Wright-Pierce was the recipient of an Engineering Excellence Award from American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Maine chapter, for our role in fortifying the Corcoran’s Pond Dam in Waterville Valley, NH. The project brought the dam into compliance with New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) dam hazard regulatory requirements while protecting the natural beauty of the site. The site serves as a revenue-generating “town square” for year-round community activities.
An innovative method of armoring the river embankment using Articulating Concrete Block (ACB) mats significantly reduces the scouring effect of rising water on the embankments, which greatly minimizes the risk of dam overtopping and subsequent flooding. The mats fit together to serve as an armor, protecting the river embankment from erosion during high rain events. Due to the irregular contours of the site, a complex geometric customization of the mats was engineered to cover the 253-foot long by 14-foot tall earthen embankment.
Wright-Pierce Project Manager, Steve Guerrette, explains this project was considered a success by all stakeholders. “The ACB mats were a creative, cost-effective solution. The mats are completely invisible post-construction and the dam is now able to withstand 250% of the anticipated 100-year flood flow without risk of a breach.” Watch the video below to see the project evolution and contact us today to learn more.