Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) built and manages the Summersville dam and its recreation area.The USACE's priorities are flood control downstream of Summersville Lake and recreation, not producing power.USACE currently allows the Hydroelectric plant (Hydro) attached to the dam to make power only when enough water is being released to make power.During dry spells or winter months this may only be a few days per week.Gauley River Power Partners (GRPP) owns and operates hydro [2]. GRPP loses significant profit due to the USACE's strict water control regulations.These regulations have not been updated to optimize hydroelectric power production.For this reason, the water control methods employed in the past have been analysis in to determine how certain changes in water control could affect power production, recreation, and wildlife.The Results of this analysis shows that if small changes were made to the current water control techniques, significant increases in profit could be experienced.This can be accomplished without endangering recreation opportunities or wildlife.Flood control capabilities would be reduced.However, enough water storage would still remain to manage flooding downstream.
Authors: Jordan Cox, Farshid Zabahian
Institution: West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Ocean Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Funder: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
OpenAlex ID: W4409109180