Embankment and Floodwall PMF Design at Four TVA Dams

When the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) updated the hydraulic models for the Tennessee River system and revised the probable maximum flood (PMF) elevations at the Cherokee, Fort Loudoun, Tellico, and Watts Bar reservoirs, they found that the new PMF elevations would overtop the dams. Improvements were needed. TVA initiated a process of permitting and designing long-term measures to address the revised PMF. The solution? Implementing a combination of embankment modifications and flood wall construction.

We helped fine tune the alignments and design of typical sections. Our engineers fast-tracked the project by issuing advance authorization packages to contractors to meet the critical deadline. Another challenge included designing the protection to withstand substantial impact loads, such as barges on this inland waterway, along the entire flood wall.

We developed construction packages, environmental protection measures, and numerous support plans for the embankment modifications and new flood walls at each dam including layouts of existing conditions and associated project features. During construction, we provided full-time, onsite representation at all four dams.

The result? Flood protections on the Tennessee River system that took into account the new standards for safety.