Blue Dog Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
COMANCO Environmental Corporation was contracted by the State of South Dakota, Division of State Fisheries to line or improve 34 hatchery ponds at the Blue Dog Fish Hatchery located near Wauby South Dakota. The project was awarded in October of 2006 with construction beginning in the early part of 2007.
At the time of award, the project site consisted of 34 unlined hatchery ponds. The ponds were initially constructed (by others) incorporating re-compacted native soils as the low permeability barrier system. However, it was soon discovered that the leakage rate through these re-compacted soils was far too great and the ponds were not functioning as intended. Consequently it was determined that the best solution would be to line the existing ponds with a significantly less permeable geomembrane lining system. After much review by the engineer of possible liner configurations, a 45 mil EPDM system was chosen do to its high UV resistance thus eliminating the need for a protective soil layer.
The overall scope of work for this project consisted of earthwork, piping, and geosynthetic lining activities for all ponds in the West and only earthwork and piping activities for the North ponds. The EPDM geomembrane used was manufactured and supplied by Firestone Specialty Products. See detailed renovation construction items in notes to the left.
Construction of the project began in the first part of 2007. The South Dakota environment presented numerous construction challenges during the first few months of the project. Subzero wind chills resulted in frozen soil, equipment and personnel. However, CEC persevered, and with the assistance of warmer spring weather and a few design modifications, we finished the project to the satisfaction of the State of South Dakota, Blue Dog Fish Hatcheries, and several thousand walleye.