As part of the USBR’s Safety of Dams (SOD) programme, modifications will be made to the two earthen embankments, which are located on the north shore of Folsom Reservoir. The SOD programme is an ongoing multi-year construction programme to perform required safety modifications at Folsom Dam and Reservoir in conjunction with the ongoing Joint Federal Project (JFP)
The principal work to be performed under this contract includes the partial removal of the downstream face of both dikes in order to add features such as filters and drains to control internal erosion. The filters and drains will be constructed of high-quality imported materials that will be obtained commercially and brought onsite via trucks; other local materials to be utilized in this project were stockpiled on site during previous work on Dike 5. After the work is completed, the contractor will place gravel surfacing on the crest of Dike 4 and asphaltic concrete pavement on the crest of Dike 6. The contractor will also construct a permanent, gravel-surfaced maintenance access road at the toe of the embankments.
Initiation of construction activities will begin in September and include site preparation, development of signage directing the public to established trail detours, development of the contractor use areas, and installation of contractor access. Construction work on both dikes is expected to be completed by late-summer 2010.
This project will complete the majority of SOD construction work on the north shore of Folsom Reservoir, although minor follow-up activities such as site restoration will still occur.
Earlier this month, USBR awarded a US$4.5M transformer upgrade contract at the 198MW Folsom hydro plant to Koontz Electric Co, with Federal recovery funds being used to pay for the project.
For additional information on the project, please visit the Safety of Dams website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/sod/projects/folsom and the JFP website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/jfp/index.htm .
