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Rueter-Hess Dam and Reservoir to Solve Water
Shortage Problems1
By Robert J. Huzjak2, P.E., RJH Consultants, Inc.
and Fares Y. Abdo3, P.E., Portland Cement Association
 Rueter-Hess
Dam and Reservoir project is located 3 miles southwest of the Town
of Parker, Colorado on Newlin Gulch, which is a tributary drainage
of Cherry Creek. An estimated 240,000 yd3 of soil-cement
will be used to complete the upstream slope facing of the earthen
dam and about 50,000 yd3 for the auxiliary spillway.
The proposed 196 feet high dam will create about 72,000 acre-feet
of water storage. Built for the Parker Water and Sanitation District
(PWSD), the reservoir will serve the current water needs and solve
long-term water supply and management challenges.
The Rueter-Hess project consists of an earthen dam, a water diversion
structure on Cherry Creek and a pump station and pipeline to carry
surface water from Cherry Creek to Rueter-Hess Reservoir. The project
employs a water management system that captures surface water, especially
storm runoff that normally would be lost downstream. When complete,
the project will reduce the area's reliance on groundwater and pumping
water from underground aquifers.
Designed by RJH Consultants, Inc. of Englewood, Colorado, the project
originally was envisioned to be built as a 135-foot high, 5,300-foot
long earthen dam that would impound approximately 16,200 acre-feet
and inundate approximately 470 acres. But since construction began
in 2004, the communities of Castle Rock, Castle Pines North and
Stonegate have requested storage at Rueter-Hess. This added need
for storage capacity has accelerated the need to enlarge the dam
and will increase the surface area of the lake from 470 water surface
acres to 1,170 water surface acres and expand the dam height to
196 ft.
Phase I of the project including building the 135-foot high earthen
dam has been completed. The construction manager was Weaver General
Construction; Sema Construction handled the earthwork; Gears, Inc.
constructed the soil-cement slope protection; Ames Construction
built the outlet works; and Hayward Baker installed the curtain
wall grouting.
 The
slope at the upstream face of the 135-foot high dam ranged from
3H:1V to 4.25H:1V. Flatter slopes received two layers of soil-cement
built using plating construction method whereas steeper slopes were
covered with soil-cement using stair-step construction method. Project
specifications called for soil-cement thickness of 2 feet as measured
perpendicular to the slope. A series of soil-cement mix designs
and a field test section were performed prior to starting soil-cement
placement. Testing performed included aggregate gradation, moisture-density
relationship, compressive strength, and durability tests. Based
on the test results, correlations between compressive strength and
durability were developed and a minimum of 500 psi compressive strength
at 56 days was selected for the project.
Approximately 73,000 yd3 of soil-cement were used in Phase I. Soil
for the soil-cement was obtained from approved borrow areas located
within the proposed reservoir basin. To meet the compressive strength
requirement, a cement content of 9 percent by dry weight of soil
was selected. Portland cement Type I/II was used. Gears, Inc. mixed
the materials using an Accumix 750 XB continuous pugmill. The soil-cement
facing was built in about 12 weeks from mid August to early November,
2006. The total cost of in-place soil-cement was $38/yd3. This cost
included cost of materials, mixing, transporting, placing and curing.
RJH Consultants, Inc. is currently designing Phase II to raise
the dam. Construction of this phase will begin after U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers approves the enlargement permit. Construction is expected
to be completed by 2011.
1. Excerpts from this article are based on information posted on
Parker
Water and Sanitation District website and feature
story by Stephanie Sommers, McGraw Hill Construction,
November, 2006.
2. Robert J. Huzjak, P.E. is the Chief Engineer for this project
and is currently President of RJH Consultants, Inc.
3. Fares Y. Abdo, P.E. Program
Manager, Water Resources, Portland Cement Association
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