May 16, 2022

Crews Begin Test Filling Materials Along the Main Dam

In recent weeks crews began placing material at one of the rock-fill portions of the main dam, marking another construction milestone at Chimney Hollow Reservoir. This initial rock-fill effort was done as part of an assessment to specify how rock from the quarry and moisture content, among other variables, will achieve the desired rockfill properties required in the design. These assessments also provided an opportunity to examine the equipment and various procedures that will be used during construction of the rock fill portions of the main dam.  

While the primary purpose of the recent rock-fill operations was to specify rockfill placement methods, this test section will remain in place as part of the main dam, so it represents the first completed rock-fill portion of the main dam. 

Crews completed the test fill section in April, and the project engineers are now in a 30-day review period, during which all parties will examine the area and various data, and then establish the best methods for moving forward with construction. The test section is 100-by-220 feet with seven lanes that allowed for different variables of rockfill placement to be compared.  

In the future, once rock-fill work goes into full swing, a 100-ton load of material will need to be dumped at the main dam every 2 minutes 20 hours per day for 2.5 years to maintain the construction schedule.