Ainsworth Unit Sandhills Division: Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program

摘要

One of the primary concerns that engineers have when determining the type and design of a dam to be constructed at a particular location is the availability of materials. The best sites are those that meet strict geologic and water storage criteria and are located near abundant supplies of earth and rock which can be used for construction. But sometimes, the best sites from a geologic and water storage perspective are far from deposits of suitable construction materials, forcing engineers to develop innovative alternatives to conventional dam designs. This was the case with Merritt Dam, the primary feature of the Ainsworth Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program.