Underwood Conservation District Canal Lining Project

The pictures below show the stages of the lining installation.  The work was done by the land owner and field splicing was done by the supplier of the membrane.

The canal bed was cleaned and shaped. Rocks larger than 1" were removed. When necessary, gravel was used to level the bed. The 14 X 20 foot panels were unrolled and positioned by only two or three men.

Cut-offs were formed at the upstream end of each panel by compacting soil around the membrane which was turned down into a shallow trench. The membrane was cut for relief at the transition to the slope on each side and sealed with a gusset patch. The right side picture shows a stiffener welded to the liner during panel fabrication.

Original plans called for the liner to be attached to the ends of the concrete division structure. The deteriorating condition of the concrete required placing the liner through the structure. Above pictures show the structure before and after lining.

Soil staples were inserted to half depth in the one foot width of liner along the berm on each side. The staples held the liner in place before it was covered with soil. The staples protruding from the liner helped stabilize the soil covering the berm. (see re-established berm)

Why The Project Was Necessary

The canal lining work complemented a stream bank protection project 200 feet away. The bank was repaired with toe logs and vegetation as a fish habitat improvement project. Leakage from the canal contributed  to the saturated bank soil. Shown above is a large tree which fell as a result of saturated soil and stream erosion. The picture on the right shows the saturated soil just a few feet below the top of the bank.

PHOTO CREDITS; Photos are the property of C&RR used with the permission of the Underwood Conservation District.