Leon Hurse Dam – Characterization and Construction Approval of a Five Million Cubic Yard Borrow Area

Leon Hurse Dam is currently under construction using approximately 5 million cubic yards of compacted fill from required excavations and borrow areas upstream of the dam. A robust field investigation was performed during design to characterize the available borrow material and determine potential design constraints. Comprehensive laboratory testing was performed on the borrow area samples to determine classification, strength and dispersivity of the soil. Given the magnitude and scale of designing a new compacted fill embankment, it was important for both the engineer and owner to understand the available borrow to construct a safe, stable embankment using on-site materials.