Laberge Group was retained by the Town of Brunswick to provide design and reconstruction services to address safety and compliance issues at the Van Derhyden Dam. Cognizant of the budgetary restrictions of the Town, Laberge Group has prioritized the delivery of cost-effective solutions.

In addition to addressing the necessary repairs, reconstruction, and improvements to the dam itself, the design also incorporates the enlarging of an undersized spillway and the replacement of deteriorating concrete in the sluiceway. The drainage capacity resulting from these improvements is designed to withstand 150% of a 100 year storm.

Laberge Group engineers have managed the regulatory requirements of multiple entities, including the Town of Brunswick, Rensselaer County, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Laberge Group conducted a complete safety inspection and subsequently prepared and submitted all evaluations, plans, reports, and permit applications required by NYSDEC, including:

  • Hazard classification evaluation
  • Evaluation of the dam’s spillway capacity and structure stability
  • Safety Inspection Report (SIR)
  • Inspection and Maintenance plan (I&M)
  • Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
  • Determination of the dam’s conformance with current dam regulations

In the next phase of this ongoing project, Laberge Group will provide bidding services, contract administration and on-site construction observation.