This project was located on the Sacramento River, about 45 miles northwest of Sacramento, and consisted of two primary portions of work: A 300-cubic-feet-per-second capacity combined pumping plant and fish screen and approximately 4.5 miles of canal construction.
The combined pumping plant consisted of foundation work, including H-Piles, sheet piles, and tie back piles, a cofferdam, retaining walls, pipe installation, pump installation, and access roads. Canal construction included fill and soil compaction, canal prism excavation, shotcrete lining, pre-cast concrete structures, a siphon structure, check structures and weep holes.
The Shimmick team developed innovative solutions to overcome challenges and accelerate construction. For example, the project required the design and installation of a deep cofferdam to build the fish screen and diversion structure. The original design called for a rock-filled combination sheet pile wall.
Shimmick proposed value engineering that eliminated the combination wall and rock fill, resulting in a high cost and time savings. The in-water work had to be carefully timed within the in-water work windows that allowed for migrating salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon as well as winter storms.
Additionally, due to the project’s location, access to perform pile driving in the river was a significant challenge. As a solution, Shimmick designed and built two temporary work trestles, which provided crane access for the entire project.
Shimmick, working closely with the Reclamation District 108, accomplished major cost savings and delivered the project on schedule.
