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Lake Como & Oakland (Fosdick) Park Dam

Fort Worth, Texas

Expertise

  • Municipal

Services

  • civil engineering
  • land surveying
  • structural engineering

When the City of Fort Worth identified critical maintenance and safety concerns at the Oakland (Fosdick) Lake Dam and Lake Como Dam, BHB was engaged to evaluate existing conditions and develop long-term repair and improvement solutions that would bring both structures into compliance with Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) dam safety standards—while preserving their roles as community and park amenities.

BHB began with detailed onsite inspections to confirm deficiencies noted in routine TCEQ inspection reports, identify additional issues, and prepare inspection and recommendation reports with Engineer’s Opinions of Probable Cost (EOPCs) for multiple improvement options. These studies addressed erosion, structural deterioration, hydraulic capacity, and regulatory constraints, and ultimately led to BHB being retained for full design services for both dams.

At Oakland (Fosdick) Lake, the project was driven by the failure of the original masonry and concrete culvert spillway, which had collapsed and required replacement and upsizing. The design was further complicated by the presence of Waters of the U.S. (WOUS), a significant backwater effect from Interstate 30 downstream of the dam, and the requirement that the modified dam safely pass the 75% Probable Maximum Flood (PMF)—approximately three times larger than the 100-year storm—without increasing 100-year discharge rates. To address these constraints while minimizing park impacts and controlling costs, BHB designed a labyrinth weir with openings at the normal pool elevation and a parapet wall along the dam crest. This solution safely conveyed extreme storm events, maintained pre-project 100-year discharge rates, qualified for a Nationwide Permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and allowed for the installation of a 52-foot pedestrian bridge to restore the park trail crossing.

At Lake Como, the dam and spillway are integral to Merrick Street, which connects the surrounding community and provides pedestrian access around the lake. BHB’s work focused on repairing the eroded upstream slope, addressing cracking and spalling in the spillway, stabilizing drainage channels, and integrating wave-action protection to prevent future deterioration. These repairs were coordinated with improvements to the adjacent sidewalk to enhance pedestrian safety and access, ensuring the dam continued to function as both infrastructure and a community asset.

Throughout both projects, BHB worked closely with TCEQ and environmental consultants to streamline permitting, address Waters of the U.S. constraints, and keep the projects moving despite evolving regulatory and construction challenges. Advanced hydraulic and hydrologic modeling was used to account for localized inflows, backwater effects, and downstream culvert limitations—conditions that could not be fully captured using standard modeling approaches. Construction for Oakland (Fosdick) Lake is currently underway, with future phases including the preparation of Emergency Action Plans and Operation and Maintenance manuals for both dams. Together, these projects deliver resilient, regulation-compliant infrastructure solutions that protect public safety while enhancing Fort Worth’s park spaces for years to come.

Key People

  • Shannon L. Nave, PE, CFM

    Shannon L. Nave, PE, CFM

    Principal | Senior Civil Engineer

    Shannon Nave’s desire is to use engineering to leave the world a better place than he found it and to help man live with nature and with each other. His extensive experience includes engineering design and project management for a significant variety of civil and water resource projects.

    His wide-ranging experience in working for both consulting firms and as a municipal staff engineer includes flood studies, dam design and repair, expert witness testimony, and general civil projects encompassing designs for residential, commercial, educational, utility, and Capital Improvement Projects (CIP).

    Shannon’s research and master’s thesis on storm water flow in streets and gutters led to UTA receiving a $450,000 grant from TxDOT to build a street section in the basement of the UTA Nedderman Hall to run full-scale tests.

    Shannon lives in Parker County with his wife Anna and two sons; he enjoys cooking, reading, and working with the Cub Scouts.

    Project Experience

    Imperial Construction Office and Shop

    Education

    Tarleton State University:
    Bachelor’s Degree/1996/Hydrology and Water Resources
    University of Texas at Arlington:
    Master’s Degree/2000/Civil Engineering: Water Resources

  • Quaid Wright, PE, CFM

    Quaid Wright, PE, CFM

    Project Manager | Civil Engineer

    As a young kid, Quaid Wright aspired to be a detective like Sherlock Holmes. Once he reached high school, he realized that following in his father’s footsteps to become a civil engineer would be a better fit. He has an innate aptitude at science, math, and problem solving, so engineering came naturally, but due to his affinity for gaining and sharing knowledge, he thinks he might have also done well as a math or history teacher.

    Quaid joined BHB after graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in civil engineering. He specializes in hydrology and hydraulics, but has gained a diverse range of experience in his time in the industry.

    In his free time, he enjoys learning about niche facets of history, scientific discoveries, mathematical concepts, and even the nuances of language and vocabulary. He reads books and watches YouTube videos, particularly ones with educational/informational content, and he enjoys video games that require strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, or those that weave captivating narratives. He prefers to visit natural areas, museums, and historical monuments over crowded venues or events.

    He is married to a wonderful woman who is studying to be an art teacher. Together they have a dog, a cat, and a lizard, and hope to start a family someday soon.

    Education

    University of Texas at Arlington:
    Bachelors/2016/Civil Engineering

  • Andrew Wilson, PE, CFM

    Andrew Wilson, PE, CFM

    Associate | Civil Engineer

    Andrew Wilson inherited his analytical mind from his biochemist father. He has always enjoyed learning how things work and how to make them work better. Although as a child he wanted to become a firefighter, he was compelled to pursue civil engineering after completing his Eagle Scout project, in which he designed and managed the installation of a storm drain system for a small courtyard.

    Andrew Wilson attended the University of Texas at Arlington. He brings to BHB several years of experience in civil engineering design and project management. His design experience includes hydrology and hydraulics, FEMA Letter of Map Changes, land development, drainage studies, channel restoration, and dam breach analysis. He was the winner of the ASCE Fort Worth Branch Edmund Friedman Young Engineer of the Year award in 2015 and is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Texas Floodplain Management Association.

    Outside of work, Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and cat. He likes to stay active– he has actually completed a Half Ironman triathlon race and hopes to do more in the future. His hobbies include leather working and tending to his small family ranch where they raise cows. His ideal vacation is a peaceful trip to the mountains where the family can stay in a small cabin in the middle of nowhere.

    Education

    University of Texas at Arlington: Bachelor’s Degree/2013/Civil Engineering

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