Project Description

In August of 2023, Ballard successfully completed a large intake structure dredging operation at the Big Creek reservoir on the San Joaquin River in the Big Creek Watershed. Recognizing Ballard’s expertise with mobilizing large equipment into challenging and remote locations, and the successful completion of previous dredging projects of similar fashion for other utility providers, SCE initiated an ECI contract with Ballard to develop an executable methodology for the sediment removal from the reservoir and intake tower.

This emergency project involved the mobilization of four vessels, two complete flexi-float barges with 4-point mooring capabilities and crane, three land based support cranes, suction dredging equipment, and diving support equipment. The route for mobilization of equipment was limited to a narrow one-lane
mountain road with weight limited bridge capacities of which Ballard had to improve to accommodate for trucking the oversized barges and cranes to the dam/powerhouse. Despite the significant difficulty in trans-loading and hauling of equipment on the mountainous terrain and tight quarters, and the aggressive time frame in which Ballard was given to return the intake tower to generation, the dredging of 23,000 cubic yards of sediment was completed ahead of schedule and within the allotted budget.

The execution of the project required Ballard to implement an aggressive threemonth long, 7/12 work schedule to successfully complete the mobilization, sediment removal, and demobilization which was accomplished safely.