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Dams
- Earth & Rehabilitation Projects
Izee, Oregon
Offier's Dam - Utley Creek Ranch
The Officer’s Dam on the Utley Creek Ranch, near Izee, Oregon, is
an earth-fill structure approximately 1,000 feet long with a maximum height
of 41 feet. Leakage beneath the dam prevented water storage. Newton conducted
subsurface geotechnical investigations, finding permeable gravels beneath
dam foundation soils through which reservoir waters leaked. Newton designed
an impervious cutoff wall consisting of bentonite-soils-water slurry extending
from the top of the dam to a maximum approximate depth of 30 feet below
the bottom of the dam, prepared contract and construction documents for
the wall and conducted construction observation and consulting services
for wall installation. The reservoir now functions as a storage facility.
This work was done in coordination with the Oregon Water Resources Department-Dam
Safety Division.
Crook County, Oregon
Black Snag Dam - William Smith Properties
Newton conducted geotechnical and hydrological analyses and designed the
Black Snag earthfill Dam located on Black Snag Creek in Crook County,
Oregon. The dam and reservoir are intended to store water for irrigation
and recreational fishery. Newton also prepared construction specifications
and provided construction observation and consulting services when the
dam was built. The maximum height and length of the dam are approximately
40 and 350 feet, respectively. The reservoir capacity is approximately
560 acre-feet. This work was done in coordination with the Oregon Water
Resources Department-Dam Safety Division.
Post,Oregon
Dick Dam and Spillway Improvements
The Nature Conservancy - Juniper Hills Preserve
The Dick Dam is an earthfill structure about 30 feet high and 1,100 feet
long and impounds water from the Lost Creek watershed about 12 miles east
of Post, Oregon, in Crook County. Stored water is for supplemental irrigation.
The dam and spillway were not consistent with standards of the Oregon
Water Resources Department-Dam Safety Division.
Newton evaluated the dam and spillway, including
analysis of spillway capacity and recommended improvements to the dam
and the spillway to bring them up to dam safety standards. Newton work
included securing funding from the Deschutes River Conservancy, Governor’s
Watershed Enhancement Board, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and
Crooked River Watershed Council, obtaining permits from the Oregon Division
of State Lands, US Army Corps of Engineers, design of the required improvements
and construction observation and consulting services.
Crook County, Oregon
Grindstone Dam - G.I. Ranch
Newton investigated seepage and recommended improvements to the existing
Grindstone Dam for control of the seepage. The dam is about 34 feet high
with a crest length of approximately 580 feet and stores approximate 427
acre-feet of water for irrigation. The investigation and design work for
seepage control was done in coordination with the Oregon Water Resources
Department-Dam Safety Division.
Clarno, Oregon
Sluice Canyon Dam & Reservoir Project - John Day Ranch, LLC
Newton conducted feasibility evaluations for two dam and reservoir sites
on this large ranch located east of the John Day River, south of Clarno,
Oregon in Wheeler County. These evaluations indicated the projects are
not feasible at these sites. A third site was found on Sluice Canyon and
evaluated by Newton and found to be feasible. Newton designed an earthfill
dam for the site that is approximately 45 feet high and 450 feet long.
Water storage will be for irrigation and wildlife purposes.
Work by Newton included design of the dam and spillway, obtaining storage
permits from the Oregon Water Resources Department, construction permits
from the Oregon Division of State Lands/Corps of Engineers, evaluation
of the watershed for runoff and gravel recruitment potential, collaboration
with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on gravel recruitment potential
and creek flow conditions.
Mt. Hood, Oregon
Wasco Dam Modifications - Juniper Flat District Improvements Co.
The Wasco Dam forms Clear Lake near Mt. Hood and provides irrigation water
for the Juniper Flat District Improvement Company (the Company) lands
on the high plateau west of Maupin, Oregon. The earthfill dam was designed
and built by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). Newton was asked by the
Company to represent its interests in review, discussion and evaluation
of various modifications being considered by the BOR to reduce seepage
beneath the dam. Newton services included meetings with BOR design team
members, meetings with the BOR risk management personnel and design team
in Denver, CO, consultations with the Company on options and costs, and
construction observations during construction of the chosen option.
Grants Pass, Oregon
Savage Rapids Dam - Grants Pass Irrigation District
Newton conducted a five-year study of the Grants Pass Irrigation District
(the District) to determine irrigation water needs, delivery methods and
efficiency, and the role of the District in an urbanizing environment.
The work included evaluation of fish passage improvement alternatives
relative to Savage Rapids Dam. The work was conducted in coordination
with an 18-person oversight committee composed of environmental interests,
Josephine County, City of Grants Pass, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Oregon Water Resources Department, Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, and others. Newton facilitated the periodic
meetings and prepared the “Grants Pass Irrigation District Water
Management Study” which included recommendations to remove Savage
Rapids Dam and use of pumps in place of the dam, provided that the continuation
and health of the District are ensured.
Sisters, Oregon
McKenzie Canyon Dam & reservoir - Squaw Creek Irrigation District
The McKenzie Canyon Dam northeast of Sisters, Oregon was designed and
built in 1957 by the Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources
Conservation Service) to function as a regulating reservoir for the Three
Sisters Irrigation District (the District). The dam is an earthfill structure
about 15 feet high. Water leakage from the downstream slope of the dam
was discovered by the District. Evaluation of the seepage indicated the
possibility of an open flow channel in the soil dam embankment. Newton
investigated the seepage and developed a solution consisting of removal
of soils around the outlet works and the outlet works themselves, replacement
of the outlet works with an improved system, placement of a homogeneous
upstream embankment and core, construction of a downstream filter and
drain system. Newton also provided construction observation and consulting
during the repair work.
Wasco County, Oregon
Rock Creek Dam Spillway Improvements - Rock Creek District Improvement
Co.
The Rock Creek Dam is an earthfill structure about 51 feet high and 780
feet long and impounds water from the Rock Creek watershed in Wasco County,
Oregon. The reservoir stores up to about 1,600 acre-feet of water for
irrigation needs of the Rock Creek District Improvement Company which
supplies water to about 3,600 acres of agricultural lands. Newton evaluated
spillway capacity to pass flows of a 1/2 Probable Maximum Flood (PMF)
event and prepared recommendations to increase spillway capacity to PMF
flow rate. This work was done in coordination with the Oregon Water Resources
Department-Dam Safety Division.
Mount Angel, Oregon
Dam & Reservoir Feasiblity Studies - East Valley Irrigation District
The East Valley Irrigation District needs irrigation water for 15,000
to 20,000 acres of crop land in the Silverton-Mount Angel area. Newton
conducted reconnaissance of potential dam and reservoir sites and conducted
preliminary feasibility evaluations of selected sites. Newton also evaluated
other alternatives for long-term water supply for irrigation purposes
including ground water recharge/storage and importing water to the project
area from the Santiam River via pipeline.
City of Gresham, Oregon
Kelly Creek Detention Facility
Newton provided civil, geotechnical and hydrological services and designed
a regional detention facility for the Kelly Creek watershed. The facility
includes an earthfill dam about 20 feet in maximum height to detain storm
water and reduce flooding and channel erosion caused by urbanization,
and to enhance water quality and riparian habitat. The facility was designed
to blend in with existing natural features of the site, including established
grove of cedar trees, pond and habitat area. Newton also provided construction
observation and consulting services.
Gresham, Oregon
Irrigation Reservoir Systems -
Persimmon Residential Community and Golf Course
Newton evaluated feasibility of using ground water for golf course irrigation
since surface water for this purpose is not available. The work included
locating and designing irrigation wells, dam and reservoir systems to
store the pumped water and surface runoff. Newton assisted the owner with
obtaining irrigation water right permits. Permit applications for both
the water rights and the dams were “fast-tracked” through
the Oregon Water Resources Department. |
