News Release Archive

Reclamation Awards Initial Construction Contract for the Joint Federal Project at Folsom Dam and Reservoir

Media Contact: Reclamation public affairs (below), , 10/01/2007 22:09

For Release: October 01, 2007

Media Contacts:  
Bureau of Reclamation:  Jeffrey McCracken  916-978-5100, jmccracken@mp.usbr.gov
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:  John Nowell, 916-557-5101, John.A.Nowell@usace.army.mil
California Department of Water Resources:  Don Strickland, 916-653-9515, donalds@water.ca.gov
Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency:  Stein Buer, 916-874-7606, buers@saccounty.net

The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded the first in a series of construction contracts for a new auxiliary spillway at Folsom Dam and Reservoir.  The contract, awarded on September 28, 2007, in the amount of $16,068,000, went to  Kiewit Pacific Company of Concord, California. 

The auxiliary spillway, or Joint Federal Project (JFP), represents an unprecedented partnership among Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the California Department of Water Resources/Reclamation Board, and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency.  When completed, the JFP will address the hydrologic risk to Folsom Dam identified through Reclamation's Safety of Dams (SOD) evaluation program.  Hydrologic risk refers to possible overtopping of the dams and dikes during an extreme storm event.  The JFP also achieves the Corps' objective of increasing flood control at Folsom to 1/200-year protection. 

The JFP consists of a water-side approach channel, a control structure with six submerged tainter gates, aconcrete-lined spillway chute approximately 3,000-feet long, and a stilling basin which acts as an energy dissipation structure prior to discharges converging with the American River below the main concrete dam.  The project will be constructed in three successive phases by Reclamation and the Corps.  The Phase I contract with Kiewit Pacific Company includes initial spillway excavation, construction of a haul road, and modifications to the Right and Left Wing Dams.  Work will begin in late fall 2007 and will be completed by 2009.  Phases II and III will follow with full completion of the JFP expected by 2015. 

In addition to the JFP, Reclamation will complete additional dam safety work on Dikes 4, 5, and 6, and the Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam.  Once the JFP is completed, the Corps will proceed with other flood control improvements, including a 3.5-foot raise of the earthen embankments and modification of the emergency spillway gates.

Additional information on the JFP is available on Reclamation's website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/jfp/index.html

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