SACRAMENTO, CA, Sept. 28, 2010 -- GEI Consultants Inc., one of the nation's leading geotechnical, environmental, water resources, and ecological science and engineering firms, announced today that the All American Canal Lining Project was recognized as one of the 2010 Public Works Projects of the Year by the American Public Works Association.
Owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and operated by the Imperial Irrigation District, the 82-mile long All American Canal is the main conveyance source for Colorado River water into the Imperial and Coachella Valleys of Southern California. The $300 million project -- a new 23-mile-long concrete-lined section of the canal - conserves and transfers 67,700 acre-feet of water per year (afy) to the San Diego County Water Authority and the San Luis Rey settlement parties. Water supply to the settlement parties, which includes six San Diego County Indian tribes, the City of Escondido and the Vista Irrigation District, resolves decades-old water rights litigation by providing 11,500 afy of conserved water. A model for partnerships between state and local water agencies to invest in the California water supply, the project is Congressionally-authorized and a key element of the 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement to reduce seepage from the original earthen canal structure.
"Our chapter was pleased to support the nomination of the All American Canal Lining Project for the 2010 Project of the Year Award," said Tom Frank, P.E., president of the APWA San Diego and Imperial Counties chapter. "This project won a Project of the Year Award during our 2009 Chapter Awards Program. After learning more about the project's challenges, merits, and tremendous results on so many levels, our Executive and Awards Committee believed it warranted a National Public Works Project of the Year Award."
GEI served as engineer of record for the project and provided design support during construction. The Imperial Irrigation District and the San Diego County Water Authority jointly managed the project through the All-American Canal Lining Project Coordinating Committee. The project consists of a 23-mile-long concrete-lined canal located adjacent to, and parallel with, the existing All American Canal. It includes a crossover from the right to the left hand side of the existing canal in order to avoid, and to provide a buffer from, the Algodones Sand Dunes, which were encroaching upon the existing canal and threatening its operational efficiency.
The APWA Public Works Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/engineer, and the contractor completing successful public works projects. Awards are given in the categories of structures, transportation, environment, historical restoration/preservation, and disaster or emergency construction/repair. The All American Canal Lining Project was recognized in the environment category for projects with budgets over $75M.
Primary consultants include GEI Consultants Inc. and Dahl Consultants Inc. of Sacramento, California; the primary contractors include Kiewit Pacific Corporation and Ames-Coffman Joint Venture; and the construction manager is Parsons Water & Infrastructure Inc. The managing agencies and team members accepted the award at the APWA International Public Works Congress and Expo held at the Boston Convention and Exhibit Center in Boston, Mass.
About GEI Consultants Inc.
GEI's multi-disciplined team of engineers and scientists deliver integrated geotechnical, environmental, water resources and ecological solutions to diverse clientele nationwide. The firm has provided a broad range of consulting and engineering services on over 25,000 projects in 50 states and 22 countries. For more information, please visit the firm's web site at www.geiconsultants.com.
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