Orkil Pond Dam Improvements
Simsbury, Connecticut
Project Scope
Haley Ward provided comprehensive engineering services to the Town of Simsbury for improvements to the Orkil Pond Dam, an important asset located on a town-owned golf course and serving as an irrigation source. What began as a standard dam inspection evolved into a full remediation project after significant deficiencies were identified in prior inspection records and confirmed through our own fieldwork.
During our initial review, our team noted that the existing primary outlet – a corrugated metal pipe was in fair to poor condition and did not meet operational needs. To fully understand system behavior and required upgrades, Haley Ward completed a hydrologic and hydraulic study, which determined that the dam crest needed to be raised by 1.5 feetto comply with Connecticut DEEP’s standards for a 100-year storm event. This triggered broader improvements, including the complete replacement of the deteriorated intake structure with a new concrete gatehouse designed to allow reliable, operator-controlled water level management.
Executing this work brought unique environmental and logistical challenges. The pond is one of the golf course’s few water hazards and is home to a robust population of carp that act as natural cleaners for the water body. To protect them, the fish needed to be captured, relocated to a neighboring pond for the duration of construction. Because the pond provided critical irrigation water, construction could only be undertaken in the late fall or winter.
Construction proceeded through an unseasonably mild New England winter, which allowed steady progress. To ensure quality concrete placement in cold conditions, heaters were used to maintain proper curing temperatures. Additionally, to support sustainable construction and minimize import needs, on-site material was stockpiled, repeatedly turned, and dried so it could be reused in rebuilding the dam.
The project required permitting from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), coordination with the Town of Simsbury and golf course operations, and innovative problem-solving from the entire team. The design of the new gatehouse, completed by our structural staff, was the first of its kind for this dam and represented a key highlight of the project.
Despite numerous challenges, from fish relocation to winter concrete work to material conditioning, the project was successfully completed in January, a rare achievement for dam construction in New England.
Market
Services
- Dam inspection
- Hydrologic and Hydraulic study
- Design for the gatehouse
- Redesign of dam crest and emergency spillway
- Permitting – DEEP project
Project Data
| Dam inspection | Conduct comprehensive visual and structural assessments of embankments, spillways, and outlet works, providing clear findings to guide maintenance and safety improvements |
| Dam remediation and system upgrades | Completed Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, raised the dam crest 1.5 feet, and designed a new concrete gatehouse. |
| Regulatory and stakeholder coordination | The project required DEEP permitting and close coordination with the Town and golf course. |