Engineering Removal Techniques for Small Dams

Presented By:

LAURA WILDMAN, PE
Director, New England Regional Office Director, New England Regional Office Ecological Restoration & Fisheries Engineer Ecological Restoration & Fisheries Engineer

Princeton Hydro Princeton Hydro

931 Main Street, Suite 2 931 Main Street, Suite 2 S. Glastonbury, CT 06073 S. Glastonbury, CT 06073 860-652-9911 860-652-9911 lwildman@princetonhydro.com lwildman@princetonhydro.com

Dam Removal Demystified: Workshop hosted by American Rivers June 14, 2011 Chapel Hill, NC

Talk Outline
History of the Dam
Construction Sequencing Reverse Engineering

Technical Specifications Expect the Unexpected Access Dewatering Water Control Infrastructure Retrofits Remove Dam & Assoc. Structures Site Restoration Site Protection/Safety Construction Oversight Lessons Learned Monitoring

Dam Types
Earth Gravity Earth and Rock Timber/Rock Fill Variable Radius Arch Hydraulic Fill Constant Radius Arch Flashboard & Buttress Multiple Arch Reinforced Concrete Tank Slab and Buttress Inflatable Rubber Crib Other (sheetpile, tailings, etc)

Removal Sequencing Reverse Engineering

Free flowing river De-water Mobilize & install water controls

CONSTRUCTING A DAM

Construct water controls

Build primary portion of dam Redirect water Fill dam notch Remove equipment & water controls Fill with water

REMOVING A DAM

Divert water

Notch dam Divert water through notch Remove primary portion of dam Redirect water Removed water controls Free flowing river

Reverse Engineering: Spoonville Dam, CT

Princeton Hydro

Princeton Hydro

The New Water Power of the Hartford Electric Company written in 1900 three waste pipes were capable of carrying normal flow(later) permanently sealed with 12 x 12 in. southern pine old surface of the rock was taken off by squib blasting..surfaces of rock were made to slope upstream

Know Your Dam:

Wiley-Russell Dam, MA

Typical Construction Sequencing

Typical Construction Sequencing

Expect the Unexpected

Legacy dams Unknown utilities Big storms Excessive woody debris Unexpected organism relocation Tributary reaction/down cutting Oil tank Illegal discharges or nonconforming wells

Legacy Dam

Bear Lake Dam, CA legacy dam upstream

Pipe exposed when lake was drained

Tributary head cutting

Expect the Unexpected

Trash (tires, shopping carts, asbestos tiles) Tree stumps Hidden reinforcing Hot spots or hot layer Streambank seepage Excessive erosion Bodies/cars/guns/teeth A church

Tires and Shopping Carts

Art made from recovered items from drained LA lake

Tree Stumps

Venezuelan Church uncovered when lake drained

Expect the Unexpected

A typical impoundment? No, the worlds largest radiator!

Dunkard Creek Dam, PA - Turn of the century cooling systems for a gas pumping station

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS & CONTRACT

Additional Lessons Learned:
Hire The Right Contractor experience with rivers/dams, their own equipment, good foreman, good machine operator Plan For The Unexpected - in permits, plans and construction contract
- flexibility in area of impact on permits - allow contractor flexibility in approach - decide on pricing for potential unknowns upfront in contract

Include Bid Items on:

Water Control Contaminated Sediment Utility Retrofits Planting Plans Trash Removal Invasive Species Control Construction Monitoring (i.e turbidity & nearby wells)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Princeton Hydro Princeton Hydro

Sediment moves daily plan to dig it only once Take precautions for unknown contaminants Working in a river plan for variable flows emergency high flows Unknown reinforcing plan for worst case Double check quality & quantities during construction
High flow Mean Flow

Princeton Hydro

Unexpected reinforcing

 Princeton Hydro

Easy

Access
Hard
Access from crest of dam

Dam Hard

Internal access for explosives Embry Dam - VA

But with easy internal access

Helicopter access only Bluebird Dam - CO

Reservoir Drawdown

Milltown Reservoir Drawdown - 2002

Edwards Reservoir Drawdown - 1999

Embry Reservoir Drawdown - 2004

Reservoir Drawdown
Time for Vegetation to Reestablish
Can make equipment access easier Can reduce the amount of sediment transported

Source: American Rivers

During drawdown

Zemko Dam Removal - CT

Source: American Rivers

Last day of dam removal

Reservoir Drawdown
partial breach / notch low level outlets siphons bypass pipe or channel riser with outlet
Source: PA Fish & Game

Source: PA Fish & Game

Reservoir Drawdown Ecological Precautions

Dewatering such that fish stranding is minimized Plan to relocate organisms as needed (i.e. mussels, fish)
Source: NH DES

Source: NH DES

Source: American Rivers Source: American Rivers

Water Control
Princeton Hydro

Diversion Systems
Pumps, siphons Excavated channel Excavated channel w/ liner Pipe bypass Box culvert, tunnel,

Cofferdam Systems
Earthen cofferdams Sheetpile cofferdams Tilt-up panels Water bubble dam

Water Control
Lessons Learned:
Water control & S&E are never as pretty as on the plans Have good inspectors Take care when inviting spectators or press to site Dont rely too heavily on water control measures Working in the wet is preferred (in & out faster) Design/Plan for a potential blow out

Retrofit or Remove Infrastructure

Utilities Bridges/Culverts Retaining Walls Bldg. Foundations Water Supply Wells Docks/Access Boat Ramps USGS Gages
Powerhouse & Assoc. Apparatus Streambanks

Source: NH DES

Pipe exposed when lake was drained

Historic covered bridge with central pier upstream

Retrofit Water Intakes

1. Modify Existing Intake Pipes or Pumps 2. Off line bypass channel or pond 3. Perforated pipe or screened intake w/ air scour sys. 4. Stoplog structure 5. Sunken intake 6. Well

Goldsboro Dam, Little River, NC

Cumberland Dam, Potomac River, MD

Methods of Removal
Extent & Timing of Removal Staged (timing, Full
delta migration, % remaining)

Partial
(height or width)

Bypass Dam
Source: Wildman

Amount of original delta eroded by different channel positions under the single and triple notch scenarios
80 70 Percentage eroded 60 50
Image courtesy of National Park Service

Dam sill remains Mad River partial dam removal

40 30 20 10 0 1x L 3x L 3x C 3x R 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 Run time (minutes) 8,000 10,000

Source: Saint Anthony Falls Lab & Gordon Grant

Source: Saint Anthony Falls Lab & Gordon Grant

Methods of Removal
Bypass Dam

California Coastal Conservancy, NMFS, Planning & Conservation League Foundation, and Cal Am

Methods of Removal
Embankment and Timber Demolition Excavator w/ Bucket Grapples/Splitters/Thumb Crane and Dragline Dozer

Concrete Demolition Mechanical impact methods Expansive grout methods Sawcutting methods Blasting methods

Mechanical Removal Excavator

Princeton Hydro

Princeton Hydro

Source: American Rivers

Princeton Hydro

Mechanical Removal Crane & Excavator Attachments

Source: MMI

Princeton Hydro

Grapples

Crane & Wrecking Ball Thumb

Princeton Hydro

Splitter

Mechanical Impact Methods

Franklin Dam removal Sheboygan River, Wis. 2001 Orienta Dam, Iron River, Wis. Removed, 2001

Princeton Hydro

Source: Stephanie Lindloff

Princeton Hydro

Blasting Methods

Embry Dam Removal, VA, 2004

Source: American Rivers

Expansion Material Methods

Example: Bristar non-explosive demolition agent

Saw Cutting Removal

Waddel Dam - AZ

Princeton Hydro

Pursel Mill Dam - NJ

Clear Creek Dam - WA

Site Protection
Protection of equipment Protection of plantings Site safety (spectators & boaters)

Source: Laura Wildman

Source: Stephanie Lindloff

Source: Laura Wildman

Historic Restoration
Creative ways to incorporate historic preservation in a dam removal.

Source: American Rivers

Source: American Rivers

Source: Wildman

What Not To Do!

Extremely Shallow Water depths

Only lowered the dam. Left the dam sill in, now river dynamics & fish passage are not restored.

Excessive Channel Armorment

Source: Wildman

Trapezoidal Channel with No low flow Channel

Leaving the Dam Sill in Place Means Leaving the Dam in Place

Dam Removal in PA

Dam Removal in MA

Dam Removal in CT

Removing a Structure Only to Install More Structures Weirs, J-Hooks, Ramps, Etc.

Excessive Use of Stone Channel Constrictors

Excessive Use of J-Hook Veins/Deflectors

Construction Oversight
Engineering designer should help to supervise construction
Most familiar with the site Ensure that dam is removed in a manner consistent with plans, permits and vision for the site Link design quality & responsibility to the design firm

Listen & learn from the contractor Determining level of oversight needed Document/photograph/video Historic (reuse of material) and Ecological oversight

Listen to the Contractor

Check access route
Permission for use Check bridge capacities Requirements for repairs post use Check for utilities and low wires

Think in terms of constructability Check quantities twice (3 times, etc..) Have sediment testing results and arrange for a disposal site, & onsite staging/stockpile sites Get contractors advice on creative/cost saving approaches Show actual proposed elevations/grades Show dam material/construction/quantity Fish timing and turbidity restrictions Installing useless E&S controls Strength of concrete underwater or cured under water

Keeping the Bid Price Down

Bid at end of winter or early spring
before the contractors plate is full

Do not make the project look like a big deal dont

have a huge complex plan set and technical specs unless you really need it dont have 20 people at the pre-bid meeting dont express fears too loudly

Use photographs if necessary to explain odd/unique requests (i.e. rootwad placements, etc.) Dont try to shift all the risk & liability to them

Lessons Learned - Examples

Embrey Dam difficulty with explosives and lots of public attention
Source: American Rivers

Pizzini Dam permit fee; unexpected aquatic organism relocation

(lamprey & mussels)
Source: American Rivers
Photo Source: Laura Wildman Design by: Milone & MacBroom

Billington Dam Military Readiness Initiative (great, lots of equipment, no restoration); Asbestos tiles
Source: American Rivers

Smelt Hill Dam dont need huge riprap on bedrock

Lessons Learned - Examples

Zemko Dam bids too high (contractor felt
all the risk was on him); regulators

wanted

tons of weirs; mucky soil (difficult construction); left a sill; wetland wars

Anaconda Dam dam breached

before removal; persistent downstream sediment bar; emergency permit sped things up

Union Dam Unexpected pipe U/S;

provide flexibility in permit applications; removed sediment twice

Freight St. Dam lousy contractor;

rented equipment; water control extras; sheet pile core reinforcing

STREAM BARRIER REMOVAL MONITORING GUIDE

STREAM BARRIER REMOVAL MONITORING GUIDE

Published in December 2007 (85 pages long)

http://www.gulfofmaine.org/streambarrierremoval/

Zemko Dam Removal

Eightmile River - Connecticut
Primary Project Lead: TNC Engineering: Gomez & Sullivan / Milone & MacBroom Technical oversight: American Rivers

Impounded water line

Former Zemko Dam site

Source: 10 Dam Removals 10 Years Later by Laura Wildman, American Rivers

Zemko Dam Removal

Eightmile River - Connecticut

High bids!
Changed plans from big to small but original bids based on big Too many people at mandatory prebid meeting Bid during wrong time of year Non-typical items on plans (rootwads) Difficult soil conditions

When a contractor feels like they are taking on risk the price goes up!
Source: American Rivers

Made project seem like a big deal (risky, press, sensitive, lg. bid package)

Zemko Dam Removal

Eightmile River - Connecticut

Source: American Rivers

Source: American Rivers

Source: American Rivers

Source: American Rivers

Anaconda Dam Removal

Naugatuck River - Connecticut
Primary Project Lead: City of Waterbury & CT DEP Engineering: Milone & MacBroom

Former Anaconda Dam site

FLO W

Removed in 1999 11 ft high & 330 ft long

Source: 10 Dam Removals 10 Years Later by Laura Wildman, American Rivers

Anaconda Dam Removal

Naugatuck River - Connecticut

Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom

Time and materials delays by contractor, but emergency permit sped things up

Anaconda Dam Removal

Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom Source: Wildman Source: Wildman

1997 with dam, looking upstream

Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom

2002 3 yrs post removal

Source: Wildman

2008 10 years post removal

1997 with dam, looking upstream

2008 10 years post removal

Union City Dam Removal

Naugatuck River - Connecticut
Source: American Rivers

Former Union City Dam site

FLO W

Impounded water line N

Primary Project Lead: CT DEP Engineering: Milone & MacBroom

Removed in 1999 7 ft high & 190 ft long

Source: 10 Dam Removals 10 Years Later by Laura Wildman, American Rivers

Union City Dam Removal

Naugatuck River - Connecticut

Upstream pipe exposed provide for flexibility in permit applications Removing sediment twice

Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom

Union City Dam Removal

1997 with dam looking upstream
Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom

2008 ~10yrs post removal

Photo Source: Wildman

1999 just post removal

Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom

2008 ~10 yrs post removal

Photo Source: Wildman

Freight Street Dam Removal

Naugatuck River - Connecticut

Former Freight Street Dam site

Impounded water line

Primary Project Lead: City of Waterbury & CT DEP Engineering: Milone & MacBroom

Removed in 1999 4 ft high & 100 ft long

Source: 10 Dam Removals 10 Years Later by Laura Wildman, American Rivers

Freight Street Dam Removal

Naugatuck River - Connecticut
Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom

Sheetpile core Poor contractor with rented equipment Water control extras

Freight Street Dam Removal

Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom Photo Source: Wildman

1997 with dam, looking upstream

Design & Photo Source: Milone & MacBroom

1999 - just post removal

Photo Source: Wildman

2008 ~10 years post removal

1997 with dam, looking downstream

2008 ~10 years post removal