Civil-Related Considerations in New Development
CLEAN CURRENTS 2026
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Day: 9/24/2026
Room Number: Water Power Intelligence Theater
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Presentations are:
Managing Complex Geotechnical Investigations in Remote Sites – An Example from the Salt River Pumped Storage Project, presented by McKenna Hughes, Salt River Project, and Roberto Lucidi, Stantec
Details about each presentation and the speakers are below:
Managing Complex Geotechnical Investigations in Remote Sites – An Example from the Salt River Pumped Storage Project
Presented by McKenna Hughes, Salt River Project, and Roberto Lucidi, Stantec
Developing greenfield hydropower projects in remote environments presents uniquely demanding geotechnical challenges, where large volumes of high-quality subsurface data must be collected, processed, and delivered rapidly to support critical design decisions for underground waterways, powerhouse, and dam infrastructure.
Once design decisions are initiated, the need for reliable geotechnical information becomes immediate, requiring investigation programs that can respond in near real time while maintaining technical rigor.
This presentation highlights an example from the proposed Salt River Pumped Storage Project in Arizona where constrained site access, limited water availability, and strict schedule limitations due to eagle nesting restrictions significantly influenced investigation planning and execution. These constraints required not only technical adaptability but also accelerated data turnaround to keep pace with aggressive design schedules.
To meet these demands, a multi-rig drilling program was deployed with helicopter support to access difficult terrain and sustain high production rates. Field and office workflows were tightly integrated, leveraging digital solutions for real-time data acquisition, automated processing, and rapid dissemination of the results. This approach enabled near real-time geotechnical interpretations updates, allowing the design teams to proceed with confidence while minimizing delays.
Despite the reduced schedules, the project successfully delivered robust geotechnical datasets, supported by advanced visualization and reporting tools that enhanced clarity and usability for multidisciplinary teams. The approach provided clear value by expediting design decisions, reducing uncertainty, and compressing the investigation-to-design feedback loop.
Key lessons learned (including logistics optimization, adaptive investigation strategies, and digital integration) demonstrate how complex geotechnical programs in remote settings can meet accelerated timelines without compromising data quality, ultimately adding measurable value to project delivery and team performance.
