CDA 2015 Annual Conference

Congrs annuel 2015 de lACB

CANADIAN DAM ASSOCIATION Mississauga, ON, Canada
ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DES BARRAGES 2015 Oct 5-8

STEVENS LAKE DAM SEISMIC UPGRADES

Cori Creba, E.I.T., Tetra Tech EBA, Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Bob Patrick, M.Sc. P.Eng., Tetra Tech EBA, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Andrew Walker, P.Eng., Tetra Tech EBA, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Rob Crisfield, The Village of Cumberland, Cumberland, BC, Canada

ABSTRACT

Dams constructed on Vancouver Island in the early to mid-1900s are typically deficient in seismic stability; and
potential failures resulting from liquefaction are often identified when design seismic events are analyzed. The need
to provide cost effective solutions is becoming increasingly important for clients with limited resources, such as
small municipalities, who operate and manage small scale infrastructure. This paper outlines a case study
considering seismic upgrades to Stevens Lake Dam in Cumberland BC. Stevens Lake Dam is classified as a High
consequence dam, as defined by the Canadian Dam Associations Dam Safety Guidelines (CDA 2007).

Tetra Tech EBA identified the old river channel (i.e. the highest dam section), where the original timber crib and
loose sand fill dam was built, as the section most susceptible to slope failure causing uncontrolled release of the
reservoir should liquefaction occur. Tetra Tech EBA designed a downstream Rock Buttress that would provide
adequate mass to resist slope failure through the liquefied soils as a result of the 1 in 2475 seismic event. The size of
the buttress was designed to meet the stability requirements for the Seismic, Static, Post Earthquake and
Liquefaction During Earthquake Conditions. Previously proposed remediation options, such as complete
reconstruction, were estimated to cost more than three times the amount of the rock buttress installation. This proved
to be highly sustainable for the client by allowing for major cost savings and a reduction in environmental impacts
of the project while upholding the safety concerns associated with the earthquake risk.

RSUM
La stabilit des barrages construits sur l'le de Vancouver entre le dbut et le milieu des annes 1900 prsente
gnralement des dficiences vis--vis lanalyse en conditions sismiques. Des ruptures potentielles causes par la
liqufaction sont souvent identifies lorsque les vnements sismiques de conception sont analyss. La ncessit
d'offrir des solutions conomiques est de plus en plus importante pour les clients aux ressources financires limites,
comme les petites municipalits qui exploitent et grent des infrastructures de petite envergure. Ce document dcrit
une tude de cas de mise aux normes sismiques du barrage du lac Stevens dans la rgion de Cumberland BC. Le
barrage du lac Stevens est class avec une forte consquence, selon les recommandations pour la scurit des
barrages de lAssociation canadienne des barrages (ACB 2007).

Le barrage original coupant l'ancien lit de la rivire tait constitu de caissons de bois remplis de sable lche. Tetra
Tech EBA a identifi un endroit, c'est--dire la section la plus haute du barrage, comme tant la zone la plus
vulnrable une rupture de pente cause par la liqufaction conduisant une perte non contrle du rservoir. Tetra
Tech EBA a conu un confortement en enrochement sur la pente aval afin de fournir suffisamment de masse pour
rsister la rupture de pente cause par la liqufaction des sols en considrant un vnement sismique de rcurrence
1 dans 2475 ans. La bute en enrochement a t conue pour respecter les exigences de stabilit en conditions
statiques, sismiques et post-sismiques ainsi quen considrant la liqufaction durant un sisme. Les options
proposes antrieurement, tel que la reconstruction complte du barrage, prsentaient des cots de lordre de trois
fois ceux de la mise en place de la bute en enrochement. Cette approche s'est avre trs intressante pour le client
en permettant des conomies importantes et une rduction des impacts environnementaux du projet, tout en
respectant la scurit par rapport aux sismes.

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1.0 GENERAL

1.1 Existing Dam Structure

Stevens Lake Dam is the uppermost dam in a series of five dams along Cumberland Creek that provide
water supply to the Village of Cumberland on Vancouver Island. Cumberland dams were originally
constructed as timber crib structures between the late 1890s and mid 1930s as part of a hydroelectric
development that also supplied potable water to Cumberland. Over the years, the original timber crib
dams have been widened and raised through the addition of generally uncompacted fill.

Picture 1: 1978 Picture of Downstream Timber Crib

Stevens Lake Dam has a maximum height of 6 m, with a crest width ranging from 10 to 15 m and a
length of approximately 60 m. The total storage volume is approximately 136,000m3 at the Full Supply
Level (FSL).

A concrete spillway structure is located in a bedrock outcrop at the right abutment of the dam. A 0.3 m
diameter low level conduit consisting of ductile iron with intake screening is present beneath the spillway
structure. The spillway was constructed in 1980. Two old low level conduits, each a 0.2 m diameter
ductile iron pipe, were constructed as part of the timber crib structure and are located at the left abutment
of the dam. These have since been covered by fill and there is no record of them being decommissioned.

Original drawings from 1979 were available, however, drawings for dam upgrades since 1979 were not
available.

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 Picture 2: Snippet from 1979 drawings.

1.2 Consequences of Failure

Stevens Lake Dam is classified as a High Consequence dam based on the potential cost to the Village
associated with potential loss of the entire Cumberland Creek system. As outlined in the CDA Dam
Safety Guidelines (CDA 2007), for a High consequence dam the design seismic event should be the 1 in
2475 year probability earthquake, and the Inflow Design Flood should be 1/3 between the 1000-year and
PMF.

The qualitative consequences of an uncontrolled discharge from Stevens Lake are as follows (EBA 2013):

Potential overtopping of 4 dams downstream due to a flood wave;

Destruction of Cumberland Creek pipeline inlet structure causing reduction of available water
supply to the Village of Cumberland;

Wash out of the forest service road used to access the intake dam;

Partial inundation of an abandoned rifle range;

Potential inundation of an access road to several residences downstream that could cause some
fatalities; and

Moderate temporary environmental impact on fish habitat downstream and the water quality in
Comox Lake.

1.3 Geology and Seismicity

Vancouver Island is located in the most earthquake prone region in Canada. The Cascadian Subduction
Zone (within 200 km of Vancouver Islands west coast) can cause upwards of 300 small earthquakes per
year in southwestern British Columbia. Less frequent, larger magnitude earthquakes contribute largely to
this regions seismicity (NRC 2015).

Surficial soils within the region are from the NITINAT soil association and consist of rubbly, sandy
gravelly colluvial or morainal deposits, less than 1 m thick, overlying volcanic bedrock from the
Karmutsen Formation (BCMoE 1985).

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As outlined in the CDA Dam Safety Guidelines (CDA 2007), for a High consequence dam the design
seismic event should be the 1 in 2475 year probability earthquake. For this site, the 1 in 2475 year
probability event has a PGA of 0.3g.

1.4 Previous Dam Safety Reviews

Tetra Tech EBA completed site inspections and geotechnical investigations for Stevens Lake Dam in
2003, in which loose saturated sand was observed at depth under the central portion of the embankment.
We concluded in the 2003 Dam Safety Review that the loose saturated sand fill could liquefy as a result
of this event. Tetra Tech EBA recommended a stability evaluation be undertaken to assess the Dams
structural integrity and whether or not it meets the factors of safety against instability suggested by the
CDA guidelines.

Seepage has historically been observed at the downstream toe of Stevens Lake Dam at the left abutment
in the vicinity of the abandoned low level conduits (EBA 2003).

The hydrotechnical analysis considering the 1000 year flood determined that Stevens Lake Spillway was
found to have adequate capacity to pass the 1000-year design inflow flood and that the freeboard
requirements meet the minimum requirements (in 2003) laid out by Land and Water British Columbia
Inc. It was recommended that the freeboard be confirmed with a wave analysis. In 2007, the CDA
suggested the inflow design flood for a high consequence dam should be increased to 1/3 between the
1/1000 year and Peak Maximum Flood.

1.5 Request For Proposal

The original RFP presented to Tetra Tech EBA in June 2013 was for geotechnical engineering and
environmental services for the complete removal and replacement of Stevens Lake Dam. Construction
was to commence in August of that year and, due to the aggressive timeline, we considered passing on the
project. Out of four companies that went to the mandatory site visit, we were only one of two that
submitted a proposal. However, rather than providing a scope of work that complied with their RFP, we
provided them one which proposed investigating alternative methods of dam remediation and provided a
realistic timeline for permits and approval in from the British Columbia Ministry of Environment
(BCMoE) (i.e. construction in 2014).

1.6 Preliminary Design Options

Upon winning the contract, we developed a decision matrix for the Village of Cumberland to outline
possible remedial options and preliminary costs. The options included: Do Nothing, Complete Dam
Removal and Replacement, Rock Buttressing, Compaction Grouting/ Rapid Impact Compaction
Densification, Cut-Off Wall/ Deep Soil Wall/ Sheet Pile, Decommission of the Dam, or Partial Removal
and Replacement. Reviewing this list of options provided the client with the necessary tools to make an
informed decision that would meet both the Villages needs and regulatory requirements.

The Rock Buttressing option proposed the construction of a Rock Buttress against the downstream and
upstream slopes of the dam, which would provide adequate mass to resist slope failure through the
liquefied soils as a result of the seismic event. The Rock Buttress option provided a cost effective solution
while meeting the regulatory requirements outlined by the BCMoE.

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 Picture 3: Remediation Alternatives Matrix

Once the rock buttress option was agreed to by the Manager of Operations (Rob Crisfield), the Village of
Cumberland council needed to agree to the change from the original concept of complete removal and
replacement. The Manager of Operations thought it would be more effective if we could explain the
benefits to the council ourselves. Therefore, Andrew Walker, P.Eng., made a presentation to the council
on January 27, 2014 to explain how the new design would be more sustainable, yet still fulfill all of
BCMoEs requirements.

1.7 Regulatory Compliance

The British Columbia Ministry of Environment is the governing body that enforces the safe dam practices
in BC. Ultimately the proposed remedial design must comply with the requirements laid out by the
BCMoE. We maintained good communication with BCMoE throughout the project, from submitting the
initial concept to the final design. Engaging the BCMoE early in the process meant that by the time we
submitted the design for approval, they already had a good understanding of the concept, which resulted
in an expedited approval.

2.0 DESIGN

2.1 Design Objectives

Based on previous Dam Safety Reviews considering Stevens Lake Dam the chosen remedial design must
resist liquefaction of the loose sand fills within the embankment, as a results of the design seismic event.
Other design objectives include, reducing seepage at the downstream toe of the dam as well as providing
adequate capacity to pass the IDF.

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 Tetra Tech EBA identified the old river channel (i.e. the highest dam section), where the original timber
crib and loose sand fill dam was built, as the section most susceptible to slope failure causing
uncontrolled release of the reservoir should liquefaction occur. Focusing on remediation of this section of
the dam, allowed us to implement a design focused on local remedial efforts rather than unnecessary
upgrades to the entire dam.

Picture 4: Plan View of Buttress Design

We designed the rock buttress by creating a slope stability model of the dam to which the rock buttress
could be added, using Slope/W software (GeoStudio 2007). Rock fill volumes were estimated using Civil
3D software (Autodesk 2013). The size of the buttress was designed to meet the stability requirements for
the Seismic, Static, Post Earthquake and Liquefaction during Earthquake Conditions. It was determined
during analysis that a rock buttress on the downstream slope would be sufficient to stabilize the dam
during the design seismic event and an upstream rock buttress was not required.

Old design drawings indicated the location of two abandoned low level outlet pipes. Specifications on the
old drawings indicated that the pipes should have been grouted. But since no record drawings were
available, the condition of these pipes was unclear. As part of the buttress construction, these pipes would
be grouted (if they werent already) to reduce potential seepage associated with leaving them in place.

We designed a filter, to reduce the potential for loss of fine grained soils. The filter was designed to allow
free flow of water into the coarse layer of a drain, while holding back erodible material. The filter was
designed based on methods outlined in Seepage, Drainage and Flow Nets H.R. Cedegren, 1989
(Cedegren 1989).

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Tetra Tech EBA identified a natural spillway at the west end of the lake, surveyed elevations showed that
this would to act as an auxiliary spillway during an extreme flood event. This auxiliary spillway was
imperative to the overall remedial design, because it provided an alternative to re-sizing the concrete
spillway within the dam and this resulted in major cost savings to the Village of Cumberland.

Picture 5: Natural Auxiliary Spillway

2.2 Seismic Design

We completed a liquefaction assessment to determine the potential for liquefaction. Liquefaction

susceptibility was assessed using the simplified approach recommended in Idriss and Boulanger, 2008,
based on SPT data from EBAs 2003 borehole. Other parameters were estimated based on Earthquake
Canadas Hazard Calculations and Tetra Tech EBAs engineering judgement.

The Canadian Dam Association guidelines suggest Factors of Safety for Slope Stability for both static and
seismic assessment. For seismic assessment these include: pseudo-static and post-earthquake loading
conditions. Our approach to the Pseudo-static loading condition considers applying the full PGA as a
horizontal force, for the situation in which the earthquake forces act on the dam, but does not cause
liquefaction. When factors of safety less than 1 result from application of the full PGA, the Bray and
Travasarou method was used to calculate the expected displacement (Bray and Travasarou 2007).

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The Post-earthquake considers a static model with the reduced strength of the liquefied soils, i.e. the
earthquake caused the soils to liquefy but has stopped shaking so no horizontal force is applied. The
residual strength of 7 kPa for liquefied soils was determined by the procedure outlined in Idriss and
Boulanger (2008), in which corrected SPT blow counts were correlated to residual shear strength for
liquefied soils. Case histories show that strength loss of 80 to 92% of the pre-earthquake drained strength
can be realized, due to liquefaction.

We also determined that it would also be good practice to design the buttress for a condition that
considers longer duration earthquakes (subduction events). The case in which the earthquake causes
liquefaction of the saturated sands and continues to shake, resulting in a model in which the residual
strength of the liquefied soils and the application of a horizontal force is warranted. Because we were
designing the buttress to mitigate uncontrolled release of the reservoir, some deformations resulting from
the design seismic event are considered acceptable. To estimate the deformations associated with the
Liquefaction during Earthquake condition, empirical methods were used. The Bray and Travasarou
method, which was used for the pseudo-static condition, considers that the shear strength of soil remains
the same during an earthquake and therefore it is not applicable for modeling deformation resulting from
liquefaction.

2.3 Geochemical and Geotechnical Characterization of Nearby Quarry

Part of the attraction of using a rock buttress design was the proximity of an abandoned quarry next to the
dam site. We conducted a material characterization study on bedrock material from the partially
excavated quarry. The characterization study was developed to assess the suitability of the quarry
material for use as aggregate in the rehabilitation of the Stevens Lake Dam. The proposed end use of the
material is as supporting weight in the rock buttress design on the downstream side of the dam. The
geochemical characterization and geotechnical information was provided in tender documents to
contractors bidding on the dam rehabilitation project

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 Picture 6: Abandoned Quarry next to Stevens Lake Dam

2.4 Results

Based on the results of a liquefaction analysis, ground motions associated with the 1:2475 year seismic
event will cause liquefaction of the loose saturated fill soils, encountered at depths of 3.8 m to 7.4 m,
during EBAs 2003 drilling program. The dense till and bedrock underlying the sand is not susceptible to
liquefaction.

The governing condition was the liquefaction during earthquake condition which applied a horizontal
load to the dam while considering the residual strength of the liquefied sands. The Rock Buttress was
designed for this condition.

Providing an alternative option to complete dam removal and replacement that still met regulatory
requirements, resulted in major cost savings for the Village of Cumberland. Complete dam removal and
replacement was estimated to cost $1.2M in construction costs alone, whereas the rock buttress
construction cost approximately $300,000. Needless to say, the client was very pleased with the outcome
and this work has led to further business opportunities with the Village of Cumberland.

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3.0 CONSTRUCTION

Major challenges during the design phase included; as-built drawings being unavailable for previous
upgrades to the dam, unknown location and condition of two abandoned Low Level Outlet (LLO) pipes,
as well as unknown condition of the fill that was used for previous dam upgrades. Incorporating some
flexibility into the design and construction contract was necessary to prepare for these unknown factors.

Fieldwork was initiated on September 3, 2014 with excavation of the upstream slope to find and plug the
Low Level Outlet (LLO) pipes. A surveyor laid out the upstream location of the old LLO pipes and the
area was excavated to an approximate depth of 8 m below the dam crest before the LLO pipes were
encountered. Two 200mm diameter pipes were uncovered, and the soil infilling them removed to allow
grouting for 3 m lengths. A compacted berm was built with borrowed till material around the LLO pipes
inlet location and concrete was poured onto the exposed LLO pipe inlets. The compacted replacement fill
increased the stability of the upstream slope.

Picture 7: Exposed Old LLO Pipes Upstream Side.

After the upstream LLO pipes were grouted and covered with compacted fill, the downstream slope was
excavated to uncover the LLO pipes at that end. Once both pipes were exposed, water surged out, but the
flow stopped after approximately 1 minute. Both pipes were measured to be open for 21 m and, based on
our recommendation, the entire length of the LLO pipes were attempted to be grouted.

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 Picture 8: Downstream LLO Pipes

Three 20 mm diameter grout lines were placed in each LLO pipe; a 2 m long primary line, a 10 m long
secondary line and a 20.5 m long air vent. Backfill material around the pipe and grout lines was carefully
placed to protect them from the buttress rock fill. In order to utilize some local native fill material, a
French drain was constructed directly downstream of the low level outlet pipes, for approximately 10 m
along the original creek channel, meeting the buttress fill downstream to create passage for seepage to occur.

Picture 9: Downstream Buttress Section

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 Picture 10: Installation of Grout Lines

Picture 11: Geotextile Placed on Downstream Face.

Once the downstream slope was reinstated to an approximate 50 percent slope, geotextile filter fabric was
rolled down the slope with a 1 m overlap. It was tied into the rock key at the base and keyed into a small
trench at the crest. Blast rock fill was placed gently against the fabric and track packed.

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On September 11, 2014, a representative from the Ministry of Environment visited the site to inspect the
construction works. The rock fill buttress was near completed at that time. The volume of required to
construct the buttress was estimated to be 1,200m3.

The auxiliary spillway was largely grubbed but some outcropping bedrock was required to be blasted and
the dam access road needed to be lowered below the spillway channel level. In lieu of a culvert, this area
was rock armoured.

Picture 12: Outcropping Bedrock in Auxiliary Spillway

On September 17, 2014 grouting of the LLO pipes commenced. A cement bentonite slurry was pumped
into the grout lines. At the west pipe, water flowed out of the 9 m and 21 m lengths, with grout ending up
coming out of the 9 m length. At the east pipe, water flowed out of the 9 m pipe but air only came out of
the 21 m pipe. An estimated 2.6m3 of grout was pumped into the pipes but the volume to fill the pipes
was only 1.3 m3. Therefore, it is likely that grout was filling some voids around the LLO pipes.

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 Picture 13: Completed Rock Buttress

4.0 CONCLUSIONS

Through effective communication with the client and with the Ministry of Environment, we were able to
provide a more effective dam remediation solution. The design allowed for the use of local contractors,
local materials, and was more acceptable environmentally than the original remediation method
suggested.

The following lessons were learned from this project:

We do not always need to be in compliance with the RFP, providing alternate options and
maintaining good communication with the client in this case resulted in major cost savings

Expect the unexpected, you cant always believe design drawings unless there is some record of
what actually happened.

Following on the above, some flexibility in the design and having effective, full time geotechnical
supervision is critical during construction.

The use of local materials and contractors enabled us to troubleshoot and come up with effective
solutions to unforeseen problems (e.g. utilizing drilling and blasting to remove outcropping bedrock
from auxiliary spillway).

Involving the governing body (i.e. BCMoE) on the proposed design early on in the project can prove
to be an asset later on.

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5.0 REFERENCES

Autodesk. 2013. Civil 3D software

CDA (Canadian Dam Association). 2007. Dam Safety Guidelines

Cedegren, H.R. 1989. Seepage, Drainage and Flow Nets

Bray, J.D. and Travasarou, T., 2007. Simplified Procedure for Estimating Earthquake-Induced Deviatoric Slope
Displacements. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, 381-392.

British Columbia Ministry of Environment (BCMoE), 2012. Dam Safety Review Guidelines. Version 3.
BCMoE. Accessed January 2014. BC Water Resources Atlas. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/data_searches/wrbc/

BCMoE. August 1985. Soils of Southern Vancouver Island Technical Report 17

EBA. 2003. Dam Safety Review Cumberland Creek Dams

EBA. 2014. Technical Memo Stevens Lake Dam Remediation Preliminary Cost Estimate and Technical
Implication of Remediation Option

EBA. 2014. Stevens Lake Dam Remediation Rock Buttress Design

GeoStudio (2007). Computer program for slope stability analysis, Version 7.19. Developed by Geo-Slope
International Ltd., Calgary, Alberta.

Idriss, I.M. and Boulanger, R.W., 2008. Soil Liquefaction During Earthquakes. Earthquake Engineering Research
Institute Monograph 12.

Natural Resources Canada (NRC). Accessed June 2015. Seismic Zones in Western Canada
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/zones/westcan-eng.php

NRC. Accessed January 2014. Determine 2010 National Building Code of Canada seismic hazard values.
http://www.earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/hazard-alea/interpolat/index_2010-eng.php

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