Geologic and Geoseismic Support, Austin-Wall Dam Level II Study, Fort Bridger, Uinta County Wyoming - Senior Geologist 2010-2011.  Support included engineering geology mapping, geological hazards characterization, using photogeologic analyses of site imagery, GIS analyses of elevation and terrain data, and reconnaissance to the site.  Seismic hazard characterization was also conducted to evaluate the Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) and the Operating Basis Earthquake (OBE) for the dam site.  Also supervised field drilling activities for the geotechnical engineer.

Seismic Hazard Assessment, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District.  Davis, Weber and Box Elder Counties, Utah – Project Geologist, 2009.  Performed a seismic hazard assessment for District System, primarily using GIS for assessment.  Hazards assessed included, general geology, strong ground motion (both peak horizontal acceleration and modified Merchalli), exposure of the system to surface fault rupture hazards, liquefaction potential, landsliding, and debris flows hazards.

Forebay drilling, Ashton Dam, Ashton Idaho

Geotechnical and Geophysical Field and Laboratory Services, PacifiCorp Ashton Dam; Ashton, Idaho - Project Manager, 2005.  In support of the Civil Engineer (Black & Veatch) performed piezometer testing, ground penetrating radar (GPR) Survey, geotechnical drilling and sampling, and laboratory testing services to support the Civil Engineer to perform seepage investigation.

Geotechnical and Geological Feasibility Evaluation, Proposed Spring Creek Reservoir; Uintah County, Utah - Project Geologist, 2003.  Feasibility evaluation of the proposed dam site was conducted to evaluate the site relative to performance as a dam site, exposure to seismic and geological hazards, suitability of soil and rock materials on the site for use in dam construction, and recommendations as to dam structure.  Surface and subsurface investigation included excavation of 20 test pits and three rock-core borings to as much as 290 feet. During the rock-core drilling, Packer testing was conducted to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of the rock units underlying the dam and reservoir. Our findings were used by the County for the decision as to proceed with or abandon the site for proposed dam construction.

Geoseismic Evaluation, PacifiCorp Klamath River Hydroelectric Project - Project Manager, 2008. The Klamath Hydroelectric Projects consists of the J.C. Boyle Dam in Klamath County, Oregon, and the Copco No. 1 and Iron Gate Dams in Siskyou County, California. Because the dams are undergoing studies for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) re-licensing, the FERC requested that seismic studies to be conducted that addresses the capability of regional earthquake faults, including the West Klamath Lake Fault Zone, the Cedar Mountain fault system and the Cascadia Subduction Zone. To characterize the seismicity of the dams, a regional seismic survey supported with GIS was performed consistent with the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety, which include probabilistic earthquake parameters as well as calculating the Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) and the Operating Basis Earthquake (OBE) for the dam sites.

PacifiCorp Cove Pond Sediment Characterization Study; Caribou County, Idaho - Project Manager, 2005. The Cove Pond is an approximately 1200-foot long by 400-foot wide reservoir on the Bear River that is impounded by a 27-foot high dam that redirects water into a flume for hydroelectric generation. The dam has impounded water in the reservoir since 1912, and sediments from upstream areas have been captured behind the dam.  Because significant agricultural, industrial, waste disposal and mining activities occur up-stream of the reservoir, the potential for the accumulation of hazardous levels of chemical constituents in the captured sediments aren a concern. The Client was considering the decommissioning of the Cove Pond Dam as part Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) re-licensing requirements. The action would involve removing the dam, and the sediments behind the dam could potentially migrate down stream. Because of the concerns regarding the chemical constituents that may be contained within sediments behind the Dam, the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested that these sediments be analyzed for hazardous constituents that may have become concentrated behind the dam. To characterize the sediments, we sampled the pond sediments using, a barge mounted geo-probe sampler over the Cove Pond water surface. The sampled sediments were tested for constituents specified by the Idaho DEQ and EPA, and were found not have hazardous levels of chemical constituents requiring remedial actions. 

Barge mounted geoprobe, Cove Pond, Caribou County, Idaho

Downstream butress drilling, Austin-Wall Dam, Uinta County, Wyoming