Seal Team Fix

About this archived opportunity

Overview When a reservoir conduit cannot be closed, thousands of cubic feet of water can roar through uncontrolled, threatening public safety, irreplaceable reservoir storage, and power generation. Seal Team Fix invites engineers, fabricators, and creative problem-solvers to stop that torrent in its tracks. Your mission: design a rapid-deploying, temporary seal that can be deployed to a submerged 3- to 25-ft diameter conduit opening, accommodate differential pressure, and achieve a 95–98 % flow reduction - without leaning on trash racks or other non-structural surfaces. The competition unfolds in three phases: a short-format concept white paper, a funded prototype build, and a lab-scale hydraulic demonstration. Up to $575,000 in prizes is on the line, along with the chance to safeguard water and power for millions across the American West. Ready to tackle one of Reclamation’s toughest infrastructure challenges? Follow this challenge, explore the full guidelines, and join the team that makes the best sealing solution a reality. Guidelines Welcome to the front line of dam-safety innovation. By opening these guidelines you’ve already accepted the call to tame torrents that can tear through massive conduits when gates fail. Read on to learn the hydropower realities, the engineering constraints, and the breakthrough we need you to deliver. Background For over a century, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has played a foundational role in shaping the infrastructure of the American West. As the nation’s largest wholesale water supplier, Reclamation manages more than 330 reservoirs that collectively store over 140 million acre-feet of water – delivering this critical resource to support agriculture, energy generation, ecosystems, and growing communities across 17 western states. At the heart of many Reclamation facilities – hydroelectric powerplants, pumping stations, and water delivery systems – are large conduits. These massive, engineered passages are essential for

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