Minutes 08/12/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Geneyal Study of Alt~rnativ_(;_~ It can be fairly said that the Ridgeway Hydro Project originated with Electric Department Bob Corekin who, in 1973, undertook a general view of alternatives to supplement the City's power supply and to hedge against foreseeable esca- lation of energy costs. Corekin's review considered and rejected, for various technical reasons, the possibilities of the City generating a larger percent of its own power by burning coal, or oil or gas. The more exotic generation options of nuclear, solar and wind were also ruled out. This left hydroelectric generation; and moves were then undertaken by the City staff and later by City Council to formally pursue this alternative. The current project is the result. R.. W. Beck and Associates, the Engineering Consultant, in Preliminary Efforts This nationally-known consulting firm, with its principal office in Seattle, first entered the picture in late 1976. On December 14th of that year, City Council contracted with the Beck firm, for $17,250, to undertake a statewide survey and analysis of all potential hydroelectric sites that could serve the City's interests. In May, 1977, this report was submitted to the City. It identified a site on the Smith River ~ just south of Martinsville, as a good potential site for a llpeaking plant" (one located on a tributary stream with larger heads and best used to produce power to meet peak load require- ments of a utility), and it was dubbed the Ridgeway Site. A related recom- mendation in this original report was that an llappraisal study" be promptly initiated to more fully ascertain the potential of the Ridgeway Site. The City entered a second contract with Beck in August~ 1977, agreeing to spend $55,000 for an Appraisal Report on what was now becoming generally known as the Ridgeway Hydro Project. This report was to include field inspections of this proposed site, further hydrological studies, reservoir studies, preliminary cost estimates, review of environmental concerns. and other technical work, ending with preparation of an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a preliminary permit for the pro- posed Ridgeway Project. This report was delivered to the City in June, 1978; concluded that the Ridgeway Project was technically feasible; and preliminarily described it as follows: a. A dam, 12.5 river miles southeast of the City, that would be 110-feet high and standing against an average river flow of 598 cubic feet/second. b. A resulting reservoir that would have a drainage area of 529 square miles have a normal surface 639 feet about sea level be 14 miles long have 100 miles of shoreline be 1/2 mile at the widest point be 84 feet deep at the dam have a normal surface area of 2,400 acres have a storage capacity of 81,000 acre-feet. -2-