BCI Engineers and Scientists

The Martin Cooling Pond is a 6,900 acre reservoir located east of Lake Okeechobee and north of the St. Lucie Canal in Martin County. The reservoir has an embankment length of 17.5 miles with a maximum design head of 23 feet.

Soon after filling, seepage was observed along the downstream slope along nearly 60 percent of the enhancement perimeter. Extensive sand boils developed within the toe ditch and around the pumping station resulting in failure of the embankment. The embankment was washed out over a 600 ft. length allowing the rapid release of 90,000 acre-ft. of water.

BCI worked with South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), investigated the dam failure, reviewed repair plans and recommendations, and helped to develop a comprehensive monitoring and inspection program. We reviewed the monitoring results, participated in regular inspections, and assisted in the development of operating rules and regulations following reconstruction of the dam. Corrected measures included a downstream drain system and weighting berm to provide seepage control and an upstream slurry cutoff trench. Seepage control system included 17 miles of pipe at 10 feet below grade with concrete sump with multiple pumps every ¾ mile.