water releases

[njfish]

Can someone explain what value the generating station at Buford Dam is? I've seen the size of the pumphouse/generator area and it doesn't look like it would make a noticable contribution to the Atlanta area power grid needs. Does it just generate enough to cover USACE/Lanier facility needs? My observation is that the upper Hooch could see great improvement, including increased aquatic vegatation, insect populations, etc. if not subjected to the scouring flows of the generation releases. I'm also sure the recreational money spent on river activities as well as the lake (why lower it any further) far outway whatever that little generating station does. Has anyone studied this angle? I can't say I have a great wealth of tailwater experience, but this is the most violent situation I've seen

[The Ole Man]

nj
Well,there is a catch 22 here. Without the dam, there would be no trout in the Hooch tailwater. So, from our (trout fishers) perspective, it is nice to have it. The major purpose for the dam is flood control. Power generation is secondary and as you say-insignificant. I read recently where hydro-electric power generation accounts for less than 10 % of the nations electrical power. The lake is lowered in the fall in order to create storage space for the winter/spring wet season-in the hopes of not having to open the flood gates. So, water release would be necessary even if there were no generators. Granted,it would be a variety of minimum flows during the various seasons. Since the dam is necessary for flood control, it just makes sense to use some of it's storage for power production. Speaking of flood gates. I've stood at the base of Allatoona Dam when the flood gates were opened (when the lake, even at low winter pool would not hold the spring rains)-That is violent. BTW,I think the Allatoona flood gates have never required opening but twice since the dam was built in the 40's. Don't know about Buford Dam.

[Frequent Flyer]

Just guessing, but I assume the short bursts of high water are designed to promote generation at high efficiency. It would be great if the facility could generate continuously at low flows, but that would require several small generators at high cost. I'm sure some dams operate semi-continuously, but I haven't seen them (at least in Tennessee and Arkansas and Georgia).

[Drifter]

Speaking of Buford Dam generation.....I recall Bill Couch stating (at the recent Fling) that the Corp has plans and maybe has begun "retro-fitting" the turbine blades with oxygen producing baffles. Seems he also said the Corp has (can't remember what he said) raised the O2 content a few parts per million which should benefit the Hatchery as well as the fishery.

I also the believe the water releases at Buford have something to do with aiding the water levels below Columbus as it pertains to the shipping industry.

Drifter

[njfish]

Good point about downstream uses. I know the Catskill/ Delaware resevoirs were used to keep the satwater intrusion line below the City of Philadelphia drinking water intakes. I guess I was wondering why we could'nt have a more uniform, moderated flow instead of the wild level swings.

[The Ole Man]

While we are on water usage, I don't know if any of you read a month or so ago about the proposal that stirred a big stink for a couple of weeks and then faded for now. The proposal is to pipe water from Lake Allatoona to Lake Lanier-because Lanier/Hooch is beginning to show a lack of capacity for the Atlanta area as well as downstream. Piped sharing is pretty common around the country-NYC pipes from way up in the Catskills and Calif. goes out of state for some of theirs. I'm sure, Carters, Allatoona and the Hooch will someday be piped for water sharing.

[The Professor]

I think the bottom line here is if there wasn't generation at Buford, there would be no trout on the Hooch...insufficient aeration of the water. Also, it is extremely difficult to wade fish the Hooch at any but low water. So if the had a steady release, you'd be restricted to boats or float fishing. All things considered, I'll put up with the generation schedule.

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Neal Gilchrist
hnealg@bellsouth.net

[Frequent Flyer]

Neal,
This subject came up in a parking lot disscussion that included Phil from the Fish Hawk. I had commented I think that continous generation would produce unwadeable water. Phil reminded me that average generation is less than 2 hours/day. If you distribute that over 24 hrs then the increase in level is minimal (1/12 of average level increase).
Loren

[jard_up]

Power generation at Buford dam is used only to shave the top off of the peak demand hours. This saves the power company from having to fire up expensive natural gas and coal plants to meet peak demand. Additionally, hydroelectric power stations come online quickly without the start up time of the other types. Also, the original funding for the lake was largely based on its capacity for power generation. I believe that the first 20 feet of water in the lake is allocated to power generation. Don't hold me to that last statement though, I couldn't find anything in writing on it. Well thought I would share some useless facts gathered during my senior project research.

[Green Guy]

This may seem like an easy question for some of you. How do you find out the generation schedule? Is it a set schedule or does it vary? How big a water swing to you see at the Jones bridge are when they are generating?
GG