Project Type: New Construction Boardwalk Foundation
Location: Farmington, Utah
Date: November 2009

Description: Intermountain Helical Piers was asked to install piers at the Utah Wildlife in Need refuge in Farmington, UT. This is a non-profit organization for the protection of water foul and nesting areas of the great Bald Eagle. In conjunction with the State of Utah, the Department of Natural Resources, and private donations, money was raised and time donated to improve the refuge for the education of school children and the protection of the native wildlife. A plan to construct boardwalks, observation decks and bridges was conceived that would allow patrons to witness the varied birds in their natural habitat.

Intermountain Helical Piers was approached in the planning phase to assist in accomplishing this goal. The area is along the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake and is marshy, wet, and effected greatly by irrigation and natural run-off from the Wasatch Mountains. With critical timing, Intermountain Helical Piers installed Helical Piers for 1700′ of boardwalk, 2 observation decks and 1 bridge for access throughout the sanctuary.

The boardwalks are set low to the water so children can feel the water and see the other wildlife in the protected ponds of the lake. The observation decks are situated over the water and in the reeds to be integral with the landscape. The bridge is situated to be part of the reed system that covers much of the area. Installing the piers for the support of all of these structures was challenging due to the depth of the water and the sensitive ecology in the sanctuary. A custom-built, cantilevered “boom” for hydraulic machinery was used to install the piers, allowing construction with minimal impacts to the wetlands. In total, 74 piers were installed for the elaborate boardwalk and observation decks. Much of the time and labor by Intermountain Helical Piers was donated to this worthwhile endeavor. Click here to read more about this project.