GEOWEB Reservoir Slope Hard-Armor Protection

Project Name: McCook Quarry Flood Reservoir

Project Location: Chicago, Illinois

Hard-Armoring of Embankments at Flood Reservoir Utilizes 3D GEOWEB Geocells.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Permanent erosion protection was necessary for the McCook Quarry flood reservoir for the City of Chicago. The reservoir averages 300 ft deep and is approximately 1.75 miles in diameter. The 105 ft long slopes above the quarry face required a system that would be low maintenance and stable at 2H:1V. A major site-specific challenge was installing an erosion control product on a steep, long slope with a 300 ft drop at the bottom. The product of choice was required to be installed by hand as machines were not safe on the slope.

GEOWEB SLOPE PROTECTION SOLUTION

After evaluating several hard armor systems, the USACE selected Presto Geosystems’ GEOWEB cellular confinement system with gravel and concrete infill. The GEOWEB system met the installation requirements in the restricted area along with minimal long-term maintenance.

Per USACE requirements, a contractor is required to obtain material quotes from at least three manufacturers. But Jeff Russell from Schwartz Excavating wasn’t about to compromise.

“We were dead set on using the Presto GEOWEB® cellular confinement system due to the patented ATRA keys, ATRA clips and the ability to use the GAD attachment with a Hilti air hammer. These features have drastically cut our installation costs down while giving us the highest performing finished product.”  Jeff Russell, Schwartz Excavating

BENEFICIAL ATTRIBUTES

• GEOWEB sections are quick and easy to connect with ATRA® keys. The keys are three times faster and three times stronger than stapling.
• The GEOWEB system with aggregate and concrete infill provides a flexible, hard-armored slope cover.

“The GEOWEB system made sense on several fronts. It met installation requirements, requires virtually no maintenance, and provides long-term erosion protection of the slopes,” notes Brian Ericson, on-site manufacturer’s field representative.