Elkwater Fork Water Supply Dam
The $31,044,360.75 Elkwater Fork Water Supply Dam project project began in 2006 and the dam was completed for all intents and purpose in 2007 although contractual work continues into 2008.
Heeter Construction, Inc. has completed a very complex RCC Dam project for the NRCS (Natural Resources and Conservation Services. This project was in the high mountains of West Virginia where there is a very steep terrain.
This dam was built across a native trout stream enjoined with environmental issues and was very strenuous. The RCC part of the dam was completed from April 11, 2007 and topped off August 10, 2007. During this process we had very little down time. With the Gears mixing plant, and Rotec’s conveyor system operating with a ten hour total down time (excellent for systems of that complexity), an excellent and safe operation will ensure a safe and swift completion!
There were some major challenges on this project. The foundation went 68 feet below stream level. The special cement had to be transported from the Joppa, Illinois Plant. A one way travel of 630 miles. This consisted of eight tractor and trailer loads of cement of everyday. The fly ash came from Pennsylvania approximate travel of 175 miles with ten to twelve loads per day. Course aggregate came from Elkins, WV, a thirty mile trip. Fine aggregate came from Mill Point, WV a seventy mile trip.
We had very tight temperature constraints. The RCC specifications had to be 70 degrees or less. This was accomplished by stock piling approximately 60% of material on site in January, February, and March of 2007, when the temperature was in the single digits zero to ten degrees.
When starting the RCC in April of 2007, aggregated was brought to the job until total amount had been delivered by June. Temperatures from April 11, 2007 until June 30, 2007 ranged from low of twenty-five degrees to high of eighty degrees. July to August the temperature ranged from seventy degrees to ninety degrees. The RCC temperature in this hot weather never rose over the 70 degree maximum. The aggregate stock pile was still in frost stage in the month of August.
Another factor on controlling temperature was the use of water from the drill well where the water temperature was constant at 55 degrees.
Dewatering was self performed with vacuum truck, sump pumps, coffer dams, and stream diversion.
Reichler Engineering headed up Quality Control at the Elkwater Fork Water Supply Dam and HCI tries to enlist them whenever possible. The construction of this dam won Heeter Construction, Inc. the Contractors Association of West Virginia’s Quality Concrete Award for Mass Concrete Excellence for 2007.
C&R Builders with conventional concrete has worked with Heeter Construction, Inc. on every dam project since 1985; approximately ten dams.
Heeter Construction, Inc. has shown great expertise in coordinating all aspects of roller compacted concrete production at the site. This has been proven on several projects but best represented on the job at Elkwater Fork Water Supply Dam. 140,000 cubic yards of RCC was placed on this project in 76 days of RCC production, along with 10,000 cubic yards of conventional concrete.
Heeter Construction, Inc. is the premiere small business certified HubZone Contractor in the nation as attested by our award in September, 2008 as the 2008 Star HUBZone Business Significant Community Impact Award from the HUBZone Contractors National Council.
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