Engineering firm Kleinschmidt Associates has helped drive major progress in the Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project, a multi-year effort aimed at stabilising and replacing the aging dam on the Reedy River in Greenville County, SC, US.
The Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project, LLC (LCDRP) sought technical support to address structural concerns at the century-old stone masonry dam and to ensure contaminated sediment stored behind it remained contained. After review, project leaders determined that replacing the existing dam was the most effective option for long-term safety and environmental protection.
Kleinschmidt completed hydrologic and hydraulic analyses to define requirements for a replacement structure and worked with LCDRP to produce a Project Strategic Plan that outlined the path for design and construction.
“This project has been a vital investment in the future of the Greenville community and neighboring counties. The new dam safeguards the Reedy River and downstream reservoirs – such as Lake Greenwood, a critical freshwater source –from historic contamination,” said Heather Martin, Senior Engineer at Kleinschmidt. “I’m proud to have contributed to such a technically demanding and meaningful effort that will benefit generations to come.”
LCDRP President Dr. Kelly D. H. Lowry said the project demanded extensive guidance. “I found myself faced with a project of serious complexity, magnitude, and sensitivity, and I knew I needed the best help to succeed. The staff at Kleinschmidt perceived the need immediately and set in motion a process to orient me to the idiosyncratic and complex nature of dam ownership, construction, and repair,” Lowry said. He added that the firm “capably shepherded me through the processes of permitting and construction as the owner’s engineer. Without their guidance every step of the way, I am certain that the project would not have been as flawlessly executed as it was.”
Kleinschmidt supported key steps including geotechnical exploration, construction permitting, NEPA applicability review, environmental investigations, and procurement of an owner’s project manager and design-build team. The firm also oversaw design and construction to ensure regulatory compliance.
Project leaders say the work produced a clear framework for dam remediation, strengthened coordination among stakeholders, and helped keep the project under budget and ahead of schedule.
