Loch Raven Dam Rehabilitation
Project
Progress
This
project is expected to continue through August, 2005.
In general, the following timeline has been established
for this project:
2004 - Spring Complete roller compacted concrete (RCC)
placement - East Side
2004 - Summer Prepare site for west side RCC and East
Side overflow
2004 - Fall Begin RCC Placement - West Side
2005 - Spring Complete RCC placement - West Side
2005 - Summer Apply conventional concrete face, complete
site restoration
Weather's Impacts on Progress
Progress
on this project is greatly influenced by the weather,
and not simply because it is difficult to work in the
rain. As a functioning water supply for much of the city
and several neighboring counties, the project must be
built without lowering the reservoir, and the Gunpowder
must be allowed to flow freely over the dam as nature
intends. Therefore, only one half of the dam can be constructed
at a time: a 3-foot-high bulkhead has been installed to
protect the work area, and the construction site at the
base of the dam must accommodate the river.
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Loch
Raven Dam impounds rainwater from a roughly 300-square-mile
watershed, so a few hours of rain can mean "water
over the dam" for days. 2003's record-breaking rainfalls
presented numerous challenges throughout this first year
of construction.
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Finally,
concrete cannot be placed during periods of hard freeze.
Therefore, progress on one of the most important parts
of the project has to stop from December through early
March.
Progress Updates
Detailed Project information and a collection of construction
photographs are available through the links below.