For a safe future: Bauer Spezialtiefbau modernizes John Hart Dam in Canada

• Bauer Spezialtiefbau completes work on John Hart Dam for electric power 
• Cold winter conditions and tight spaces handled optimally thanks to modern methods and equipment
• Improvement of downstream public safety and facility reliability with other benefits such as to the environment and domestic water supply

Campbell River, Canada – On the picturesque eastern coast of Vancouver Island lies the city of Campbell River, known as the “Salmon Capital of the World” and home to a vibrant ecosystem. Here, the government-owned BC Hydro is currently working on an important project: The seismic upgrading of the John Hart Dam – sustainable, safe and vital in equal measure. This is because the dam passes water to generate power at the John Hart Powerhouse, provides flood risk management operations, and the John Hart Reservoir provides the City of Campbell River with drinking water. BAUER Foundations Canada Inc., a subsidiary of BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, was tasked with executing a new water seepage barrier within the main earthfill section of the dam.

Strong foundations

The project, which is managed by Aecon/EBC General Partnership (AEGP), includes constructing a low permeability plastic concrete cut-off wall on the Middle Earth-fill Dam to improve the water barriers and seismic performance of the earth-fill section. This work was crucial in order to increase the dam’s seismic resistance and minimize the risk of floods and other damage to the public. In addition to the cut-off wall works, Bauer performed soil improvement on the soft sediments to reinforce the North Earth-fill Dam. Bauer’s construction tasks included installation of the plastic concrete cutoff wall as well as land and marine densification for the new upgraded earth-fill berms. The major challenge: Minimizing the environmental impact to the reservoir, Campbell River and surrounding park during construction, particularly close to the drinking water extraction point for Campbell River. The work began in October 2023 and was successfully completed in July 2024. Another phase of soil improvement will follow in 2025.

Innovation meets precision

The modernization of the John Hart Dam involved a variety of technical and logistical challenges. “As a result, precise planning and the latest equipment were essential for work on Vancouver Island where variable soils and a hard basalt bedrock layer are present”, reports Project Manager Jeffrey Pattison. Among other equipment, two BAUER MC 96 duty-cycle cranes, one equipped with a DHG V hydraulic grab and one with a BC 48 cutter, three BE desander systems from BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems, and one BAUER BG 30 were used for this work. The wintry conditions with frigid cold weather, as well as the limited working space on both earth-fill dams, made work even more difficult. In order to meet these challenges successfully, the project team relied on innovative technologies and digital tools such as b-tronic and Virtual Site Installer (VSI). As a result, it was possible not only to monitor work in real time, but also to adapt processes accordingly as needed. Thanks to the support of the experienced team on site as well as laboratory tests carried out in Germany, the quality of the plastic concrete used for the cut-off wall was optimized.

A milestone for environment and security

The seismic upgrade of the John Hart Dam is a milestone from a technical and ecological standpoint. The extensive works will help to safeguard the regional water supply while minimizing the environmental impact at the same time. Jeffrey Pattison emphasizes: “We are proud to have made an important contribution to safety and sustainability in the region.” The seismic upgrade of the John Hart Dam will take six years to complete, and the new water seepage barrier within the dam was a key milestone from a technical and ecological standpoint. Jeff Pattison emphasizes: “We are proud to have made an important contribution to safety and sustainability in the region.” Thanks to the use of advanced digital tools and innovative construction methods, one thing is certain: Bauer successfully completed a very important and challenging aspect of the dam safety upgrade.