Dimensions and Operations
The Flaming Gorge Dam is 502 feet (153 m) high above the Green River. It measures 1,180 feet (360 m) long along its crest and its maximum base thickness is 131 feet (40 m), while its crest thickness is 27 feet (8.2 m). The dam contains about 987,000 cubic yards (755,000 m3) of concrete. The reservoir of the dam is approximately 6,040 feet (1,840 m) in elevation at full pool.
The dam's hydroelectric power plant is located at its base. It consists of three 50,650 kilowatt generators, powered by three Francis design turbines of 50,000 horsepower (37,000 kW). The total nameplate generating capacity of the Flaming Gorge Dam is 151,950 kilowatts. Three 10 feet (3.0 m) diameter penstocks feed water to the power plant. The Bureau of Reclamation operates the power plant, and the Western Area Power Administration markets the power generated by the dam.
Excess water is spilled through a 675-foot (206 m) long tunnel spillway that runs through the left abutment of the dam. Controlled by two 16.75-foot (5.11 m) by 34-foot (10 m) gates, the tunnel has a capacity of 28,800 cubic feet (820 m3) per second. At its upstream end it is 26.5 feet (8.1 m) in diameter, and at the discharge point is 18 feet (5.5 m) in diameter. The dam also has an outlet works, which consists of two 72-inch (1.8 m) diameter steel pipes through the dam. The discharge capacity of the outlet works is 4,000 cubic feet (110 m3) per second.
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