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a flood-free environment in which to live in strength, elevating the design process
Tiptonville Flooding from page 7 and work,” Foster said. through a collaborative approach.
percent annual chance because the design The team also featured a Contra Costa “WTRBA provided valuable input to the
rain risk overlays the annual chance of Energy Dissipation structure with the design process of the project,” Cropp said.
Mississippi River high water affecting pump station to slow down water flow and “Their staff offered in-depth knowledge
drainage through the mainline river levee. prevent erosion on the discharge channel of the Tiptonville area and its repeated
Barge’s team also worked with the while the pump is operating. And should flooding issues, making it easier for us
USACE to protect the levee from an offsite power outage occur, a generator to meet the specific needs of the project
excavation, which could affect the integrity automatically takes over, keeping the pump through a collaborative design.”
of the structure. To accomplish this, station functional. WTRBA shared Barge’s enthusiasm for
designers chose to build up and over the project, thankful to see funding go to
the levee instead, designing a concrete Team Collaborates with Stakeholders a community with a real need for flood
encasement on top of the levee designed to Throughout the building phase, Barge’s mitigation.
allow for vehicular traffic while protecting project team continued to collaborate “The farmers who diligently protect
the discharge piping. with stakeholders, WTRBA, the U.S. this part of town year after year breathed
Vertical turbine pumps were used to Army Corps of Engineers, contractor a big sigh of relief once we could flip
meet design requirements. Vertical pumps Tybe Company, LLC, and Innovative that switch,” Blackwood said. “No more
also allow maintenance from the ground Engineering Services, Inc., for construction lines of tractors with hoses over the levee
level without the need to be removed from administration. for weeks on end trying to keep engines
the wet well, an important request from “Keeping close communication helps fueled and things like that. It’s just a big
the county. our team meet design intent and client relief for this community. I’m glad we
The pump station’s wet well was enlarged goals,” Cropp said. “It keeps schedules and could play a key part in that and I like the
to accommodate a potential third pump in timelines in place, works collectively to system Barge designed.”
the future, and was designed to be self- meet contract specifications, and maintains With a flood control system now in
cleaning, using bar screens and individual smooth day-to-day processes.” place, the Tiptonville community is more
pump bays to help prevent debris and mud The Final Outcome resilient when stormwater events occur
from clogging the well and its 30-inch Construction of the Tiptonville Pump in the area. The NDRC Grant is serving
discharge pipes. Station was completed in 15 months in its purpose, while allowing WTRBA to
“Barge followed stringent pump May 2021, with positive feedback in and further its important initiative to improve
governing Hydraulic Institute standards around the Tiptonville community. Barge’s quality of life along the rivers of West
to give Tiptonville residents and farmers working relationship with WTRBA grew Tennessee.

8 TPW July/August 2022