Barbados Farmers Dam and Impoundment

Client: Stantec Consulting Caribbean, Ltd.

Location: Black Rock, St. Michael, Barbados

Services: Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Inspection

To provide irrigation to a proposed Apes Hill Golf Course development, KCI was contracted to explore the subsurface conditions and prepare design plans for a small earth embankment dam and impoundment.

The dam embankment will be a maximum 24 feet in height, 900 feet in length, and will be constructed with local clay deposits. The proposed capacity of the impoundment will be approximately 500 million gallons.

The subsurface exploration involved conducting standard penetration test borings and excavating 27 test pits. Engineers needed to document the subsurface stratigraphy and evaluate the extent of coral at the site. Analysis involved compaction, CBR, classification, swelling, consolidation, compression, permeability, and shear strength testing.

During design, the team conducted a seepage analysis, prepared conceptual designs for local agency approval, and prepared draft and final construction documents. The results of the analysis indicated that, due to the presence of cracks within the clay foundation, an upstream permeable liner was required to reduce seepage through the embankment. Design plans focused on a homogeneous dam with an upstream liner.

KCI provided construction inspection and oversight services during the construction of the dam. Engineers prepared an operation and maintenance manual as well as an Emergency Response Plan, detailing necessary procedures for maintaining the dam including inspections, groundwater level and seepage monitoring, vegetation control and tree clearing, and emergency procedures.

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