Resource

Grindstone Canyon Dam Seepage Gallery Drain Cleaning

Resource Type
ASDSO Conference Papers
Reference Title
Grindstone Canyon Dam Seepage Gallery Drain Cleaning
Author/Presenter
Eckrich, Gresh
Organization/Agency
Association of State Dam Safety Officials
Publisher Name
Association of State Dam Safety Officials
Year
2023
Date
September 17-21, 2023
Event Name
Dam Safety 2023
Event Location
Palm Springs, California
ASDSO Session Title
Session 30: Seepage
Topic Location
New Mexico
Abstract/Additional Information

Grindstone Canyon Dam is a 123-foot-high gravity roller-compacted concrete (RCC) structure in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Grindstone Reservoir is impounded by the dam and stores up to 1,635 acre-feet of water. Yeh and Associates provided engineering services for the Grindstone Canyon Dam Drain Cleaning project that was completed in May 2022. The primary purpose of the project was to restore the functionality of the dam's internal seepage gallery drains and mitigate the potential for excess uplift pressure that could destabilize the dam.

Lessons from the drain cleaning project that may apply to future dam projects include construction sequencing relative to grouting and the drilling of seepage relief drains, the need to case seepage relief drains, and the potential for hydraulic connection (via rock discontinuities) between grout holes and seepage relief drains.

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