Professional Staff

“I enjoy solving structural problems related to existing hydropower facilities and life extension.”

Bringing in more than 20 years of experience, Christopher Vella specializes in dam safety, penstock inspections and hydro design. He is recognized by the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as an approved Independent Consultant, meeting the requirements of the Commission’s Section 12.31(a) for conducting dam safety inspections. He has served as the Independent Consultant or assisted the Independent Consultant and facilitated or participated in the potential failure mode analyses (PFMA) for 36 FERC Part 12 inspections and PFMAs. Chris is certified with the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) and has the experience to perform penstock and hydraulic structure inspections using industrial rope access techniques. Chris has design experience with new hydropower structures including powerhouses, intake structures, bulkhead dams, trash racks, gates, retaining walls, penstocks, overhead crane supports, flashboards, and fish lifts.

Some of Chris’ most recent assignments with Kleinschmidt include conducting penstock inspections and decommissioning evaluations; designing spillway refurbishment; performing dam condition assessments and FERC Part 12 dam safety inspections; developing preliminary and final design of downstream fish passage alternatives; conducting structural condition assessments for turbine replacement; and performing emergency penstock inspections and developing repair designs.

He is an active member of the Canadian Dam Association and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. He has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Dalhousie University, a Diploma in Engineering from Nova Scotia Agricultural College and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Maine (US), Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador (CAN).