Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation Reach 1 Seepage Cutoff Wall at Lake Okeechobee, Florida
The Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD) rehabilitation project is designed to stabilize and secure the aging dike from potentially damaging severe weather events, and protect the numerous residents and businesses on the southeastern rim of Lake Okeechobee. In 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) placed the HHD on the Top 10 list (at No. 6) of dams in the nation needing repair. The USACE Jacksonville District prioritized rehabilitation of segments that were identified as most vulnerable, focusing initial efforts on achieving the most significant impacts.
The cutoff wall, a critical design feature in the dike rehabilitation, will minimize existing internal erosion, known as "piping," and prevent further damage to the internal structure of the dike. A 22-mile stretch from Port Mayaca south to Belle Glade that is considered the most vulnerable section of the 143-mile dike is the first wall section to be built. The work began in 2008 and is scheduled for completion in 2012. In May 2008 the USACE Jacksonville District selected Bauer Foundation Corp. (BFC) for the first of four (4) major task orders to construct a total of 10 -miles of the planned cutoff wall that runs vertically from the dike crest to a depth of nearly 80 feet in certain locations. BFC selected Geosyntec as part of its team to provide construction quality control/quality assurance services, geotechnical engineering support, environmental protection monitoring, subsurface barrier construction consultation, and provide additional technical resources related to dam and levee rehabilitation.
