Colorado River Return Project

• Year: 2002
• Title: Colordao River Return Project
• Author: Boyle Engineering Corporation
• Description: Colorado River Return Project
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

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Relevant Features to
CRRP
RI Major Colorado
Rocky Mountian
Tunnel project
RI Hard rock and soft
groud conditions
Q Presure tune)
connecting to
hydropower facility
Extensive field studies
Elkbead Reservoir
City of Craig
300 West 4th Street
Craig, CO 81625
Bill Earley
(970) 824 -8151
Project Description
Elkhead Dam was built in 1974 by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in cooperation
with the power companies that owned the Craig Power Station. The dam is held in
escrow for transfer to the city of Craig. The existing embankment is about 90 feet in
height and experiences a fair amount of seepage through the right abutment.
URS has been providing engineering services for Elkhead Dam and Reservoir since
1994. These services have consisted of geotechnical investigations, design of dam
improvements and concept studies for raising the dam 20 to 45 feet in height.
A geotechnical investigation to evaluate a 45 -foot high raise of the dam was
performed in 1994. URS supervised drill crews provided by the US Bureau of
Reclamation. Two alternate dam designs for the raise were developed.
As part of the escrow process, URS has performed stability analyses and design of
minor improvements to the dam. These improvements have included widening the
road on the crest of the dam and installing new drain systems on the downstream
face of the dam.
URS developed concepts for raising the dam while maintaining a lowered reservoir
water surface. Alternatives consisting of either a cofferdam or an outlet tunnel
through the left abutment were designed.
URS was recently retained to prepare designs for a dam /reservoir enlargement by the
Colorado River Water Conservation District.
NOVLE