My Favorite Project: Stony Garden Dam Rehabilitation
Some engineering projects leave a lasting impression—not just for their technical challenges, but for the real-world impact they have on communities. For Project Engineer Renee Lamprinakos, the rehabilitation of Stony Garden Dam in Monroe County, Pennsylvania was one of those projects: a complex and rewarding effort to secure a key piece of water supply infrastructure.
Behind the Project
Renee, who has been with Schnabel for six years, focuses on the geotechnical aspects of dam rehabilitation design. That includes everything from site investigations and slope stability analysis to drafting embankment rehabilitation plans. One project that particularly resonated with her was the Stony Garden Dam, which impounds the Nazareth Reservoir for the Pennsylvania American Water Company.
“This dam provides a raw water supply to a nearby treatment plant,” Renee explains. “The rehabilitation work was essential to address dam safety concerns related to the spillway, embankment, and seepage conditions.”
The project was led by Jesse Wullenwaber, PE, and involved close coordination between design, construction, and environmental considerations to ensure the long-term safety and performance of the structure.
Photo Courtesy of KC Construction Co.
Navigating Complex Challenges
One memorable aspect of this project was the innovative strategy used to manage water during construction. With the existing spillway located on the right abutment and the new one being built on the left, maintaining water flow throughout the transition required meticulous planning and precise execution.
“A cofferdam was initially placed upstream of the proposed spillway to allow construction of the new structure to take place while water continued to pass through the existing one,” explains Renee. “Once the new spillway became operational, the cofferdam was repositioned so flow was able to pass through the new spillway and demolition of the old spillway could begin. It was a thoughtful and dynamic process.”
Renee oversaw the site investigation and classified the embankment and foundation soils, along with the bedrock. After the investigation was complete, she played a key role in several critical design elements, she played a key role in several critical design elements, including the toe and chimney drain. She conducted a filter compatibility analysis between the drainfill and embankment and foundation soils, and determined the appropriate size and elevation for the toe drain to effectively manage seepage. She also a performed slope stability analysis for the proposed embankment geometry, and a construction condition representing the embankment slope during the toe and chimney drain excavation. This work required both technical skill and on-the-ground insight.
“Being on site during the site investigation made all the difference,” Renee reflects. “Feeling the soil in person helped me connect the calculations and analyses with the physical reality of the project. That experience really reinforced the value of field work in engineering design.”
Lasting Impact on Public Safety
Beyond the technical complexity, the project also had a clear and meaningful benefit: safeguarding a vital water supply for the local community.
“Rehabilitating this dam reduced the risk of future deficiencies and ensured the continued delivery of drinking water,” Renee says. “It’s fulfilling to know that our work helps protect public safety and infrastructure.”
A Project of Growth
For Renee, Stony Garden wasn’t just a professional achievement—it was also a learning experience that expanded her skills and perspective as an engineer.
“I was involved from start to finish, which helped me understand how all aspects of the design fit together,” she says. “Overseeing the site investigation and analyzing the embankment and foundation materials on-site really sharpened my technical capabilities.”
Projects like the Stony Garden Dam rehabilitation highlight the critical role that dam safety and infrastructure upgrades play in protecting communities and preserving essential resources. From ensuring reliable access to drinking water to reducing long-term risk, these efforts are vital to public health, environmental stewardship, and the resilience of our built environment.
Feeling the soil in person helped me connect the calculations and analyses with the physical reality of the project. That experience really reinforced the value of field work in engineering design.