March 11, 2024

Employee Spotlight: Don Riley

Stantec Principal Engineering Geologist Don Riley serves as the foundation grouting lead for the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project. Riley coordinates with various teams to implement foundation grouting programs on the dams, which includes making sure the design intent is achieved, and documenting the work.  

“Every dam site, every project, is different,” Riley said. “You’re always learning. It’s interesting work, and it’s meaningful. It’s rewarding to see the reservoir created and know you were a part of that.”  

Foundation grouting for dams is a process by which crews inject a slurry with cement-like properties into the foundation to fill naturally occurring voids and fissures to minimize seepage. The process involves systematically drilling holes, injecting grout and then analyzing the results in order to identify any areas that need additional treatment. Safety and stability of the dams are paramount.  

Photo of Don Riley

“It’s important to understand the subsurface conditions and to recognize the characteristics of the geologic features being treated,” Riley said.   

Grouting is complete on the saddle dam after about three months of work. On the main dam, work is more than 90 percent complete and is anticipated to be finished by this summer.  

Riley’s work as a geologist has taken him to destinations across the United States and Mexico, as well as overseas to the Philippines, Guyana, Peru, Syria and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.  

“You learn a lot about the cultures and the people from other countries while you’re there. I’ve learned a lot about geology in other parts of the world as well. The opportunities to work abroad have really opened my eyes to the world,” Riley said.