Case Study

TrapBag® Cofferdam System in Indiantown, Florida

Loren Jock Trucking, Inc. used the TrapBag® Cofferdam System during the South Florida Water Management District’s C-44 Reservoir Recreation Features Project in Indiantown, Florida. The larger project involved the construction of shoreline recreational infrastructure, including a new public boat ramp.

To complete work safely in a dry environment, the contractor needed to isolate a section of the shoreline from the reservoir and dewater the enclosed area. TrapBag supplied a compact, removable temporary cofferdam system that could be hydraulically filled with locally available material and installed using conventional construction equipment.

Project Specifications

Product used: Reusable 4-foot TrapBag® Cofferdam Bags

Installation configurations: Single-course, U-shaped temporary cofferdam

Material: TrapBag Cofferdam Bags; the source does not identify the specific fabric composition

Fill material: Locally available hydraulic fill

Reinforcement: No separate reinforcement documented

Liner: HDPE impermeable liner installed along the water side

Application: Temporary water control and construction-area dewatering

Owner: South Florida Water Management District

Contractor: Loren Jock Trucking, Inc.

Initial Solution

Reusable 4-foot TrapBag Cofferdam Bags were installed to create a temporary water-control barrier around the contractor’s shoreline work area. The installation included:

  • A single-course, 4-foot-high cofferdam configuration
  • A U-shaped layout surrounding the work area
  • Placement using conventional lifting equipment
  • Hydraulic filling with locally available material
  • An HDPE impermeable liner along the water side
  • Dewatering of the enclosed area before construction proceeded

The compact configuration maximized the usable space inside the work area while limiting the cofferdam’s shoreline footprint.

Project Expansions and Reinforcements

No subsequent project expansions or structural reinforcements are documented in the source. The primary enhancement to the single-course cofferdam was an HDPE impermeable liner placed along the water side to reduce seepage and improve water retention during dewatering.

Performance

The TrapBag Cofferdam System successfully isolated the shoreline construction area from the reservoir and allowed the contractor to dewater the enclosure. The source reports that the system provided reliable temporary water control throughout construction while maintaining a compact footprint adjacent to the shoreline.

The installation also allowed the contractor to use locally available fill and conventional construction equipment, supporting rapid installation and minimizing environmental disturbance. No catastrophic storm, flood or other extreme-event performance is documented for this installation.

Key Outcomes

  • Successfully isolated and dewatered the shoreline work area so construction could proceed in a safer, dry environment.
  • Created a compact temporary barrier that maximized the usable area within the enclosure.
  • Enabled rapid installation with conventional equipment and locally available fill, followed by removal after the contractor’s work was complete.

Conclusion

The C-44 Reservoir Recreation Features Project demonstrates how the TrapBag® Cofferdam System can provide modular, removable water control for shoreline construction. Its compact configuration, hydraulic filling method and reusable components allowed the contractor to establish a dry work area without installing a permanent barrier.

Installation Highlights

  • C-44 Reservoir project in Indiantown, Florida
  • Temporary shoreline water control and dewatering
  • Reusable 4-foot TrapBag Cofferdam Bags
  • Single-course, U-shaped configuration
  • Hydraulically filled with locally available material
  • HDPE impermeable water-side liner
  • Installed with conventional lifting equipment
  • Compact footprint maximized the enclosed work area
  • Removed after construction was completed