Flood Control & Dams
Flood control structures are essential in low lying areas where structures may be subjected to seasonal flooding. Dams are earth and concrete structures designed for retaining surface water, managing and controlling storm water, temporary flood detention, hydropower storage, irrigation, domestic and industrial water supply, sport, and navigation.
- Flood Control
MRCE is a leader in the design of hydraulic barriers in soil and rock to control under seepage for flood control structures, and design of structure flood control such as inflatable plugs and temporary deployable flood barriers. MRCE engineers have implemented:
- Basement flood proofing (wet and dry)
- Foundations for deployable and fixed flood walls
- Hydraulic barriers to control water seepage beneath flood walls
- Foundation raising above flood levels
- Emergency plugs for transit and utility tunnels
- Dams
MRCE delivers a complete suite of geotechnical engineering and design services for new dams, levees, and revetments, or retrofit or improvement. MRCE subsurface investigations, laboratory testing, site seismic testing and analyses, seepage instrumentation and analysis are used to assess the condition and stability of these man-made earth structures and evaluate requirements for upgrading or maintaining these important structures. MRCE dam design and geotechnical consulting experience includes:
- Earth-fill dams, and Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) dams
- Cellular cofferdams and other gravity structures
- Dam foundation preparation, inspection, and approval
- Grouting for hydraulic barrier construction
- Slurry trench and slurry wall barriers
- Stability analysis of new dams and retrofit designs
- Erosion control of overflow and outlet structures
- Condition surveys and stability assessments of existing dams
Cannelton Hydroelectric Plant
Challenges Solved
MRCE designed a cofferdam to allow construction of a hydroelectric power plant adjacent to an Army Corps’ navigation lock and dam on the Ohio River. The cofferdam design allowed excavation 80 feet below normal river levels and provided protection against the 100 year flood, 40 feet above normal levels.
MRCE designed a 100-foot high rock dike to manage river levels and a 150-foot deep cement-bentonite cutoff wall to control river and groundwater seepage into the excavation. MRCE developed a detailed 3-D groundwater model to design an efficient dewatering system to maintain a dry excavation. MRCE’s close involvement with the Army Corps, FERC, and Owner were critical in getting the design approved and into construction on schedule.
Willow Island Hydroelectric Plant
Challenges Solved
MRCE experts led an engineering team that designed a cofferdam to facilitate construction of a hydroelectric power plant adjacent to an Army Corps’ navigation lock and dam on the Ohio River. A cellular cofferdam consisting of sixteen 63-foot diameter, 67-foot tall cells provided protection along the river, using a soil bentonite cut-off wall for seepage control on the land side of the project. MRCE designed high capacity rock anchors to stabilize the 60-foot deep rock cut for power plant construction and to protect the existing dam. MRCE’s close involvement with the Army Corps, FERC and Owner were critical in getting the design approved and constructed.
WFC Tower Two Flood Barrier
Challenges Solved
Following Superstorm Sandy, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers (MRCE) developed an emergency flood barrier system for WFC Tower 2 that includes watertight marine doors with inflatable seals and gasket seals, and flood-log barriers custom manufactured by Presray and EKO, two leading manufacturers of temporary, permanent or removable systems.
MRCE investigated and provided construction supervision for the storm hardening of the existing basement level perimeter slurry wall utility penetrations, including floating ventilation closures for existing ventilation duct openings within electrical vaults.