Fredrick poses for a selfie with Jenna.
As one of the world’s largest dams, Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Reclamation’s Columbia–Pacific Northwest Region presents unique challenges for staff tasked with its operations and maintenance. Power Office Emergency Management Coordinator Jenna Herreman and Western Colorado Area Office Technical Services Division Manager Fredrick Busch had the opportunity to learn about some of those challenges first-hand after responding to a request for available Ropes Access Team members to assist with an inspection of the exterior of the dam’s river outlet works and three of its spillways.
Joining other team members from the CPN Region, Herreman and Busch tackled a challenging inspection, putting their technical skills and physical endurance to the test.
“When the email came out asking for engineering assistance for the spillway inspection, I was very excited, and when I was selected to assist with the inspection, I was ecstatic!” said Busch.
Ty Murray, rope access team coordinator from Grand Coulee, was the team lead for this project and thoughtfully planned the logistics of the extensive inspection.
“The spillway inspection job had a limited window of opportunity to work around seasonal water levels, tourist considerations and the amount of daylight and weather conditions,” said Murray. “Bringing the right people together from the CPN Regional office in Boise, Upper Colorado Basin and here at Coulee is what made this job possible. The Rope Access Team here at Grand Coulee performs a great deal of rope jobs due to the sheer size of our facility and our equipment (rope access is the only way to get to some of the areas), but the spillway job needed to be done in one week's time and we knew we would need outside assistance.”
During the inspection, the team monitored for spalls (missing or breaking of concrete), signs of white residue that would indicate calcium build ups, and any gaps or cracks on the pipes. They took photos of anything amiss and logged all data that was collected during each rappel. This data will later be used to address repairs.
Working 60 hours in 5 days, the four-man team of inspectors was presented with a very physically challenging inspection due to the massive size of Grand Coulee. Each person was required to carry 80 pounds of rope to be fed through their harness during the climb, so the physically demanding rappels took the team several hours to complete. Much to the team's appreciation, Murray arranged to have a boat waiting at the base of the dam for the inspectors to lower down into, sparing them the exhaustive climb back up the face of the dam.
In total the team inspected an area that was almost 10-acres in size and descended more than 12,000 feet of rope in total.
“This was a wonderful experience, and I learned a lot,” said Herreman. “I also appreciate that projects like these can open doors for collaboration between the regions.”
Busch expressed similar appreciation for the opportunity to inspect such an iconic facility.
“When walking the clearance before the rope access work began, it quickly became apparent this facility was constructed by true master craftsmen,” said Busch. “It was also apparent the facility is still maintained by master craftsmen who take pride in their work. When first rappelling onto the spillway surface, I was quickly impressed at the uniformity across the huge spillway. Repairs to the surface were minimal and I was impressed at the overall condition considering how often it has water on it.”
Standing on the spillway itself left a profound impression on the team. As Busch put it, “Being on the spillway is a humbling experience, giving you a whole new respect for Grand Coulee Dam’s scale and the immense power of the Columbia River, something that’s easy to overlook from the road on top of the dam.”
The inspection at Grand Coulee Dam showcased not only the skill and dedication of the team but also the remarkable engineering and maintenance that keeps such an immense structure operating safely and efficiently. Projects like these underline the importance of cross-regional collaboration and rigorous upkeep for critical infrastructure. For Herreman, Busch and the rest of the team, the experience was a reminder of the vital role they play in preserving these monumental facilities, ensuring they continue to carry on the mission of Reclamation and withstand the test of time.
