EBC Professional Development Program: Dam Practice for the Ascending Professional An Advanced Introduction Welcome
Jackson E. Bailey
Marketing & Program Manager Environmental Business Council
Environmental Business Council of New England Energy Environment Economy Program Purpose – What You Will Learn
Juan Pestana
Program Co-Chair
Senior Principal, Geosyntec Consultants
Environmental Business Council of New England Energy Environment Economy The Role of Dams in Flood Damage Reduction – A Systemic Approach
Col (ret) Curtis Thalken
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Environmental Business Council of New England Energy Environment Economy Flood Risk Reduction in New England A Case Study Based on the October 2005 Storms
Col (ret) Curt Thalken , PE Senior VP/COO Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Agenda
▪ Background
▪ Decision Process During Storm Events
▪ October 2005 100 Year Flood Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Black River at Springfield, VT November 1927 Flood Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Merrimack River, Haverhill, MA September 1938 Flood Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Providence River, Providence, RI September 1938 Flood Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Pomfret Street, Putnam, CT Quinebaug River August 1955 Flood Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Knightville Dam, Westfield, MA Westfield River Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Franklin Falls Dam, Franklin, NH Pemigewassett River Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
31 Dams
2 Hurricane Barriers Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Five basins regulated by New England District Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology Real-Time Water Management
Stream Gages
Receive Antenna
Hydrologic Processing Weather Radars
Support/Decision
Operational Decisions Inundation Predictions Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Manual Snow Surveys Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Cooperating Agencies • NOAA • National Weather Service (NWS) • NWS – North East River Forecast Center • U.S. Geological Survey • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • Various state agencies Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Hurricanes
https://www.quincyvagell.com/2014/03/27/new-england-hurricane-tracks/ Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
New England District Hurricane Barriers
Cape Cod Canal Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
100 Year Floods 7-16 Oct 2005
USACE Flood Control Dam River Gage Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
7-16 Oct 2005 100 Year Floods
8 October Ashuelot River Floods Keene, NH • Gages record flows of 5,000 cfs due to unregulated streams • Surry Mountain & Otter Brook Dams record 22,000 cfs inflows 16 October • Surry Mountain reaches 96% of capacity (2nd highest on record) • Otter Brook reaches 75% of capacity
USACE Flood Control Dam River Gauge Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Surry Mountain Lake, Keene, NH Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
1.5 ft below spillway
Surry Mountain Dam, Keene, NH Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Otter Brook Dam, Keene, NH Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Ashuelot River, Keene, NH
Flood Stage = 73.0 ft
Sep 1938=80.6 Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
River
Flooding of Keene State, NH athletic fields 73.00 at the Keene Gage Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Damage to Reservoir Facilities
Roads Bridges Recreational Facilities Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
7-16 Oct 2005 100 Year Floods 8 October Ashuelot River Floods Keene, NH • Gages record flows of 5,000 cfs due to unregulated streams • Surry Mountain & Otter Brook Dams record 22,000 cfs inflows 16 October • Surry Mountain reaches 96% of capacity (2nd highest on record) • Otter Brook reaches 75% of capacity
16 October Thames River Basin – East Brimfield Lake reaches highest impoundment ever at 52% of capacity – West Thompson Lake reaches highest impoundment ever at 62% of capacity
USACE Flood Control Dam River Gage Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
East Brimfield Lake, Fiskdale, MA Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
West Thompson Lake, Thompson, CT Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Dam Safety during a Flood/High Pool Event Westville Lake Dam
Dam project staff Seepage contact Reservoir Regulation Team or Geotechnical Staff of any unusual conditions or observations – Team Effort
Dam Safety Officer (Chief of Engineering and Planning Division) kept informed of all actions Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Dam Safety during a Flood/High Pool Event Westville Lake Dam Seepage • Geotechnical Staff Monitor Pool & Piezometer Levels • Maintain close coordination with the Reservoir Regulation Team • Piezometer Action Level – Piezometers read daily • Geotech Recon Level – Geotech Staff perform dam inspections Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Seepage Remediation at Westville Lake Dam Southbridge and Sturbridge, MA Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology 7-16 Oct 2005 100 Year Floods
8 October Ashuelot River Floods Keene, NH • Gages record flows of 5,000 cfs due to unregulated streams • Surry Mountain & Otter Brook Dams record 22,000 cfs inflows 16 October • Surry Mountain reaches 96% of capacity (2nd highest on record) • Otter Brook reaches 75% of capacity 16 October Thames River Basin – East Brimfield Lake reaches highest impoundment ever at 52% of capacity – West Thompson Lake reaches highest impoundment ever at 62% of capacity
Damages Prevented 7-16 Oct 2005 Reservoirs $365 Million Local Protection $211 Million USACE Flood Control Dam Hurricane Barriers $180 Thousand River Gage Total Benefits $576 Million Questions? Why Dam Safety? Current Practice and New Initiatives
J. Matthew Bellisle
Senior Vice President Pare Corporation
Environmental Business Council of New England Energy Environment Economy WHY DAM SAFETY ? CURRENT PRACTICES AND NEW INITIATIVES
J. Matthew Bellisle, PE - Senior Vice President Pare Corporation WHO IS THIS GUY?
J. MATTHEW BELLISLE, PE (RI, MA, NH, NY) SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/GEOTECHNICAL DIVISION MANAGER
27 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, 1,000 DAM INSPECTIONS, 50 REHABILITATIONS, 2 NEW DAMS, 5 SUCCESSFUL REMOVALS
PARE CORPORATION FOXBORO, MA | LINCOLN, RI SO LETS TALK ABOUT DAMS
BENEFICIAL FUNCTIONS (6)
• RECREATION • RESOURCE AREA FOR • WATER SUPPLY WILDLIFE • DRINKING WATER • IRRIGATION • PROCESS WATER • FLOOD • HYDROPOWER CONTROL/ATTENUATION WHO IS IMPACTED BY ALL OF OUR DAMS? Over the last several years the importance of dams and their associated risks were highlighted during the regions unprecedented rainfall.
Imagine that some of the dams had not been present to store rainfall and run-off. Imagine if more dams had failed. Neither image is a good one. BASIC OWNER REQUIREMENTS
• REGISTRATION OF THEIR DAM • MAINTENANCE OF THEIR DAM • INSPECTION OF THEIR OWN DAMS • REPAIR OF THEIR OWN DAMS • MAINTENANCE OF AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN FOR HIGH AND SIGNIFICANT HAZARD POTENTIAL DAMS • NOTIFICATION OF TRANSFER OF DEED BASIC OWNER REQUIREMENTS (CONTINUED)
COMPLIANCE WITH DAM SAFETY REGULATIONS 1. OWNERS SHALL KEEP THEIR DAMS IN A SAFE CONDITION. 2. OWNERS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY. 3. OWNERS MAY WORK WITH REGULATORS AND MUNICIPALITIES. SPILLWAY DESIGN FLOODS
• DAMS SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO PASS CERTAIN SIZE STORM EVENTS WITHOUT OVERTOPPING • TYPICAL FOR LARGE SIZE DAMS: • HIGH HAZARD POTENTIAL – ½ PROBABLE MAXIMUM FLOOD • SIGNIFICANT HAZARD POTENTIAL – 500 YEAR STORM EVENT • LOW HAZARD POTENTIAL – 100 YEAR STORM EVENT WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT DAM SAFETY ?
AGING DAMS HAZARD CREEP PUBLIC AWARENESS PREPARATION SECURITY WHAT CAN BE DONE ? HOW CAN DAM SAFETY BE IMPROVED AND THE IMPACTS OF DAM FAILURES MINIMIZED?
• PROPER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION • PROPER MAINTENANCE OF EMBANKMENTS, SPILLWAYS, GATES AND VALVES • REGULAR INSPECTIONS AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT, BY OWNERS AND ENGINEERS • EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS AND INUNDATION MAPS FOR OWNERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL • REMOVAL OR REHABILITATION OF DEFICIENT DAMS • LIMITING DEVELOPMENT BELOW EXISTING DAMS • LIMITING DAM CONSTRUCTION ABOVE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT Inspections When ? By whom ? With what? Looking for …. Inspections Formal Maintenance Informal L E A K A G E Spalling and Seepage Rodents
Sinkhole
Scour
Boone Lake Muddy Water Boone Lake Sinkhole
Subsidence or Sinkhole Erosion Erosion OvertoppingOvertopping StabilityStability failurefailure
Photo Courtesy of MDCR and ASDSO SO AGAIN, WHY DAM SAFETY? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA • REGULAR DAM INSPECTIONS – ALL STATES • EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS • SPILLWAY DESIGN FLOOD NEW & COMPLIANCE ONGOING INITIATIVES • DAM REMOVALS CONTACT INFORMATION
J. MATTHEW BELLISLE, PE (RI, MA, NH, NY) SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/GEOTECHNICAL DIVISION MANAGER
[email protected] 508.543.1755 | 401.334.4100
PARE CORPORATION FOXBORO, MA | LINCOLN, RI Dams and Fish Survival – Fisheries Perspective
Tyler Parent
Program Co-Chair
Fisheries Scientist Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Environmental Business Council of New England Energy Environment Economy Dam Management with Fish Survival in Mind
Tyler Parent Fisheries Scientist Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Let’s focus on downstream Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
How do fish pass? Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Species-dependent process for telemetry tags Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
It is important to figure out the route Environmental Consulting • Research • Technology
Hi-Z Turb’N tag Questions? Moderated Discussion