Dam and Reservoirs Projects

Jerry Falwell, Jr. Dam; Bedford County, VA

F&R provided visual assessment of the initial condition of the dam, comments regarding those aspects of the dam that may require remedial, and assistance in renewing the application status for the Class III earthen dam.  Based upon findings and analyses, F&R provided a series of specific recommendations, including installation of French drain within the toe of the dam in order to intercept water that is creating an unstable seepage face; construction of a stabilizing surface of zoned crushed stone and rip-rap to provide additional resistance to potential movement of the dam due to water pressures; installation of systems to drain water from behind the dam for the purpose of maintenance and responses to emergency conditions; repair to erosional damage in the emergency spillway on the downstream face; confirmation that the spillway and high level overflow pipe designs are adequately sized to convey overflow from a 100-year recurrence storm; and recommendation that a one-year operation and maintenance certification be obtained.

 

Clarks Pond Dam, Fayetteville, NC

F&R was the geotechnical consultant to the City of Fayetteville for improvements to the dam.  Several borings were drilled along the crest of the dam, in the upstream and downstream slope areas, and along the new spillway alignment to assess geotechnical considerations for the modifications to the dam.  Due to the presence of several feet of poorly compacted embankment fill in the lower portion of the dam, as well as soft alluvial soils (including some organics) in the central portion of the valley, detailed analyses of slope stability and seepage through the dam was required in order to provide for adequate stability of the widened slopes.  F&R’s analyses indicated a need to install a drainage blanket across the flood plain in the toe area of the widened slope and up several feet onto the existing slope to maintain depressed water levels with the embankment.  Seepage control was critical to providing adequate stability of the downstream slopes. Rough grading of the reconstructed slopes was performed several weeks in advance of final grading in order to reduce adverse post construction settlements.  F&R monitored all slope repairs, modifications and improvements to the dam.

 

Chatlee Sporting Goods; Tramway, NC

Our client required a larger lake to allow more effective testing of the boats it sold.  To accomplish this, a larger earthen dam was proposed to replace an existing dam.  The new dam was to be constructed of materials available in the immediate watershed area and from materials excavated from the emergency spillway alignment on the south abatement.  F&R drilled 15 soil test borings along the alignment of the dam and in the abutment areas to evaluate foundation conditions and borrow sources. Ten of the borings were drilled along the axis of the dam and in embankment toe areas of the valley.  After analyzing the results, F&R could not recommend that existing embankment materials would be suitable for reuse as structural fill within the new dam.

 

Pulte Home Corporation; Raleigh, NC

As part of its development design, our client proposed to leave an existing earthen dam in place without significant modifications in order to provide lake frontage for the residential lots.  As such, F&R was requested to perform a preliminary geotechnical evaluation of the dam in regards to the stability of the downstream slope, and other obvious repairs or modifications which may be required to improve the safety and performance of the dam.  Four soil test borings were drilled along the axis of the dam, and hand auger boring with portable dynamic cone penetrometer testing on the downstream slope was conducted to evaluate the general quality of the embankment fill and downstream slope stability.  Efforts were also made to identify the location of a riser piper in the lake along with making a few soundings to determine the general grade of the upstream slope below the lake level.

 

New Germany State Park Dam; Grantsville, MD

F&R provided general descriptions of the subsurface soil conditions at the project site, provided repair recommendations, and commented on geotechnical aspects of the proposed development.  F&R also visited the site to observe existing surface conditions and features and to mark boring/coring locations; reviewed readily available geologic and subsurface information relative to the project site; executed a subsurface exploration program consisting of three standard penetration test borings drilled to depths of 21.5 feet, and four concrete corings; evaluated the findings of the test borings/corings; and, prepared a written report summarizing our work on the project, providing general descriptions of the encountered subsurface conditions, providing design recommendations, and discussing geotechnical related aspects of the proposed development.

 

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