Buescher State Park Dam Halff Project Location: Smithville, Texas Project Start Date: 2 August 2019 Project Completion: 18 August 2023 Project Team: Halff
Project Summary: Remnants from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 hovered over Central Texas for several days, creating flooding throughout the region that damaged structures such as the historic Buescher State Park Dam. The dam’s structural integrity was threatened as several feet of ma- terial eroded away during the rain event, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) needed to find an immediate solution that would preserve the historic structure and protect a critical economic resource. After the emergency repair and understanding the importance of a more permanent solution, TPWD again contracted Halff to implement detailed construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates for rehabilitating the dam to comply with current regulations, which included improvements to the dam’s embankment and principal spillway. Impact: By finding a permanent solution for the dam, TPWD has been able to reopen its recreation program, which will ultimately help lift the local economies of Smithville and Bastrop. Halff also developed an inno- vative approach to reduce potential impacts to endangered species, partic- ularly the Houston toad, which included measures like taking a traditional silt fence and repurposing it to develop toad exclusion fencing. Design enhancements for the new structure included installing a sharp-crested, straight drop principal spillway, training/retraining walls, grading, native stone rock riprap and stream enhancements.
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csengineermag.com YEA 2023
YEA 2022 csengineermag.com
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