The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received an award for its rehabilitation work at the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee in south Florida.
The Palm Beach Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) announced the Reach 1 portion of the rehabilitation project was the winner of its Outstanding Project of the Year Award, presented annually to recognize the best example of innovative or outstanding design/construction project in Palm Beach County. In making the selection, the Palm Beach ASCE considered the contribution of the project to the well-being of people and the environment, the resourcefulness used in planning and solutions, and innovations in construction.
Over the past five years, the Corps has undertaken a number of projects to improve the conditions of the dike in Reach 1. These projects include the installation of 21.4-miles of cutoff wall, improvements to the toe ditches in critical areas, and the backfilling of an old quarry adjacent to the dike south of Pahokee.
“Although much progress has been made, resulting in a dike that is safer today than it was five years ago, much more remains to be done, ” said Saxby Anderson, Resident Engineer for construction at Herbert Hoover Dike . “ The Corps is now focusing attention on replacing water control structures surrounding the lake, and studying the other fixes that will be necessary to reduce the risk of failure at the dike.”
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Press Release, May 22, 2013