Teviicos South Inc. in Boston, MA received an initial $50,000 increment as part of a $200 million firm-fixed-price contract for Seismic Stabilization Foundation Modification of Tuttle Creek Dam in Kansas so it can withstand a moderate to strong earthquake. As an interim measure, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using a Dam Failure Warning System until the construction work is complete.
Tuttle Creek Lake was constructed and is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is situated in Riley, Pottawatomie and Marshall Counties in northeast Kansas. The dam is located on the Big Blue River, 9 miles upstream from the confluence of the Blue and Kansas Rivers. The dam site is situated five miles north of Manhattan, Kansas, 60 miles west of Topeka, 125 miles west of Kansas City, and 130 miles south of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Tuttle Creek Dam and the surrounding communities are located in a region that has the possibility of experiencing moderate to large earthquakes. While even modern evaluations have determined that the original design of the intake tower meets current standards, the 1971 experience at the Lower San Fernando Dam in California has led to more advanced models, which noted that it was possible for the dam to fail during a large earthquake. Hence the project.
Work will be performed in Manhattan, KS and is expected to be complete by Aug. 30, 2012. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on May 10, 2005, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Engineer District in Kansas City, MO issued the contract (W912DQ-05-C-0017).