The Klamath Basin in Southern Oregon includes the large, yet shallow Klamath Lake. At the Northern boundary of the lake, the Wood River flows through the Wood River Wetland (WRW), owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), into Upper Klamath Lake. The WRW is a 3000 acre restoration project that began in 1994 and converted farm land back to its original wetland state. The levees built in this project were constructed out of highly organic material, and recent observations have identified low elevation areas and other defects that could lead to failure. The project involved investigating, analyzing, and making recommendations to rehabilitate these levees. This report outlines the graduate project including the procedures followed and the conclusions reached. Objectives were to investigate the current condition of the levees at the WRW, create models, perform soil tests, and ultimately make recommendations for improving the levee conditions. GPS-based survey equipment was used to obtain elevations, latitudes, and longitudes at specific locations along the center levee at the WRW. This elevation data was used to create profiles and cross-sections of the levee, which allowed for the generation of predictive models and elevation information such as low points or irregularities in the levee. This data was also used to determine the volume of material necessary to add at specific locations in the levee. Additionally, soil samples were collected along the center levee and used to perform laboratory tests. Settlement due to placement of additional fill to repair the levee is expected. This was evaluated using block samples and laboratory consolidation testing. Soil was also sampled from the center levee with the intent of mixing it with strengthening materials to improve its strength and settlement characteristics. The data collection and soil testing provided a basis for the overall project, and the information revealed appropriate repair methods for the center levee.
