Since 1902, the Bureau of Reclamation has been building
large dams and associated infrastructure to support development in the West
Reclamation dams have used many innovative design concepts and have repeatedly
exceeded previous records for dam height, structure, size and flow rates.
Since 1930, Reclamation
Hydraulics Laboratory in Denver has led efforts to develop
new technologies needed to achieve these hydraulic engineering milestones.
The innovative spirit of the original engineers continues today
as a laboratory supports
efforts to promote efficient water use, protect environmental resources,
and ensure the safety of reclamation, dams and facilities.
Physical modeling of megastructures like Hoover Dam,
began at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Hydraulics Lab developed new designs and construction methods for dams
and other hydraulic structures.
Testing also took place at outdoor labs near Montrose Colorado
and Grand Coulee, Washington.
The lab's early work pioneered development and testing of hydraulic structures
and equipment such as spillways outlet works
high head gates and valves for these large dams.
The pioneering spirit of the early engineers and craftsmen
fueled innovations that were needed for problems
that had never been encountered following the end of World War Two.
The various labs were consolidated in Denver at the former
Remington Arms factory, where it remains today.
The 65,000 square foot lab has a one of a kind low ambient pressure chamber
that makes studies of cavitation possible at model scale, using reduced
atmospheric pressure
along with a high head pump facility for testing hydraulic equipment
exposed to extreme conditions such as high pressure or cavitation.
Specialized instrumentation is used in both the lab and field to assess
hydraulic equipment, hydraulic structures and environmental flows,
including sonar for underwater imaging and surveys.
Acoustic velocity meters
and current profilers air pressure transducers and accelerometers.
Lab personnel work closely with other acclimation
engineers and scientists researching and developing improved methods
and technologies for solutions to water resource problems.
With the advancement of numerical analysis tools.
Physical experiments are being combined
more and more with numerical modeling and a process known as composite modeling
to achieve results faster than ever while ensuring accuracy
of results
The Hydraulics Lab serves
as a resource to find solutions to today's challenges as infrastructure,
ages and functional requirements change due to evolving water needs.
Most Reclamation dams were originally constructed in very rural locations,
but expanding populations in the West and the popularity of living near streams,
lakes and rivers
causes the public's connection with water infrastructure to grow ever closer.
Making the safety of dams increasingly important.
The hydraulic slab uses a variety of tools to help ensure
that Reclamation's hydraulic structures perform safely and efficiently.
The lab studies help to prevent failures by improving our understanding of failure
processes and continual monitoring and modeling of failure processes
help to facilitate emergency action planning.
Carpenters, fabricators and machinists
work with engineers to build physical models of dams,
spillways and other components essential for ensuring safe dams.
Examples of current dam safety related work
include studies of dam breach processes, debris effects at spillways,
and development of more resilient designs for step spillways
and stilling basin baffle blocks.
Reclamation projects can affect many aspects of the environment,
including aquatic animals, and plants and rivers, reservoirs and canals.
Water projects can alter environmental conditions, affect
existing habitats, and create new habitats. To protect fish populations,
today's water diversion structures include fish screens
that prevent fish from being diverted out of their natural habitat.
Fish ladders and fish passage channels ensure
that hydraulic structures and rivers do not block fish from accessing
the varied habitats needed during all stages of their life cycle.
Fish passage and protection structures are tested and optimized
in the laboratory, then evaluated in the field to verify performance.
Other environmental concerns such as sedimentation, water temperature,
turbidity, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved gas
are also addressed in the lab and field.
Water demand
is a continuing challenge faced by the Western United States.
Research, development and implementation of new technologies and methods that help
water users to measure every drop and make every drop count are conducted
at the hydraulics lab.
Specialized training offered by the lab utilizes a small scale model canal
to teach improved canal operation
techniques, proper flow rate and water level measurement methods,
and how to take advantage of computer and communications technology
to more efficiently operate modern canal systems.
These training courses along with field assistance provided to water districts
and canal operators help Reclamation and the public maintain appropriate
stewardship of the West's precious water resources.
As Reclamation's mission has evolved from developing
the West's water resources to managing and protecting these resources,
The Hydraulics Laboratory has continued
to support that mission through research, development and innovation.
The winning approach remains the same innovation, coupled with collaboration
between researchers, designers and practitioners. For more than 85 years,
that combination has fueled the Hydraulics Laboratory
as it supports Reclamation and the water resources industry
to solve today's hydraulic engineering challenges.