrictive but illustrative of embodiments . to go along with the bracing plate , a membrane turning plate 318 a with a bending line 321 along with a membrane turning connecting plate 320 with slotted turning holes 322 and membrane turning plate connecting holes 323 are used to attach the membrane turning plate to an end support frame . for the sake of simplicity in erection , it is achievable to design the bracing plate , end support , middle support , top support , and the membrane support plate so that each one is 100 lbs or less . with attention to design parameters , and by making the support spacing more frequent , it is also attainable to design each plate / support so each one is 50 lbs or less in weight . these weights are generally recognized as reasonable values for two healthy individuals or a single healthy individual to lift and carry . thus every component of the water containment system is transportable by two individuals or a single individual . fig4 shows an embodiment where some flexibility in design for an end support frame is needed . an end support frame comprising a horizontal member 401 , a back support member 404 , and a plate support member 405 are joined together to create the entire end support . the back support member connects to the plate support member substantially at the middle of the plate support member by a pivoting joint 406 . the horizontal support member is attached to the back support member by a sliding shuttle 402 a and a bolt 403 a . similarly , the horizontal support member is joined to the plate support member 405 by a sliding shuttle 402 b and a bolt 403 b . both shuttles are incrementally locked in place by choosing a through hole in the back support member and plate support member . the horizontal support member 401 can be chosen in length to achieve a particular back support angle . this allows the overall structure to adapt to a particular ground elevation and allow the membrane support plate to remain substantially at a 45 degree angle . similarly to the fixed design already discussed , the end support frame members are each machined or manufactured out of one piece . the end support frame is made from materials such as metal or reinforced plastics , such as fiberglass . in one embodiment , the end support frame is made from a material that is corrosion resistant , such as galvanized steel or aluminum . in another embodiment , it is made primarily from aluminum or steel tube . in another embodiment , it is coated with a corrosion resistant material , such as paint . fig5 illustrates multiple supports connected in a side by side manner to provide a portable water containment system . in this figure , only a straight line system is shown . fig6 illustrates the method of turning the membrane plate wall at an angle . the membrane turning plate 318 b along with the membrane turning connecting plate 320 are attached to two side by side end supports so that the angle changes , based on the designed curve of the membrane turning plate 318 b . the isosceles trapezoid rectangle along with the fold lines define the angular change . because the membrane turning connecting plate 320 makes a slight spacing change for the bracing plate 311 between the end supports , the bracing connecting plates 314 are used as illustrated . the slotted holes in the membrane turning connecting plate 320 and in the bracing connecting plates 314 will take care of minor issues in alignment . fig7 similarly illustrates the method of turning the membrane plate wall at an angle . in this case , the membrane turning plate 318 a turns the angle in a different direction , but the general assembly remains the same , as is illustrated . in one featured embodiment , the membrane turning plates 318 a , b turn the membrane plate wall angles 45 degrees . in other embodiments , other angles are used . fig8 shows a cross section of the assembly when the water membrane 802 is holding back water 801 . the system is designed to contain water for a wide variety of depths up to near the very top of the support frame . the water membrane is pieced together by a zipper , strapping , snaps , hook and loop , and the like . the water membrane is preferably made by a flexible water resistant material , such as a pvc , 18 - 28 ounce / square yard reinforced fabric that is tear resistant . fig9 shows a top view of two examples of membrane plates in a connected water containment system where membrane turning plates alter the angular orientation . angles 901 and 902 , as illustrated , are 45 and 30 degrees respectively , but as this figure clearly illustrates , other angles could easily be designed into membrane turning plates . the system is capable of being erected in deep flowing water and can withstand substantial wave action . also , as a result of its low angle design , the system will perform well in icy conditions by breaking up the ice on its sloping face , thus acting like an inverted ice - breaker . in addition to its capability of dealing with significant ice flow , the system will deflect floating debris . an extended seepage path results in a very low flow rate under the dam and can be easily managed by a sump pump . overtopping will not result in a breach of the structure . the dam is readily disassembled by disconnecting the dam sections , and the system is generally connected together by mechanical fasteners such as bolts and nuts . it is also connectable by convenience fasteners , such as pins with enhanced hardware features that readily ensure their retention inside a hole . while various embodiments of the present invention have been described , the invention may be modified and adapted to various operational methods to those skilled in the art . therefore , this invention is not limited to the description and figures shown herein , and includes all such embodiments , changes , and modifications that are encompassed by the scope of the claims .