Tryon seeks requests for qualification to inspect dam

LAKE LANIER—The Town of Tryon is seeking an engineer qualified to inspect the dam at Lake Lanier. 

Tryon Town Council met last week and heard from town manager Zach Ollis, who said he would like to send out requests for qualifications last week. 

The town is seeking a professional engineering firm who is qualified in the state of South Carolina to perform services related to inspections at the Lake Lanier dam, which the town owns. 

“The State of South Carolina and the Department of Environmental and Health Control has required that the town of Tryon submit a detail inspection no later than Dec. 1, 2019,” states the town’s RFQ. 

Commissioner Crys Armbrust asked if the RFQ is only the request for a proposal. Ollis said the town has no obligation for anything. 

“This is basically getting qualifications and quotes to see if we want to do anything,” Ollis said. 

The town is seeking an engineer who is capable of understanding and providing services to complete on call services and tasks order including to investigate and analyze the dam; perform a detailed inspection that meets the requirements of DHEC; to perform hydrologic analysis and hydraulic analysis to DHEC standards; to perform subsurface geotechnical investigation; to define a scope and opinion of probable cost for required engineering plans and specification for repairs based on the investigation and analysis; to prepare plans and specifications for repairs and to construct administration of installation and repairs of the plans and specification. 

The last day to submit RFQs will be this Thursday at 3 p.m. 

The town is looking for an engineering firm who has experience with high hazard dams, with laws and requirements by the state of South Carolina; experience in hydrologic and hydraulic analysis with DHEC standards; experience in subsurface geotechnical investigation; experience with management of construction administration utilizing plans and specifications and experience working with government agencies. 

The Town of Tryon owns the dam and lake bed of Lake Lanier and currently uses the lake as its main reservoir for town water. The Lake Lanier dam was constructed in 1924. 

The town is currently investigating abandoning the lake as its main water source, and instead, using its mountain source of water solely. The town plans to discuss using mountain water as its main source during its next meeting on Sept. 17.