Red Bluff Dam Foundation Grouting: 2026 Annual Conference Webinar

April 16, 2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (MDT)

Description

Red Bluff Dam is a high-hazard, 9,000-ft-long embankment dam on the Pecos River in West Texas, founded on an exceptionally complex and variable geologic setting. Constructed in the 1930s, the dam experienced significant seepage soon after initial reservoir filling, driven by a chaotic foundation consisting of heterogeneous alluvial deposits overlying Permian-age sedimentary rocks affected by dissolution, collapse features, and variable weathering. Early remedial grouting efforts in the 1970s and a targeted interim program in 2014–2015 provided localized improvements but highlighted the need for a comprehensive foundation treatment approach.

This webinar presents the evolution of the Red Bluff Dam foundation grouting program, culminating in the design and construction of an 8,000-ft-long, three-line grout curtain initiated in 2023 and scheduled for completion in 2025. The presentation will cover the site characterization and risk-informed decision-making that guided the program, lessons learned from prior grouting phases, and how these insights shaped the current $75M+ effort.

Key topics include grouting strategies for highly variable soils and rock, treatment of the “soil-like zone” using permeation grouting with microfine cement and high-mobility grout, and the use of multiple-port sleeve pipes to manage unstable ground conditions. The webinar will also discuss adaptive mix designs, closure strategies for extreme grout takes, construction challenges associated with collapse features and gypsum-rich strata, and methods for managing and interpreting large volumes of subsurface data.

Attendees will gain practical insights into designing and executing large-scale foundation grouting programs in complex geologic environments, with lessons applicable to similar dam safety and seepage mitigation projects worldwide.