AHSAHKA, Idaho – Water discharges from Dworshak Dam near Orofino, Idaho, will temporarily fluctuate tomorrow, June 7, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.. to allow testing on hydroelectric generator unit number 3, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials at the dam announced today.
During this time flows may increase and/or decrease up to 3,800 cubic feet per second (cfs) each hour, causing water in the Clearwater River to fluctuate less than 1-foot. Elevated total dissolved gas may occur during the test, but will be minimized as much as possible.
The testing is necessary to gather performance data to assist contractors preparing to conduct a major overhaul of Unit 3 Sept. 1, 2016, through May 1, 2017. Unit number 3 is the Corps of Engineers’ largest hydroelectric generator, with a rated capacity of 220,000-kilowatts.
Corps officials advise boaters, anglers and other people using waterways both in Dworshak Reservoir and below the dam on the Clearwater River to be alert to changes in water elevation and volume of flow. Current water-management conditions can be viewed on Dworshak’s reservoir report webpage at www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/dd/common/projects/www/dwr.html.
Dworshak’s powerhouse has two 90,000-kilowatt and one 220,000-kilowatt generating units in operation, for a total capacity of 400,000 kilowatts. During fiscal year 2013, 1.84 billion kW hours of electrical power were produced by Dworshak Dam’s three generating units.
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Release no. 16-037