BergerWorld: 4th Quarter 2005

In September 2002, the Berger Group was selected to lead the USAID-funded Rehabilitation of Economic Facilities and Service Program (REFS), a massive $665 million effort to assist Afghans in rebuilding damaged infrastructure around the nation. Afghanistan's economy is primarily agricultural, and to make the most of scarce water supplies, farmers rely on irrigation to grow crops such as wheat, barley, fruits and nuts. As a result, one of the major goals of the REFS program has been the rehabilitation of irrigation structures and dams which form the economic backbone of the nation.

Berger, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, immediately began work on stone masonry of the Sar-e-Haus Dam.

This dam, which supplies water to more than 40,000 people in Faryab province, was in imminent danger of failure. During the initial surveys, the Team identified several design flaws in the dam and spillway. The Team reinforced and stabilized the foundations and the dam on both sides of the center spillway and improved drainage. Following the initial stabilization, Berger designed a larger capacity spillway and diversion channel and supervised the construction of the improvements.

At the same time, Berger engineers worked to improve over 175 kilometers of main canals, two dams and designed and built two permanent run-of-the-river irrigation diversion weirs. The Team also rehabilitated a major river intake structure

on the Panj Darya River, upstream from its confluence with the Amu Darya River in Kunduz Province near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.

Berger irrigation engineers are also upgrading over 1,000 kilometers of irrigation channels and 400 dams around the nation, including the Mohammad Agha, Moghul Khil and Shah Rawan intakes, the Zana Khan, Chak and Daruta dams, the Sardeh and Parwan irrigation systems and the Kamal Khan and Nari Lashkari canals. As part of the development of the Mohammed Agha and Moghul Khil intakes, Berger engineers worked with local stakeholders to determine irrigation needs then developed detailed designs, including several specially constructed steel gates to control water flow.

The Shah Rawan Intake on the banks of the fabled Amu Darya River provides irrigation to 28,000 people in the Kunduz province. Because of its importance to local farmers, Berger fast-tracked the assignment so that desilting could begin before the spring planting season. During the initial surveys, Berger engineers identified a number of unauthorized branch canals along the 60-kilometer main canal. Since farmers in the area depend on these canals, Berger worked with USAID to secure funding for additional upgrades. Berger specialists are also working with the contractors to review the designs for the entry and escape channels, main canal and an operations and maintenance building as part of this innovative design/build effort.

During Berger's work, an exceptionally heavy wet season caused extensive flooding on the Amu Darya River. Throughout the floods, Berger engineers worked to minimize the damage to existing structures and improve drainage facilities and retaining walls to prevent collapse. Following the flooding, Berger engineers worked alongside the people of Imam Saheb to rebuild more than 2,000 cubic meters of embankment works.

The Sardeh Irrigation System and the Zana Khan Dam are the principal water supplies for the historic Ghazni province. Because of the importance of these systems, Berger conducted a number of studies, including an initial environmental examination and preliminary surveys for the reconstruction. The surveys, however, were complicated by the need to demine areas around the left canal. During demining, Berger began the desilting of the right canal and repaired the intake tower and access bridges. At the same time, Berger also improved the spillway stonework and the downstream canal of the Zana Khan Dam.

In addition to repairing irrigation systems and dams, Berger also assisted the Ministry of Irrigation, Water Resources and Environment (MIWRE) with the planning and management of key irrigation and water projects. To build a close working relationship, Berger assigned senior engineers to offices within the MIWRE and is assisting in reviewing proposals and contracts from international lenders and planning and launching new projects. Berger team members also instituted an extensive on-the-job training program, addressing contract preparation, pre-qualifying contractors, evaluating bids, contract management, quality assurance and construction supervision. To ensure that the new systems are properly implemented, Berger defined the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders, including farmers, ministry officials, donors, consultants and contractors.