Problems on Arbuckle Reservoir, mitigation to run $65m

[afterdark80]

Originally Posted by cBach

From what I've read the issues are mainly due to the clay soil around the reservoir. They tried to account for it but the leaking occurred nonetheless. Other than making the bottom of the reservoir concrete I'm not sure what else they could've done. The mitigation plan seems fine to me. Actually I don't think the leaks are of concern, in New Orleans they always detect leaks in the MS River levees, called "boils". Soil structure is so complicated I'm not sure it can be avoided.

There don't appear to be any issues around corruption nor do I think the company involved in construction deliberately ruined the structure. I don't know why everyone always has a conspiracy theory on everything.

LCRA is the definition of corruption in Texas.



Would it surprise ANYONE in Texas that clay soil exists in that part of the state? Additionally, standard operating procedure and engineering 101 tells you to perform comprehensive soil boring and testing across the site. It is unlikely that LCRA failed to do this, however if they did not, it is grossly negligent and likely deliberate. Being surprised about clay soil is a joke, and using it as an excuse is even more laughable.



Is it acceptable to "try" and account for something on a $250M project? Failure to do proper due diligence, vetting of engineering/construction, and evaluation of companies seems more likely.



Everyone thinks public contracts are immune from corruption, however it is very easy to "steer" a preferred company directly to an award. Back channel information, sharing of competitors information, etc..



I doubt any company deliberately ruined anything after an award (other than inappropriately gaining an award), but incompetence and/or deficient design/construction is something completely different.

[Trainwreck20]

So, yeah, you have no facts on anything, but some 'doubt', 'thinks', and 'likely' (without any basis) to go along with random statements.

[afterdark80]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

So, yeah, you have no facts on anything, but some 'doubt', 'thinks', and 'likely' (without any basis) to go along with random statements.

It is clear with your dismissive attitude that you must have ties to LCRA or the rice farming industry.
One corrupt organization, and one useless industry to Texas.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by afterdark80

It is clear with your dismissive attitude that you must have ties to LCRA or the rice farming industry.
One corrupt organization, and one useless industry to Texas.

See? You extrapolate from basically no data and come up with a conclusion. I stand 'affirmed'

[cBach]

Originally Posted by afterdark80

LCRA is the definition of corruption in Texas.



Would it surprise ANYONE in Texas that clay soil exists in that part of the state? Additionally, standard operating procedure and engineering 101 tells you to perform comprehensive soil boring and testing across the site. It is unlikely that LCRA failed to do this, however if they did not, it is grossly negligent and likely deliberate. Being surprised about clay soil is a joke, and using it as an excuse is even more laughable.



Is it acceptable to "try" and account for something on a $250M project? Failure to do proper due diligence, vetting of engineering/construction, and evaluation of companies seems more likely.



Everyone thinks public contracts are immune from corruption, however it is very easy to "steer" a preferred company directly to an award. Back channel information, sharing of competitors information, etc..



I doubt any company deliberately ruined anything after an award (other than inappropriately gaining an award), but incompetence and/or deficient design/construction is something completely different.

In Louisiana they built the "Great Wall of Louisiana" it was a concrete levee that went 30 feet below sea level to 30 feet above sea level. They got experts from the Netherlands, the best engineers from the USA and designed it. They are finding sections underwater that are being scoured out quicker than they anticipated. They expected it to take 30 years before the scouring occurred but it's only been 15 years.

Engineering is complicated and even the best designs sometimes fail to account for problems. This delay seems normal in the course of any engineering project. There is a problem and a solution, that means that the only impact is time.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by afterdark80

It is clear with your dismissive attitude that you must have ties to LCRA or the rice farming industry.
One corrupt organization, and one useless industry to Texas.

LOL it is clear you are a troll. You are an anonymous user citing no facts but asserting corruption.

Then you attack a regular user of this forum who has proven for years to be thoughtful and considered in his opinions.

[acer8734]

Originally Posted by afterdark80

Yes. Phillips & Jordan--self proclaimed experts in reservoir construction--were awarded a contract and immediately the problems began. Delays, cost overruns, excuses. I've been following this for years. They've deliberately lobbied to keep information on these issues suppressed from public record.

LCRA set several goals for the Arbuckle Reservoir program, such as:
1. Add 90,000 acre-ft of water storage within the next five years
2. Reliably supply water to the farmers during the irrigation season
3. Pump water from the Lower Colorado River during peak flows outside of the irrigation season
4. The most important was to build the reservoir without raising the water rates

The last one ultimately made the project a failure. The blame lands 100% on LCRA. That's why neither the engineer nor the contractor were sued.

The Arbuckle Reservoir is a great example of how you get what you pay for. The engineer identified the potential seepage issue during the design phase and recommended a deeper cutoff wall. LCRA wouldn't change the design because it would probably be more than what was budgeted.

During the construction phase, the cutoff wall contractor identified the bottom of the cutoff wall was not terminating in a good clay layer and suggested going deeper. LCRA denied roughly $5 mil change order to install a deeper cutoff wall, so LCRA gambled on saving money instead of doing it right the first time just because they didn't want to raise water rates. But in the end, LCRA spent more money than budgeted and finished the projects several years late because they wouldn't listen and were trying to save money.

[cheeva]

WHo are these "Arbuckles" that we keep naming things after. Are they like the Moody's or something?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60wj5cbbLlI