Zachry is rehabilitating Palmetto Bend Dam for the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority in Jackson County, Texas. The project is designed to enhance embankment stability and long-term dam safety by reducing downstream water pressure and mitigating conditions that could contribute to seepage and piping.
The centerpiece of the rehabilitation is approximately 1,550 linear feet of permanent cutoff wall constructed along the dam crest, including an additional test section used to evaluate performance and determine whether further extension is needed. Zachry’s work also includes improvements within the East Drain Ditch, where the team will construct a boil closure to replace the existing sand boil and ring dike. This work includes a cofferdam, inverted filter with an internal drainage system, concrete cap, and additional bedding and riprap as required to stabilize ditch conditions.
Following cutoff wall installation, Zachry will manage the required consolidation period before completing roadway repairs and final site restoration. Zachry’s self-performing capabilities in excavation, earthwork, cutoff wall installation, cofferdam construction, and drainage systems provide greater control over safety, quality, schedule, and cost throughout this technically complex dam rehabilitation project.
