Laserfiche WebLink
<br />t ~ <br /> <br />In order to balance the goals of ensuring CRSP power customers a reliable <br />level of capacity and energy and maximizing the level of marketable resources, <br />Western markets firm capacity at the 90 percent assurance level and energy at <br />the median level. Periods of full reservoir or high inflow conditions would <br />allow the additional sale of short-term capacity and energy. Adverse <br />hydrologic conditions would require the purchase and importing of non-CRSP <br />capacity and energy to meet the long-term firm load. <br /> <br />Since CRSP energy is marketed as a system entity, no specific power resource <br />commitment is demanded from Flaming Gorge Dam at any given hour; however, the <br />total available CRSP resource determines the level of marketing and long-term <br />changes in the Flaming Gorge resource would affect this marketing level. <br />Periodically, Western implements new power marketing criteria based upon <br />project repayment and other associated costs. On September 29, 1989 Western <br />was enjoined from implementing a post 1989 criteria scheduled to take effect <br />October 1, 1989. Existing Western firm power contracts for CRSP were ordered <br />extended pending court approval of a Western plan for the preparation of a <br />Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the criteria. During the preparation <br />of the EIS the status quo as to water release will be maintained by Western <br />and the Reclamation. Western will only provide short-term CRSP power from <br />either existing CRSP generation or purchase at the same rate as long-term firm <br />power. These recent developments may have profound on the future operation of <br />flaming Gorge reservoir and should be consider when future operational <br />scenarios are considered [3]. <br /> <br />3.5 Constraints <br /> <br />The constraints on the operation of Flaming Gorge Reservoir can be broken down <br />into four categories, physical, institutional, economic, and environmental. <br />The four types of constraints are described below along with a a narrative <br />documenting their effects on the operation of Flamming Gorge Reservoir. <br /> <br />3.5.1 Physical Constraints <br /> <br />Physical constraints dictate that the three generating units operate within <br />the limits of their design. Historically, releases through the three <br />generator units have been as high as 4,500 cfs and have been limited to a <br />minimum of 800 cfs. Ramping rates can be as high as 500 cfs per minute, but <br />in actuality have been constrained to 100 cfs per minute to limit the impacts <br />of rapid river stage changes. With the recent uprating of the three <br />generation units flow can be increased to 4,700 cfs [4]. <br /> <br />The maximum power plant releases are currently constrained by generator <br />output, and the minimum releases constrained by the minimum flow necessary to <br />support the downstream trout fishery. During periods of high runoff 4,700 cfs <br />can be released through the generators, 4,000 cfs can be released through the <br />steel lined jet tubes and an additional 28,800 cfs can be discharged over the <br />spillway. The jet tubes are used as an alternative outlet when high runoff <br />conditions are present and released through the generators is not sufficient <br />to keep the reservoir from spilling over the spillway. The use of the jet <br />tubes and spillway is constrained by economic and environmental factors and <br />they are only used in emergencies. <br /> <br />3-4 <br />