Vail Dam Seismic and Hydrologic Remediation

The Vail Dam project involves replacing the existing concrete arch dam, built in the late 1940s and acquired by the District in 1978, due to identified deficiencies in its spillway capacity and seismic resilience. Hydrologic and seismic evaluations revealed that the current spillway cannot safely pass the Probable Maximum Flood, and the dam would not withstand the stresses from a Maximum Credible Earthquake. Additionally, the existing outlet works lack the capacity to facilitate emergency reservoir drawdowns within regulatory timeframes. To address these issues, a new straight-axis gravity roller compacted concrete dam will be constructed immediately downstream of the existing structure, incorporating new inlet and outlet facilities. The new dam will be taller, ensuring that the entire PMF is routed through the existing spillway, and once operational, the old gates will be removed, the arch dam partially demolished, and an underwater connection established to link the old and new structures. The project aims to enhance the safety and operational capacity of the dam, with draft construction figures provided as part of the project documentation. The contract, titled "Vail Dam Seismic and Hydrologic Remediation," is posted under solicitation number D1911, with a response deadline of September 25, 2025. The project is managed by the Rancho California Water District in California, with a contract value estimated between 50 million and 150 million dollars. The primary point of contact is Heather Buero, reachable via email or phone, and the project scope emphasizes significant structural upgrades to meet current hydrologic and seismic standards.