Dam Debris Removal

Over the span of about a week, we removed a large build-up of debris from the Lock 10 dam on the Muskingum River in Zanesville, Ohio. We were not able to access the debris from the shore so we had to get creative to be able to get access to the debris from the river itself. The project started by piecing together 13 ton modular barges directly on the river by use of a 165 ton crane. We needed six barges in all - one set of three to transport the debris and the second set of three to hold the Excavator.

Once the barges were assembled, we navigated down the river to the dam. After getting the barges in place, we used the Excavator to grab the debris around the dam and then stacked it on the other barge for transport up the river. The debris was then off loaded onto our grapple trucks and dumped at a local mulch site a few miles away.

One main obstacle we faced is the amount of time it took to unload the barge after it was fully loaded. The closest unloading zone we were able to attain was 3 miles up the river against the current, and the barge only travels about 4 miles per hour - so it was approximately 5 hours round trip to unload the barge. That being said, even while the barge was up river, we were able to prepare the next load by organizing the debris on the deck of the Excavator’s barge.

Overall, our team worked safely and efficiently. Along with our standard personal protection equipment, we were also equipped with Personal Flotation Devices for additional safety and protection.

It was an amazing experience to see our plan come together! Special thanks to Poseidon Barge, Baker's Crane Service, the City of Zanesville, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Muskingum Conservancy District, and our awesome crew for this exciting project that we pulled off without a hitch.

Through our dedication to safety, education, teamwork, and the environment, our mission is to provide the best tree care and arboriculture resources in central Ohio.

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