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Satellite)
"The concrete arch-type dam stands at 204 feet high, which is 54 feet higher than Niagara Falls....The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are the first tribes in the nation to own and operate a major hydropower facility." The three units have a capacity of 194mw. [
visitmt]
I can't determine the design of the spillway gates. Are they sluice gates that go down?
The reservoir is called Flathead Lake.
The powerhouse is on the west side of the little peninsula.
They have probably opened more gates since May 31 since the reservoir was full. I think that is what the first reel is showing.
That's an impressive dam, both from an engineering and historical perspective. The fact that the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes own and operate such a major hydroelectric facility makes it even more remarkable. As for the spillway gates, they do look a bit unusual from the photos. My first guess would be some variation of radial or tainter gates rather than simple drop gates, but I'd love to hear from someone with direct experience working on hydro projects.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it's one of those structures that looks even more impressive when you realize it's taller than Niagara Falls and still producing nearly 200 MW of power. Amazing piece of infrastructure.
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