Generation? Why?

[Phil Lilley]

I'm the one who usually is answering this question but right now, Sunday morning, I'm asking WHY?

With Table Rock almost at power pool, history tells us that they usually don't run water on weekends in the fall. So why now? It's not to add O2 or they'd be doing that at night when DO levels are the lowest.

Yesterday they ran the minimum amount all day it seemed. Looks like today is the same.

I'd like to see the water off and see what the upper end looks like with no water running.

[Bman]

Isn't the reason because they are still dumping Beaver?

[Spinnaker]

Day to day who really knows. It appears that they are now able to dump a lot of water, over 1/2 foot a day from Bull. They are at near regular pool in TRock, while Beaver is still about 7 ft. above regular pool. Perhaps, the corp wants to get TRock down so that when Bull is down to near regular pool, they can start releasing more from Beaver. Again, this is all speculation on my part. But it would be interesting to fish Beaver after they return to normal pool just to see what the shoreline looks like after sustained high water for so long.

[Phil Lilley]

I understand Beaver BUT everytime I call to see what Table Rock is running, Beaver isn't running anything.

[jdmidwest]

Could it be a demand issue? Hydro power is the cheapest form of energy out there. Others have to burn coal or natural gas or stick a nuclear rod in water. All of this involves the cost of the product to create the energy desired. Hydro power has no cost involved other than the operation of the equipment. All these years of drought have gotten us used low water most of the time. Now they have a good supply of water and are probably doing a little profit making. The lakes were formed for power generation and flood control. Fishing and recreation was just a bonus, although it does bring in significant tax revenue for the area.

[taxidermist]

Just be greatfull you are not down on White River!! They were running 8 today wide open the river even came up more while we were out.

Trout fishing was slow, but I found crappie! CD-9 Gold Rapala!!

[mosouthpaw]

id say the generation has to do more with Empire District Power then SWPA. If Empire cant generate, the US govt would have to pay empire for lost revenue.

[bigredbirdfan]

Could it be a demand issue? Hydro power is the cheapest form of energy out there. Others have to burn coal or natural gas or stick a nuclear rod in water. All of this involves the cost of the product to create the energy desired. Hydro power has no cost involved other than the operation of the equipment. All these years of drought have gotten us used low water most of the time. Now they have a good supply of water and are probably doing a little profit making. The lakes were formed for power generation and flood control. Fishing and recreation was just a bonus, although it does bring in significant tax revenue for the area.

Hate to do this to you jd.

Where can I find a comparison on energy production? B/C I have heard hydro is expensive to produce.

[Thom]

Bigredbirdfan:

http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activ...Info/HydroS.pdf

The document pasted above will give you the information you requested. Hydopower is the most efficient means of producing electricity. Page 3 of the PDF shows comparisons of the different means of production.

There are other benefits of hydropower than efficiency once the dam is built. I think that the figures that show hydropower expensive take into consideration the construction of the dam. If it is already there then it is more efficient to use it than to mine coal, produce fuel rods, etc.

[MrDucky]

I'm the one who usually is answering this question but right now, Sunday morning, I'm asking WHY?

It's because they know how much i enjoy the big loud horn and they are trying to keep the Ducky's away :lol: