Video of the loading of the massive dam on Wednesday by Mark McKenna.
On Wednesday morning in Hydesville, crews loaded one of the world’s largest water-filled cofferdams—built right here in Humboldt County—onto a heavy-haul truck bound for Florida.
Work crews attach the straps as they prepare to lift the Aqua Dam. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
The massive structure, created by Aqua Dam Inc. (ADI), stands 26 feet tall, stretches 53 feet wide when filled, and runs an astonishing 800 feet long. Once it arrives at a wastewater treatment facility in Florida, it will be used to block water while critical repairs are made to a pond levy.
Two large cranes were used to lift the 141,000 pound Aqua Dam. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Two large cranes, operated by North Coast Fabricators and Kernan Construction, carefully lifted the 141,000-pound dam onto specialized equipment provided by Jake Owens of Jot Heavy Haul Inc.
Erica Heenan of North Coast Fabricators talks with Jake Owens, the owner and operator of the truck that will haul the Aqua Dam. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
From Hydesville, the load will begin its long journey from Highway 36, to 101 over Highway 299 to I-5, then onto I-80 for a cross-country trip to the southeast. (Imagine meeting this beast on one those 299 curves!)
Erica Heenan uses a radio to stay in contact with the crane operators as they place the heavy load on the truck. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Aqua dams are considered more environmentally sound than traditional cofferdams because they use water as the stabilizing force instead of tons of steel, concrete, or earthen fill. This means they can be installed and removed without disturbing (as much) the surrounding landscape and waterways.
Crane operators slowly maneuver the Aqua Dam onto the truck. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
This is the second record-setting project for ADI this year. Earlier, the company completed the world’s largest water-filled cofferdam—a towering 32-foot-high, 71-foot-wide, 220-foot-long structure installed at Marlette Lake in Nevada. See below video.
These dams are not just big, they’re massive. and for a company based in small, rural towns like Scotia and Hydesville, these projects mark a proud moment on the national stage for our Humboldt workers.
The truck that will transport the Aqua Dam across the country. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
With two record-breakers in a single year, Aqua Dam Inc. has put Humboldt on the map for engineering solutions that travel far beyond the redwoods.
A crew member of Aqua Dam checks the height of the load. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
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These guys are awesome. One of Humboldt’s industrial successes. But now they are on the government radar and the county or state will probably ruin them.
What a negative Nancy. The roads bother you? I have ZERO trouble traveling where I want when I want and I’m grateful for roads we have. You might enjoy the Bay Area, there are even MORE things to complain about.
The real marvel is that the state of California has not ran this company out of the state, with regulation and oversight.
Member
Angela Robinson
9 months ago
So cool! Hydesville, little Hydesville,, comes through again. In the 70s the Bayley Survival suits were made there as well (for many years afterwards as well). They were a new thing at the time and became the life-saving standard for people at sea.
Now a massive product is on it’s way to freaking Florida!
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An amazing product!
These guys are awesome. One of Humboldt’s industrial successes. But now they are on the government radar and the county or state will probably ruin them.
County AND state will ruin them
What do you eat that causes the constant oozing of propaganda?
You might want to get that checked by a non MAGA, qualified physician.
Talk about rolling up a fatty!
Going to be a slow trip over 299. Shame that 101 hasn’t been fixed.
It’s a shame that Northern CA has no decent roads…
In the Winter, you may well not be able to travel in any direction…
What a negative Nancy. The roads bother you? I have ZERO trouble traveling where I want when I want and I’m grateful for roads we have. You might enjoy the Bay Area, there are even MORE things to complain about.
Ah. Another great comment from a trump minion. How’s all that Day 1 crap going?
Not really. We already have too many people here and too much riff raff. We need less bridges, less infrastructure, and less viable highways.
We NEED more of that stuff, and less TAXAtion.
Seeing this teamwork takes me back.
That’s pretty cool!
Life within the redwood curtain has had drawbacks for generations. Caltrans will be pumping the money into highway 1 to fix that mess.
A giant roll of plastic is not an “engineering marvel”. The Falkirk Wheel is an engineering marvel.
The real marvel is that the state of California has not ran this company out of the state, with regulation and oversight.
So cool! Hydesville, little Hydesville,, comes through again. In the 70s the Bayley Survival suits were made there as well (for many years afterwards as well). They were a new thing at the time and became the life-saving standard for people at sea.
Now a massive product is on it’s way to freaking Florida!
It’s a plastic bag.
It is a BIG plastic bag !
A really BIG plastic bag.
It is a Humongous plastic bag !
An over three times as long as the Goodyear blimp plastic bag.
In fact it is as long as the Hindenburg airship was.
Cool engineering AND. 141,000 pounds of PLASTIC that will likely eventually end up in landfill and polluting groundwater. – YIKES !!!
The real marvel is that the state of California has not ran this company out of the state, with regulation and oversight.
And negative ecofreek thinking too!
Yeah yeah you already said that, twice.
In a tribute to his predecessor Trump put up a photo of the autopen that served democrats so well.
Please stop…