In 2020, wine vineyards across Northern California faced severe challenges due to widespread wildfires and prolonged drought conditions. In response, farmers were compelled to devise rapid and innovative solutions for water storage. One example occurred in Hopland, California, where a vineyard owner implemented a temporary strategy by dividing his pond and relocating all available water to one side using an AquaDam® system.

AquaDams® are shipped rolled tightly around a wooden beam, resembling a carpet roll, and enclosed in a protective covering. Each unit is equipped with lifting ropes or straps to facilitate handling and deployment. In this instance, the AquaDam® has already been launched and is currently being filled with water drawn from the farmer’s pond. The protective wrapping and lifting apparatus have been removed, indicating the installation process is well underway.

As the AquaDam® is pressurized with water from the pond, the resulting internal hydraulic forces compel the unit to progressively unroll. This specific deployment utilizes an 8ft tall, 17ft wide (when fully inflated), and 232ft long single closed end (SCE) AquaDam®. The unit's deployment originated from the starting bank, which is positioned off-camera to the right.

The water body exhibited a high concentration of aquatic vegetation, encompassing both floating and submerged species. Despite the density of plant life, the AquaDam® functioned effectively, with no operational issues arising from the presence of the vegetation.

The design of the SCE AquaDam® mandates that the open end and fill-tubes be positioned at an elevated starting bank. This elevation requirement is critical: the fill-tubes must remain higher than the dam's ultimate full height to facilitate even pressurization. Consequently, the 8ft tall AquaDam® will only reach its maximum rated height at the lowest topographical point along its deployed length.

Following its controlled unrolling, the 232ft long SCE AquaDam® now spans the entire pond length, thereby generating the required hydraulic barrier to compartmentalize the water body.

Once an AquaDam® reaches its designated ending bank, the unit must be filled with water to its specified design height to ensure proper functionality and structural integrity.

To facilitate water extraction from deeper sections of the pond, the installation crew utilized a Telehandler forklift. This equipment provided the necessary reach and stability to position hoses and manage fill operations efficiently during the AquaDam® deployment.

At the ending bank, several feet of the AquaDam® remain unrolled. This is acceptable, and even preferable, as having excess length ensures full coverage and flexibility during installation. The remaining roll can be secured with ropes to prevent further unintentional unrolling and to maintain the dam’s position and integrity.

The pump house visible on the right serves as the farmer’s primary system for distributing water to the vineyard. Once the AquaDam® installation is fully completed, the plan is to transfer all the water from the left side of the pond to the right, ensuring adequate irrigation for the grapevines.

With the 232ft long SCE AquaDam® now substantially inflated, it is important to note the height distribution. The dam will only reach its full 8ft elevation where it spans the deepest water, as this represents the lowest natural elevation traversed by the unit.

The AquaDam® has been filled to its full capacity, allowing the far side of the pond to be safely de-watered.

Approximately one month later, the farmer successfully transferred all the water to the opposite side of the pond. As a result, the previously submerged area is now completely dry

The 8ft tall, 232ft long SCE AquaDam® is fully deployed and performing effectively, creating a clear hydraulic separation between the two sides of the pond.

From the wet side of the pond, subtle fluctuations in water level are visible along the side of the AquaDam®, demonstrating its responsiveness and stability under varying conditions. Excellent performance by the AquaDam® system!