URS Corporation has received a 2009 Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado for its work on an outlet addition to the Carter Lake Dam.

The new outlet was needed to accommodate the growing use of the water resource, which is part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.

The URS design team used a 42-inch sleeve valve on the outlet to provide efficient water flow for the lake, which serves as a primary source of water in Front Range communities. The state-of-the-art control system allows remote monitoring and operation.

Multi-level gates on the new water tower improve water quality through mixing.

The outcome of the addition is improved reliability and sustainable operation with fewer impacts to reservoir and water users.

The addition was accomplished without disruption to the water delivery system at Carter Lake.

URS Corporation received the award during an event that took place at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver on Monday, Nov. 3.