French Canyon Dam and Regulating Reservoir

Yakima County, Washington

Owner: Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District

Client Name: CH2M Hill/ Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District

Engagement Scope

The Sutor Group was engaged by CH2M Hill and the District to evaluate the quantum on a $1.9 million claim that was filed by mountain States Construction, Inc. against CH2M Hill in Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District. A complaint was filed in Yakima County Superior Court.

Project description

This was a lump sum bid contract. Major project components included construction of an earth and rock filled dam to create a new reservoir. Major construction components included excavation, grouting, embankment, spillway concrete structure, other concrete structures, 90-inch pipeline, control building, telemetry, and miscellaneous equipment. Additionally, a diversion dam was required to be constructed. The 90-inch diameter pipeline constructed for this project tied into approximately 220 miles of previously installed distribution pipeline which provides irrigation water for approximately $25,000 acres of farmland and orchards.

Entitlement issues

Defective specification, suffering site conditions, unreasonable delays in processing submittals and clarification requests.

Type of impacts

Extended contract performance costs for equipment, home office and field office. Lost efficiency resulting from both acceleration and delay impacts, such as overtime, labor cost escalation, subcontract replacement cost, equipment cost escalation, labor and equipment productivity losses.