The U.S. Corps of Engineers Savannah office was asked to look at upgrading the existing cast iron tidal gates at the Savannah U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife preserve in Savannah, GA.  The existing cast iron gates had corroded to the point that they were ineffective at controlling tidal flows.  Templeton & Associates introduced Fontaine gates to the US Corps of Engineers as a solution to the problem. 

The U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife’s main task is to keep the brackish tidal waters from mixing with the backwater from the Savannah River so that it does not alter the plant and animal life in the wildlife preserve.  The tidal gates are key to preserving the fresh water wildlife along one of the last East Coast fly ways for ducks.  The US Corps of Engineers was given a mandate to provide gates that would last 50 years in a brackish water environment.

The Corps of Engineers selected duplex 2205 Stainless Steel for the gate doors and frames and titanium anchor bolts as the materials of choice for surviving the corrosive tidal influences.  There was a mix of combination flap gate/slide gates, as well as standard slide gates.  In all, over 30 Fontaine gates were supplied for this project and were installed by SES, Inc.  SES, Inc. did an excellent job of managing and dewatering the canals, reworking existing concrete structures so that they would accept the new gates, as well as installing new structures, drainage pipe and lots of gates on the new structures.

In the end, all parties were happy with the successful construction project.

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