Project Details
Client: Southern California Edison, Northern Hydro
Location: Big Creek, California
Type: Preliminary Design Study
Completion Date: 2009
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The Southern California Edison Company (SCE), Northern Hydro Region is currently in the process of modifying a number of their facilities to accommodate requirements under a new FERC licensing process. FERC requires that dams operated by SCE to dischage a constant flow of water downstream. As part of this relicensing agreement, nine existing sites require modifications to provide release flow regulation.
These sites included: Dam 4, Dam 5, Dam 6, Portal Forebay, Rock Creek Diversion, Ross Creek Diversion, Lower Balsam Diversion, Huntington Lake, and Mono Diversion.
Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers prepared a preliminary design study in January 2009. Each site’s existing infrastructure, hydraulic conditions, construction access and operating needs were assessed. Preliminary designs and cost estimates were prepared for each site. Recommended improvements vary by site and include structural modifications to dams, new discharge pipe manifolding, additional weir gates, acoustic flow meter assemblies, automated instrumentation and SCADA controls.