Wonderful job AquaDam®!

Workers fill the last 4ft tall SCE AquaDam®, which was joined to the closed end of another 4ft tall AquaDam® with a connection collar.

The second AquaDam® installed was modified on-site to be closed at both ends by the installation crew. The closed end and connection collar of the first 4ft tall SCE AquaDam® were not at a sufficient elevation to serve as a starting base for the next unit, as they terminated in a low-lying depression. To address this challenge, workers constructed the second unit into a DCE AquaDam®. Note that, now the fill-tubes of the DCE unit are positioned on top of the dam, approximately 10 feet to the left in the photo; a modification made in the field to adapt to the site conditions.

This photo shows the first 4ftall SCE AquaDam® at the deepest point along its path.

The AquaDam® cofferdam system extended all the way to the power pole visible in the background of this photo.

Once the workers completed filling the 4ft tall DCE AquaDam®, they proceeded to install the third unit, a 4ft tall SCE AquaDam®. The SCE AquaDam® was connected to the DCE AquaDam® using a connection collar. The fill tubes of the SCE AquaDam® pass through holes in the collar, with the open end resting on top of the closed end inside the collar.

Installing an AquaDam® through tall vegetation can present additional challenges due to unforeseen topography. Maintaining control of the roll is always crucial to ensure proper installation.

As the pumps fill the AquaDam®, the water pressure causes the material to settle on the bottom, gradually unwinding the roll. To facilitate this process, workers continuously laid down the vegetation in the AquaDam®’s path.

In this photo, we can observe a hill that the AquaDam® had to overcome in order to successfully navigate its intended route.

Workers have commenced filling the 4ft tall DCE AquaDam® located adjacent to the initial 4ft tall SCE unit. It is crucial for the two AquaDams® to be in close contact with each other in order to establish a watertight seal.

The first 4ft tall single closed end (SCE) AquaDam® was equipped with a connection collar intended to serve as the starting point for the second dam. However, the closed end of the first unit terminated at a depression, complicating the setup. To address this, the crew opted to fabricate the second AquaDam® as a double closed end (DCE) unit. Unlike SCE models, DCE AquaDams® have their fill-tubes positioned on top of the dam body, allowing the structure to self-elevate during installation without the need for a starting bank.

The AquaDams® advanced over dense, tall vegetation without issue, demonstrating their adaptability to challenging terrain. Notably, the first 4ft tall AquaDam® appears narrower at the center, this corresponds to the area with the greatest water depth. This occurs because an AquaDam® reaches its full height, and therefore its narrowest width, at the lowest elevation point along its path.

This photo shows the starting bank used for the first 4ft tall SCE AquaDam®, which provided ample elevation for proper deployment. The blue discharge hoses are inserted into the fill-tubes and are actively filling the AquaDam® with water, allowing it to unroll and conform to the terrain as it inflates.

Workers are installing the first 4ft tall, 9ft wide (when fully filled), 100ft long single closed end (SCE) AquaDam®. A SCE AquaDam® requires a starting bank to ensure its open end and fill-tubes remain at a higher elevation than the body of the AquaDam®. To function effectively, the open end and fill-tubes must stay elevated above the dam’s full height along its designated path. An AquaDam® reaches its maximum height only at the lowest elevation along its path.

The project aimed to maintain a water depth of no more than one foot throughout its duration. However, the contractor did not account for three man-made channels that were significantly deeper. Workers successfully deployed the 4ft tall AquaDams® through the first two channels, but the third channel, at a depth of 7ft, proved too deep. AquaDams® are constructed from lightweight, flexible materials and will float when empty in sufficiently deep water.

The objective of this project was to de-water a section of a water body located within Everglades National Park. As shown in this photo, the image captures the first of multiple AquaDam® units installed to form a continuous cofferdam measuring 725ft in length and 4ft in height. AquaDams® are delivered rolled around a wooden beam, similar to a carpet roll, encased in a protective covering and equipped with lifting ropes or straps for safe and efficient handling.

This project marks the fifth time that an AquaDam® has been utilized as a cofferdam system in a National Park. AquaDams® have been successfully employed in various National Park projects, including those in Redwood, Glacier, Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, and now Everglades National Park.