Black & Veatch Named Program Manager For $150M Earthquake Retrofit Of Northern California Dam

The Santa Clara Valley Water District has selected Black & Veatch to lead an urgent seismic retrofit program for Anderson Dam. The $150M program will enable the water district to again use the dam for maximum water supply storage when completed in 2018.

"Completing the project on schedule is crucial for both public safety and effective water resource management," said Jim Fiedler, Santa Clara Valley Water District Chief Operating Officer. "One of the program management team's most important responsibilities is to make sure that happens."

Following a seismic stability evaluation in 2011, the water district implemented self-imposed water level restrictions on the dam, which were later approved by regulators. The evaluation revealed the dam is subject to significant damage if a large earthquake were to occur nearby. To protect downstream communities from the potential uncontrolled release of water, the reservoir will operate at 68 percent capacity until improvements are completed.

As program manager, Black & Veatch will work with a team of local small business subcontractors to oversee planning, permitting, design and construction of improvements for the dam.

"Our goal is to minimize community and environmental impacts as well as complete the project in a timely and cost-effective manner," said Jim Watson, Black & Veatch Program Manager. "Anderson Reservoir is an integral part of Santa Clara County's surface water supply system. It also provides incidental flood management and recreational benefits as well as habitat for a host of threatened and endangered species, some of which only are found within the county at this dam site."

About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building Critical Human Infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2011 were US$2.6B. For more information, visit www.bv.com.

SOURCE: Black & Veatch