Country Squire Lakes Dam

Bayer Becker partnered with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to address critical safety concerns at an existing dam, focusing on seepage through underlying geologic features and inadequate spillway capacity. Seepage had been a persistent issue since construction, with solution channels beneath the dam allowing water to reappear downstream—posing a risk of sudden failure if erosion reached the earth embankment.

Using HEC-HMS modeling, Bayer Becker conducted a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, revealing that a 100% Probable Maximum Precipitation event would overtop the dam by 1.4 feet—enough to initiate rapid erosion and potential breach. The existing spillway system lacked the capacity to manage runoff, causing frequent activation of the auxiliary spillway and erosion of the downstream embankment.

To mitigate these risks, Bayer Becker designed a 35,000-cubic-yard rock fill buttress on the downstream side of the dam, providing mass and stability to resist seepage-induced failure. Recognizing budget constraints, we developed a specialized rock gradation to withstand overtopping during extreme storm events. The auxiliary spillway was expanded and relocated into limestone bedrock, which also served as the source for the rock fill. Additional improvements included extending the primary spillway conduit, constructing an energy dissipation structure, and preparing an operation and maintenance manual and emergency action plan.

During construction, Bayer Becker provided full construction phase services, including on-site representation, schedule and submittal coordination, field observation, and pay estimate review. We also implemented a real-time, web-based project documentation system, enabling seamless communication between the owner, engineer, and contractor—ensuring timely issue resolution and project transparency.