GAI worked with the Pennsylvania Department of General Services and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to redesign the two high-hazard dams associated with Tamarack Lake. Tamarack Lake is a 1,000-acre flood-control lake located near Meadville, Pennsylvania. GAI provided engineering services to redesign the concrete risers, outfall structures, auxiliary spillways, diversion dam, and saddle dike.

GAI’s structural department was responsible for the redesign of two cast-in-place concrete riser structures, the design of two cast-in-place culverts running under the full length of each dam, and several cast-in-place concrete outfall structures located along the dam. GAI also designed two steel-framed access bridges for each riser structure. GAI prepared design drawings and specifications for each of these design elements.

A significant geotechnical investigation was completed by GAI in 2014 involving a drilling program, lab testing, ground penetrating radar, in-situ testing, stability analyses, and settlement calculations.

GAI also completed a hydrologic and hydraulic study of the two dams. Multiple permit applications included Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Dam Safety, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and township stormwater management. GAI also completed 18 months of full-time construction monitoring and testing services and construction administration as part of our scope of work.