The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) has recognized those who designed and modified the Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River into a hydroelectric facility.

Missouri River Energy Services, Ames Construction, Stantec (engineer), Case-Bencor JV (Keller; foundation contractor), Rembco Geotechnical Contractors (grouting contractor), and Schnabel Geostructural Design & Construction (anchor contractor) is being honored for ingenuity of their design with the 2021 DFI Outstanding Project Award.

The award is being presented during the DFI 46th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations, October 12-15, 2021.

Among the geotechnical and other challenges the Red Rock team overcame was constructing a new intake channel, penstocks that carry water to the turbines, and a power house—directly adjacent to the existing dam’s spillway. To maintain the dam’s integrity during construction, extensive water- and earth-retention systems, prescriptive construction staging, and a robust dam safety surveillance program were used. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ facility on Lake Red Rock now provides up to 55 MW (55,000 kW) of clean, reliable power to surrounding communities, and will generate 178,000 MWH (178,000,000 KWH) annually.

The OPA was established in 1997 to recognize the superior work of DFI members, an international association of contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, academics and owners in the deep foundations industry.

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