Outlet Works Modifications- Kachess Dam

Kittitas County, Washington

Owner: US Department of Interior

Client Name: Pacific Crest Construction, Inc. and Insurance Company of the West

Engagement Scope

The Sutor Group was engaged by Pacific Crest and its surety, Insurance Company of the West, to assist in the preparation of its damages it sustained on the Kachess Dam project. The total amount of the claim as submitted to The Bureau of Reclamation was approximately $3,000,000.

Project description

The project work scope encompassed modifying the existing outlet works features at the Kachess Dam located in Kittitas County, Washington including the construction of coffer dams, excavating a new intake channel (approximately 250,000 cubic yards), removal of existing outlet works features, and constructing a new intake tower.

Entitlement issues

Pacific Crest's original conveyor route was denied by the owner despite not being within certain culturally sensitive areas depicted in the contract drawing. Pacific Crest was forced to choose an alternate conveyor route, which constituted a change under the term of the contract. Pacific Crest also encountered hard ground conditions, which make driving the shoring sheets virtually impossible.

Type of impacts

Pacific Crest sustained labor impacts due to acceleration and a shift work into a different time period, additional equipment utilization expenses, extended equipment costs and extended field overhead costs. PCCI's also incurred additional subcontractor costs related to the tower and channel excavation activities.