Fort Towson

Add links

The Koma Kulshan Project is a 13.3 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric generation facility on the slopes of Mount Baker, a stratovolcano in Washington state's North Cascades. The project commenced commercial operation in October 1990,[3][4][5] and is owned by a Covanta Energy–Atlantic Power joint venture. It supplies Puget Sound Energy via a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) contract.[3][6] Its single turbine is a Pelton wheel supplied by Sulzer Escher Wyss.[7]

Located in the Mount Baker National Forest, it is one of six Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-licensed small hydro installations on Federal Government land in Washington state.[8][9]

Koma Kulshan is the name of Mount Baker in the Lummi dialect.[10]: 241 

Dams

Intakes are located at diversion dams on the Rocky Creek and Sulphur Creek tributaries of Lake Shannon. A 42–45-inch (1,100–1,100 mm) diameter, 19,250-foot (5,870 m) long penstock carries water from a bifurcation (48°41′29″N 121°47′31″W / 48.6914°N 121.7919°W / 48.6914; -121.7919 (Penstock head), 2,750 feet (840 m) a.s.l.) to the powerhouse.[11] Water is discharged from the powerhouse through a short run on Sandy Creek to Baker Lake.[9][8][12][13] Up to 120 cubic feet per second (3.4 m3/s) is diverted to the powerhouse.[14][15]: 3–16 

Rocky Creek Dam (48°41′06″N 121°48′23″W / 48.6849°N 121.8065°W / 48.6849; -121.8065 (Rocky Creek diversion dam)) is 18 feet (5.5 m) high, 32 feet (9.8 m) long at 2,770 feet (840 m) a.s.l.[11]

Sulphur Creek Dam (48°41′34″N 121°47′34″W / 48.6928°N 121.7928°W / 48.6928; -121.7928 (Sulphur Creek diversion dam)) is 15 feet (4.6 m) high, 37 feet (11 m) long at 2,755 feet (840 m) a.s.l.[11]

Diversion of the creek affected the appearance of Upper and Middle Sulphur Creek Falls.[16][17]

Peak generation

Further information: Washington (state) § Climate

Power generation peaks in May through July coinciding with snowmelt, and has a smaller peak in November coinciding with the wet season.[2]

References

  1. ^ Burkardt, Nina (April 1995). "Technical Clarity in Inter-Agency Negotiations: Lessons From Four Hydropower Projects" (PDF). Water Resources Bulletin. 31 (2). American Water Resources Association: 188–189. Bibcode:1995JAWRA..31..187B. doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.1995.tb03372.x. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Power generation statement, Koma Kulshan Associates, October 22, 2010 – via FERC
  3. ^ a b "Koma Kulshan". Atlantic Power Corporation. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  4. ^ Renewable Resources Development Report California Energy Commission, State of California, November 2003, principal authors: Ann Peterson, Pamela Doughman, Todd Lieberg
  5. ^ Northwest Regional Forecast of Power Loads and Resources August 2007 – July 2017 (PDF), Portland, Oregon: Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC), April 2007 – via efsec.wa.gov
  6. ^ Covanta Energy sustainability report 2009/2010
  7. ^ Christopher Bergesen (ed.), "Kulshan site", Power Plants Around the World (Website), Bethesda, Maryland, retrieved 2015-07-08
  8. ^ a b Micro hydro at Virtual Nuclear Tourist
  9. ^ a b Koma Kulshan site, Global Energy Observatory, c. 2006
  10. ^ Bright, William (2004), Native American Placenames of the United States, University of Oklahoma Press, ISBN 9780806135984
  11. ^ a b c Amended license, FERC, April 25, 1990
  12. ^ Water quality certification, Koma Kulshan project (PDF), Washington Department of Ecology, September 16, 1986
  13. ^ Site map, Hydrokinetics, September 8, 1980 – via FERC. Note: Site map shows two unbuilt diversion dams on Dillard Creek and Sandy Creek, and does not match as-built configuration of penstock.
  14. ^ Koma Kulshan Hydroelectric Project average annual flows for the period 10/1/10 to 9/30/11, Koma Kulshan Associates, December 14, 2011 – via FERC
  15. ^ Initial Consultation Document: Baker River Project, FERC No.2150, Existing Conditions (PDF), Puget Sound Energy
  16. ^ Bryan Swan, "Upper Sulphur Creek Falls", Northwest Waterfall Survey, retrieved 2015-07-08
  17. ^ Bryan Swan, "Middle Sulphur Creek Falls", Northwest Waterfall Survey, retrieved 2015-07-08

Further reading

  • Beth A.K. Coughlan; Nina Burkardt; David Fulton (November 1993), "Assessing the "need to negotiate" in ferc licensing consultations: A study of two hydropower projects", Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 13 (6): 331–351, doi:10.1016/0195-9255(93)90002-S
  • Vassilia Angelaki; Jonathan M. Harbor (1995), "Impacts of Flow Diversion for Small Hydroelectric Power Plants on Sediment Transport, Northwest Washington", Physical Geography, 16 (5): 432–443, Bibcode:1995PhGeo..16..432A, doi:10.1080/02723646.1995.10642564

External links

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koma_Kulshan_Project