Client
Hydroelectric Dam & Marine Construction Contractor – Counce, TN
Industry
Marine Construction, Hydroelectric Energy
Location
Counce, Tennessee
Project Overview
A hydroelectric dam facility in Tennessee required advanced sediment control measures during critical construction and rock placement operations. The project was especially sensitive because the dam’s intake structure feeds drinking water facilities serving two counties. Any uncontrolled sediment could have threatened water quality, equipment integrity, and compliance.
The contractor needed a solution that could adapt to barge navigation, withstand dynamic water conditions, and provide both impermeable and permeable containment options.
Objective
Prevent sediment from reaching intakes at the bottom of the water body, ensuring uninterrupted delivery of safe drinking water and protecting intake equipment during staged construction operations.
GEI Works Solution
GEI Works designed and delivered a Type 2 HD Turbidity Curtain with reefing lines, paired with a gate system that allowed barges to pass through without compromising containment. This solution balanced operational efficiency with environmental protection, ensuring that sediment was confined within work zones.
Key Features:
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Gate System with Curtain Integration – enabled barge navigation while maintaining containment.
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Multiple Curtain Types – submersible, impermeable, and permeable sections tailored to site conditions.
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Reefing Lines – allowed operators to raise and lower sections for versatility during staged operations.
Project Highlights
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Barge Access + Containment
The integrated gate system allowed barge movement while preventing turbidity from escaping into surrounding waters. -
Drinking Water Protection
Curtains effectively safeguarded the intake structures, ensuring continued delivery of clean water to two counties. -
Onsite Flexibility
The client maintained 20–30% additional curtain inventory, enabling rapid response to emergencies and shoreline activity over the project’s one-year duration.
Outcome
The Type 2 HD Turbidity Curtain system with reefing lines provided robust sediment control while allowing continuous dam operations. The project successfully protected drinking water facilities and demonstrated GEI Works’ ability to customize solutions for complex hydroelectric and marine construction environments.
This case underscores GEI Works’ leadership in delivering innovative containment systems that protect both critical infrastructure and public resources.
