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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2.3.5 power Production Considerations. When flood <br />control releases are required at the major dams along the <br />Colorado River, the volume of water being released may exceed <br />the hydraulic capability of the associated power plant <br />facilities. On a river as erratic as the Colorado, power <br />plant bypasses may not be completely eliminated, but those <br />that are related to flood control ~onsiderations can be <br />significantly reduced through the redistribution of excess <br />wa ter releases. <br /> <br />with respect to power generation, flood control releases <br />at the 19,000 cfs level can be passed through all the <br />mainstream Lower Basin Colorado River power plants. These <br />releases are also within the normal power peaking range of <br />these power plants. However, mandatory flood control <br />releases from Hoover Dam at the next step, 28,000 cfs, <br />result in bypassing Parker Dam power plant; releases of <br />35,000 cfs cause bypasses at Davis Dam power plant; and <br />releases in excess of 35,000 cfs could require bypassing <br />Hoover Dam power plant as well. Releases greater than 33,100 <br />cfs from Glen Canyon Dam would cause bypassing of the Glen <br />Canyon Dam power plant. <br /> <br />The present power plant flow capacities at the four dams <br />on the mainstem of the Colorado River are: Glen Canyon - <br />33,100 cfs, Hoover - 36,000 to 39,000 cfs, Davis - 24,500 to <br />26,500 cfs, and Parker - 21,500 to 22,500 cfs. The actual <br />flow capacity available at each of the power plants varies <br />during the fall and winter months, the low water use months, <br />to provide for normal maintenance of the generating units. <br />Power plant flow capacities at Hoover and Glen Canyon Dams <br />have been or will continue to be affected by the ongoing <br />uprating of the generating units. The uprating of the eight <br />generating units at Glen Canyon was completed at the end of <br />March 1987. The uprating of the 17 generating units at <br />Hoover Dam is not scheduled for completion until October 1, <br />1992. <br /> <br />Under normal maintenance schedules, maintenance on the <br />four generating units at Parker Dam power plant is generally <br />done from October to January with one generating unit being <br />off line for each month. This reduces the range of power <br />plant flow capacity by about 5,000 cfs, resulting in a flow <br />capacity between 16,500 cfs to 17,500 cfs during this period. <br />A similar maintenance schedule is conducted on the five <br />generating units at Davis Dam power plant with one generating <br />unit generally being off line from October to February. This <br />reduces the range of power plant flow capacity by about 5,000 <br />cfs also, resulting in a flow capacity of 19,500 cfs to <br />21,500 cfs for this five-month period. <br /> <br />-16- <br />