Drainage Improvement, University of California, Irvine, CA

Accord Engineering, Inc. won a competitive bid to perform a storm channel restoration project for the University of California, Irvine. As a result of tremendous campus build-out in recent years, the storm drainage capacity in a existing channel was overwhelmed due to increase runoff quantity. The objective of the project was to replace one clogged storm drain pipes in this channel with two new pipes. In addition to new storm drain pipes, the existing channel face was widened to increase inflow and outflow capacity with new rip-rap channel protection. This project will prevent the flooding of a day school next to the storm channel due to inadequate drainage capacity in recent years. The following work scopes were performed:

• Demolish existing drainage structure (including over 200 feet of 36-inch-diameter RCP, RC headwall, manholes) at the site that became obsolete.
• Install over 300 feet of new 36-inch-diameter HDPE drainage pipes and associated joints to existing RCP and catch basins.
• Construct new RC headwall and inflow/outflow flares.
• Regrade and construct new channel sections with over 6,000sf of stone riprap protection
• Restore vegetation in the area that was damaged by previous floods
• Restore surface grade in the area to promote surface runoff flow.

Challenges and Solutions:
The project was located next to a day school that only recessed during a specific summer break. All work was required to be completed before the start of the school. Additionally, the site was not draining well due to previous flooding and required major grading of the area in order to install the new pipes and drainage structures. The work sequence also required careful planning to divert and maintain the drainage flow.

Accord worked closely with the UCI project manager in interfacing with the day school personnel and kept good care of the work area so as to not impact the school activities.

The project was completed on time and within budget without incidents. The work scope was later increased by UCI to extend the channel protection further.