The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority and Schnabel Engineering were recognized as Honor Award Winners for engineering excellence at an American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Virginia Gala in Richmond on Thursday evening. The award was presented for the new Ragged Mountain Dam project.
Among the design features recognized in the presentation of the award was its inlet/outlet tower and auxiliary spillway, its seepage reduction control features, its real time monitoring and rapid response to safety or security concerns, and its protection of the rural charm to include the use of local timber, the design of a floating bridge for hiking trails, and the installation of fish habitat structures within the expanded reservoir. RWSA Project Manager Doug March and Schnabel’s engineer-of-record Mr. Randy Bass accepted the award. The Gala is an annual event by which ACEC recognizes what its panel of judges considers to be the best engineering projects completed within the past year by engineers from Virginia.
“It is a true honor to be recognized for the extraordinary effort of the partnership among the Authority, Schnabel Engineering, and our Dam Expert Panel. During the local debate there were many doomsday scenarios expressed that energized us to redouble our efforts to make this project safe, economical, fulfilling of the long-term water supply mission, and above all respect the surrounding environmental treasures of the landscape. It is very rewarding that engineering colleagues from throughout Virginia have independently confirmed the project as among the best in the engineering field” –Mr. Tom Frederick, the Authority’s Executive Director.*
*Note: As of May 1, 2016, Tom Frederick took another post and no longer serves as the Authorities’ Executive Director
