Levee Wall Repairs
The Corps awarded a contract for like-for-like repair of damaged embankment and levee toe within the Glendale Narrows section of the Los Angeles River Flood Control Channel at Reach 4D. In order to conduct the repair, a limited portion of the channel will be dewatered. Approximately 3,000 square feet of vegetation and sediment will be removed to facilitate the dewatering process. A temporary access ramp into the channel will also be installed. Work began in the summer of 2017. The Corps is anticipating that the construction period will last approximately 5 months.
Levee wall repair project area map
Weekly Progress: Week of 19 thru 23 June 2017
This week the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor, JF Engineering, was able to mobilize into the lot off of Rigali Ave. Security fencing was set up on top of the levee, Conex boxes were placed in the staging area, and HESCOs were opened up to allow for access ramp construction. Also, the access ramp was constructed this week and the excavator has begun to remove derrick stone located along the levee toe to allow for the dewatering barriers to be installed. The Corps biologist also completed the pre-construction surveys for Endangered Species Act-listed wildlife species in the project area.
Rigali Lot will be used as a staging area for the project.
Access ramp construction on 22 June, 2017.
Map showing Ingress/Egress and project staging areas.
Weekly Progress: Week of 26 thru 30 June 2017
This week JF Engineering finished moving derrick stone along the East bank grouted stone toe to install the water diversion barriers. K rails will be used to divert the water away from the damaged levee. After the water is diverted, dewatering systems will be put in place to “dry” out the repair area. Also on site this week, the Corps had their Geotechnical Engineer and Engineering Geologist survey the site in anticipation of the upcoming control and diversion of water activities. JF Engineering’s construction office was also set up in the staging yard at the end of Rigali Ave.
K-rails will divert the water away from the repair area. After the water is diverted,
dewatering systems will be put into place to dewater the area.
Weekly Progress: Week of 03 thru 07 July 2017
This week JF Engineering is continuing to work towards diverting water from the left bank. An abundance of rock makes water diversion a difficult task. A liner will be brought in to help seal the K-rails against the channel bottom. The NPDES permit was approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board which will allow the contractor to pump water out of the repair area to complete dewatering operations.
An abundance of rock makes water diversion a difficult task.
A liner will be used to help "seal" the K-rails.
Since some of the water is drawing down, more of the damaged levee is being exposed.
Weekly Progress: Week of 10 thru 14 July 2017
This week JF Engineering was able to remove the sediment and shoaling along the west bank and demolish portions of the damaged toe. A giant excavator with breaker attachment was used to break up the damaged sections of toe and embankment. Once the demolition is complete and the broken sections are cleared out, USACE Geotechnical Engineers and Geologists will assess the foundation before engineered stone is brought in and grouted in place.
After removing the sediment and shoaling to gain access to the repair area, a giant excavator
with breaker attachment started demolition of the damaged sections of the West levee.
Viewing the repair section of the West levee.
Weekly Progress: Week of 17 thru 21 July 2017
This week JF Engineering is finishing the demolition of the right bank grouted toe stones. The damaged sections of levee are being removed and hauled off for disposal. Once the damaged sections are removed the foundation will be prepared and inspected before the levee toe is reconstructed. A USACE Engineering Geologist and Geotechnical Engineer were on-site this week to inspect and monitor some of the construction.
A USACE Engineering Geologist and Geotechnical Engineer were onsite
to inspect and evaluate the on-going construction.
The demolished grouted toe stones are hauled away after demolition.
Right bank repair area being prepared for excavation to finished grade.
Weekly Progress: Week of 24 thru 28 July 2017
This week JF Engineering is preparing the right bank finished grade. Once the excavation is restored to engineered line and grade, the repair area will be inspected by JF Engineering’s Geotechnical Engineer along with USACE Geotechnical Engineers and Engineering Geologists. After approval of the finished grade and once compaction requirements are met, reconstruction of the levee to its original configuration will begin.
A level is being used to restore the excavation on the
right bank to original line, grade, and elevation.
Removal of damaged sections of grouted stone continue on the left bank.
Weekly Progress: Week of 31 July thru 04 August 2017
This week JF Engineering is reconstructing the levee back to its engineered design. The levee stone toe is being built up in preparation for the grout. Once the stone is in place, the stone will be grouted in lifts back to the original design configuration. During a storm, the grouted stone armors the earthen levee from the harshness of the Los Angeles River.
Reconstruction of the levee toe has begun. Here, the
stone protection is being placed before the grout.
Bedding material is being placed on the embankment
as the levee stone toe is being constructed.
Weekly Progress: Week of 07 thru 11 August 2017
This week JF Engineering is placing the last lift of grout to complete the grouted stone embankment. The grouted stone armors the earthen levee and protects it from the storm flows. Without the protection of the grouted stone, harsh storm flows could erode the earthen levee which could cause the levee to fail.
The final lift of grout is being placed on the West levee. Once completed, the grouted
stone will armor the earthen levee and protect the embankment from the storm flows.
Workers at JF Engineering are putting the finish on the freshly placed grout.
Weekly Progress: Week of 14 thru 18 August 2017
This week, JF Engineering finished the repair on the West levee. Since beginning the project, the damaged section of the levee was demolished, excavated to grade, and reconstructed to the engineered design. After the final placement of grout, interlocked derrick stone was placed in front of the levee toe to protect the base of the levee. JF Engineering will now switch their efforts to completing the East levee repair.
The final lift of grout was placed on 11 August, 2017.
Viewing North, this photo depicts the completed West levee repair.
Big interlocked derrick stone protects the levee's grouted stone toe.
Weekly Progress: Week of 21 thru 25 August 2017
This week JF Engineering finished excavating the East bank repair area to finished grade. USACE Geotechnical Engineers and Engineering Geologists were on site to inspect the subgrade before reconstruction of the grouted levee embankment can begin. Upon completion of the inspection, JF Engineering will be implementing some recommendations from the Geotechnical Engineer to achieve the compaction required for reconstruction to begin.
The left side repair area has been excavated to finished grade.
Viewing North, this photo depicts the excavated section. Once it
passes subgrade inspection, levee reconstruction will begin.
Weekly Progress: Week of 28 August thru 01 September 2017
This week once USACE approved the subgrade, JF Engineering began reconstructing the levee’s grouted stone toe. JF Engineering is working long hours and Saturdays to ensure the levee repair is completed and ready for the 2017 - 2018 storm season. The storm season officially begins 15 October, 2017. The first layer of stone was placed and grouted, thus completing the first of four lifts.
On 30 August, a USACE Geotechnical Engineer and Engineering
Geologist approved the subgrade so reconstruction can begin.
The first layer of stone was placed, in what will eventually become the levee’s grouted
stone toe. Notice the conveyor “spraying” the bedding material onto the embankment.
The first lift of grouted stone was completed on 01 September,2017. After sufficient
time has passed for the grout to “set up”, the second lift will be constructed.
Weekly Progress: Week of 04 thru 08 September 2017
This week JF Engineering was working in full force to complete the critical levee repair before the start of the 2017 to 2018 storm season. The second lift of stone was grouted on 07 September. The third lift is scheduled for 10 September after the second lift has cured for the minimum 72 hours specified. A fourth and final lift will be placed sometime next week. JF Engineering is anticipating having the repair completed by 23 September 2017.
The second lift of grouted stone was placed on 07 September, 2017.
After the grouted stone cures for 72 hours, a third lift will be grouted.
The third lift of stone is placed and ready for grout. Grout is scheduled for
10 September after the 72 hour cure time specified for the 2nd lift.
Weekly Progress: Week of 11 thru 15 September 2017
This week, ahead of schedule, JF Engineering is placing the last lift of grout to complete reconstruction of the levee’s grouted stone toe. Derrick stone will be placed early next week in front of the finished toe, thus completing the levee’s critical repair. The levee repair is expected to be completed by 23 September, well ahead of the October 15 flood season deadline.
Taken from the top of the HESCO flood control barriers, this photo
depicts the final placement of grout that occurred on 14 September, 2017.
Weekly Progress: Week of 25 thru 29 September 2017
This week JF Engineering completed the repairs of the critical levee structure. Ahead of schedule, and with no contract modifications, the critical levee repairs were a success, taking only about 3 months of construction to complete the repair. The levees are ready to handle the flows of the 2017 to 2018 storm season.
Before and after photo of the right side embankment cracking.
Before photos of the right side deteriorated grouted stone toe with scouring.
Notice how the toe sinks down and disappears from the water.
After photo of the right side levee repair. The levee's grouted
stone toe has been restored to original line and grade.
Before photo of the condition of the left levee's
grouted stone embankment and toe protection.
After photo of the left side levee repair.
After photo of the left side levee repair.
After photo of the left side levee repair.
For answers to frequently asked questions regarding Corps activities in the Glendale Narrows
section of the Los Angeles River, please visit our FAQ page.
Have additional questions? Please email: AMoperations.Branch@usace.army.mil.
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