USACE-DFI Working Group on Seepage Control-Paper

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The paper reviews 14 years of collaboration between the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and other federal agencies to improve seepage-control projects for dams and levees.<br /><br />The partnership began in 2011 with a technology-transfer workshop responding to USACE plans for major rehabilitation work and a seepage-control guidance manual. Participants discussed cutoff-wall technologies, quality assurance and control, acceptance criteria, specifications, and procurement. A collaborative, “partnering” approach was identified as a way to improve safety and quality, reduce costs and delays, and limit disputes. DFI and USACE formalized their relationship through memoranda of understanding in 2013, 2018, and 2023.<br /><br />Activities expanded to include agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The group held further workshops in 2016 and 2023, contributed industry feedback to USACE guidance and technical specifications, and supported conferences and information-sharing initiatives. DFI members reviewed USACE’s cutoff-wall engineering manual, while USACE provided reciprocal feedback on DFI’s 2021 guidance for selecting cutoff-wall systems.<br /><br />The 2023 workshop renewed cooperation after a period of reduced activity and examined design and geotechnical data, materials, testing, quality control, acceptance criteria, data management, specifications, and long-term performance. Follow-up task forces are developing consensus practice flyers intended to support project specifications and technical decisions.<br /><br />The authors attribute the group’s longevity and value to sustained commitment, open discussion, trust, and willingness to consider differing perspectives. They present the partnership as a model for cooperation between government and industry that can strengthen infrastructure safety and improve project delivery.

Keywords

Deep Foundations Institute

USACE

seepage control

dams and levees

cutoff walls

quality assurance

technology transfer

partnering approach

infrastructure safety

geotechnical engineering