III-1. EAGLE RIVER FLATS POND PUMPING
23
ponds. Cell phone communications were
IMPLEMENTATION
employed to troubleshoot and repair faulty
Tidal predictions for the summer of 2000
equipment in the field, thus greatly increas-
indicated that major flooding tides would be
ing the time all the systems were on line. The
occurring at the Flats every month of the sea-
only times the systems were down were dur-
son (Table III-1-2). We felt there would be
ing short periods in June, July, and August
nothing we could do about any of the tides,
when the gensets were shut down to conserve
but we hoped to contain some of the lower
fuel in anticipation of flooding tides. The ex-
tides in June, July, and August using the tide
ception was dead batteries in two units, a
gates and wing walls installed at the heads of
problem quickly addressed by Weldin.
the major tidal gullies. With four tide gates
This was also the second year of helicopter
in both Areas A and C, we felt that the effects
support from ERA. Unlike last year, we had
of the flooding tides could be minimized. As
one pilot for the majority of the season, re-
tides and precipitation generally increase into
sulting in smoother operations. The addition
September, the pullout date for the season was
of a refueling depot on the EOD Pad greatly
set for the span of 1626 August.
increased helicopter utilization efficiency, thus
Contrary to our own predictions, the tide
reducing costs. ERA brought several drums
gates were able to prevent flooding during a
of jet fuel to the EOD pad with a pickup truck.
9.85-m tidal event on 4 June. We therefore
These drums were set on a CRREL-owned,
had a very good period of drying that oc-
plastic, four-drum spill-containment pallet
curred from general drawdown on 12 May
next to the helicopter landing area. Use of an
until the start of the next flooding cycle on 2
electric pump allowed quick refueling of the
July. At that time the summer rains began in
helicopter. As mentioned above, this was the
earnest. Over the course of these 50+ days,
first year we moved pipe using slings (Fig III-
substantial drying occurred (See Section III-2
1-3), a suggestion from ERA, and it worked
in this document). In July the river, the winds,
quite well. The pilots have also suggested
and the weather all cooperated to flood the
several other improvements to the operation
Flats, and continued rain and cloudy weather
that have all paid off in increased efficiency.
prevented any more meaningful drying over
The only problems we are still having are the
the remainder of the field season. The result
scheduling of helicopters and equipment
was a good year with respect to flooding tides,
availability. On several occasions, helicopters
with a maximum contiguous span of 52 days.
did not arrive or equipment was sent that
This compares quite favorably with the pre-
was not adequate for the tasks planned for
dicted maximum span of only 20 days. In to-
that day.
tal, from drawdown on 12 May to completion
Prevention of the flooding tide in June by
on 29 August, the Flats were drained for 93
the tide gates resulted in less frequent refuel-
days out of a total of 108, 50 of which were
ing of the systems than planned. After the
contiguous and occurred during the core dry-
final refueling of the systems during the ini-
ing period of 15 May to 15 September. How-
tial deployment phase on 18 May, aerial
ever, a wet July and August and very high
refueling did not occur again until 21 July.
flooding tides later in the season prevented
Systems in Ponds 256, 155, 258, and 730 re-
much drying after the first of July (See Sec-
quired refueling at this time, Pond 730 due to
tion III-4 in this document).
influx from the Pond 109 ditch and Pond 256
This year marked the second year of the
due to infiltration from the west side of Area
operation and maintenance (O&M) contract
A. This cut in half the requirement for refuel-
with Weldin Construction, Inc. All pump sys-
ing using the commercial helicopters.
tems were checked three times a week, along
Statistics from the system monitoring read-
with the Bravo Bridge base station and the
outs and O&M observations give a good in-
non-automated monitoring sensors located at
dication of the active remediation process at
the instrumentation stations in the treated
the Flats (Table III-1-3). Systems 3, 4, and 5 all
Previous Page
