Newell Creek Dam Inlet/Outlet and Pipeline Replacement

The City of Santa Cruz Water Department proposed a major capital improvement project to replace an existing dam inlet/outlet works at the Newell Creek Dam with a new intake, outlet features, and pipeline to convey water from an existing river intake, to reservoir, and from the reservoir to the City’s water treatment plant.

Project Facts
  • City of Santa Cruz
  • Santa Cruz, California
  • 8,646 dam capacity
  • Replaced intake, outlet, and 2,000-linear-foot segment of pipeline
Pipeline system leading to the Newell Creek Dam

The Challenge

The City of Santa Cruz needed to protect its water supply system by addressing deficiencies in the inlet/outlet works to maintain full system functionality and reliability, as well as meet state requirements for emergency drawdowns. The City faced engineering challenges given the complex details of design and construction challenges due to the limited windows in which to complete initial stages of the project located in the creek and spillway.

Edge of the Newell Creek Dam

The Solution

Dudek worked closely with City staff and their engineering team to prepare six technical biological and cultural resources studies, as well as the EIR and Environmental Package (CEQA Plus) document for the State Water Resources Control Board. Our permitting experts managed preparation of regulatory permit applications for state and federal agencies, including compensatory mitigation plans with close coordination between City and Dudek teams in responding to project design and permitting applications. Dudek assisted with review and preparation of some construction documents.

What We Did

Our multidisciplinary specialties allow us to provide efficiencies that maintain project momentum.

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