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water transmission facilities to operate the identified projects, and therefore, the overall
environmental impact to recover the then wasted energy would be minimal.
Boulder filed its first application for a Preliminary Permit with the FERC on May 3, 1982.
Boulders application included all hydroelectric potential within the water system. On
February 7, 1983, the FERC awarded the first Preliminary Permit to Boulder. The first five
hydroelectric facilities were constructed between 1985 and 1987. The process to permit
the Lakewood pipeline replacement and hydroelectric facility began in about 1986. The
application for the preliminary permit for the Silver Lake Hydroelectric Project was
submitted in May 1995.
Silver Lake Pipeline and Hydroelectric Facility
The existing 3.6-mile-long Silver Lake pipeline was in poor condition and needed to be
replaced to maintain the integrity and quality of the water supplies to the city from the
watershed. The gravity flow pipeline was replaced with a continuous welded steel
pressure pipeline during the summer and fall of 1997 and 1998. The diversion
structure and intake for the pipeline are located on North Boulder Creek approximately
1.8 miles downstream of Silver Lake Dam in the Silver Lake Watershed. The outlet
works at the dam regulates flow in the creek. Presently the dam outlet works and
pipeline intake are manually operated by the watershed manager. In the winter this
requires a 4-mile-long snowmobile ride to the intake and another 1.8 miles to the dam
to change the flow in the creek.
The Silver Lake Hydroelectric facility is
located at the end of the Silver Lake
pipeline on the north shore of the
Lakewood Reservoir, about 4 miles north
of the town of Nederland, Colorado.
Construction of the Silver Lake
Hydroelectric Facility was split into two
contracts: one for equipment procurement
and installation and one for construction of
the civil works and structures.
The Silver Lake Hydroelectric Facility
includes the powerplant and switchyard. The powerplant contains a 3.2 MW pelton
turbine (with a net design head of 1,406 feet and static head of 1,540 feet) and a 3,600
kW/4,000 KVA, 900 rpm generator. The bypass system consists of a Mokveld
multiport, sleeve type valve for energy dissipation and flow control. The valve has a
rated maximum pressure of 750 psi. A unique stainless steel basket type strainer is
located immediately upstream of the valve to catch debris in the pipeline from the
creek. Auxiliary equipment includes a turbine isolation valve, turbine bypass isolation
valve, 20 ton crane, switchgear, transformer and associated mechanical and electrical
equipment for a completely automatic remote control facility.
Architectural Treatment
Another unique feature of the Silver Lake
hydroelectric facility is the architectural
treatment. The structure was recessed into
the natural terrain on the north side of the
reservoir to minimize the profile and hide the
plant from view of the nearby Peak-to-Peak
Highway (Colorado Highway 72) which is
designated as a scenic byway. In addition,
the exterior of the concrete superstructure was
covered with stained rustic cedar siding to
match nearby ranch buildings and blend into
the surrounding mountain environment.
Hydroelectric Power Generation
The table at the end of this paper summarizes the types and capacities of the turbines and
generators installed in the Boulder water system.
During the period from 1990 to 1998, Boulders hydroelectric power system generated an
average of 15,132,932 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity enough power to supply 7% of
the citys homes. This percentage is based on the consumption of an average residential
customer, who uses about 5,600 kWh per year. Boulder received annual average
revenues of $790,235 from the sale of the hydroelectric power.
When complete, Boulders hydroelectric power system will generate an average of about
51,764,732 kWh of electricity enough power to supply 24% of the citys homes.
Advantages of Hydropower
Advantages of adding hydropower to an existing municipal water supply system are:
Special Problems
Problems that can arise as a result of hydropower operation on a municipal water system
are:
Conclusions
Developing municipal hydropower can be a lengthy process, but a water utility that is aware
of the potential problems and costs can take the necessary steps to turn unused potential
into actual working facilities, that can raise revenue and provide needed energy. In the
citys first 1982 application for a FERC permit, the FERC established some goals for what
they wanted to accomplish with the development of the hydroelectric power facilities.
FERC stated that
The project is in the public interest, in that it optimizes the utilization of
currently developed water resources. In particular, the project will adopt
hydroelectric facilities to an existing water supply system, thereby
minimizing environmental disruption, and keep costs to a minimum. The
development will affect complete utilization of a water resource which is, at
present, used for water supply purposes only.
It is gratifying to see what the city has achieved since 1982. Since submittal of the first
application, six projects have been built and the final one is under construction. The city
should be pleased with their accomplishments and Realization of the Dream.
The project was recently selected by the Colorado Consulting Engineers Council to receive
a 2000 Merit Award for Engineering Excellence. The Orodell Hydroelectric Project also
received an award for Engineering Excellence from the Colorado Consulting Engineers
Council.
Authors
Charles C. Hutton is a Vice President at ECI, the Water Resource Division of Frederic R.
Harris, Inc. He is the ECI Project Manager for the Silver Lake and Lakewood
Hydroelectric Projects responsible for directing the preparation of feasibility studies,
preliminary and final designs, construction drawings, specifications and cost estimates.
He also was responsible for management and coordination of full time construction
management for installation of the turbine, generator and bypass valve equipment and
construction of the powerhouse structure.
Eva June Busse is a Project Manager at the City of Boulder, Colorado. She is the Citys
Project Manager for the Silver Lake and Lakewood Hydroelectric Projects responsible
for management and coordination of the consultant and contractors. She also was
extensively involved in construction management during installation of the turbine,
generator and bypass valve equipment and construction of the powerhouse structure.
June also was the Citys Project Manager for the Betasso, Orodell and Sunshine
Hydroelectric Projects.
Name
Maxwell
Kohler
Orodell
Sunshine
Betasso
Silver Lake
Subtotal
Lakewood
Power
Source
Pressure
Zone 3
Treated Water
Pressure
Zone 3
Treated Water
Orodell Line
Treated
Water
Sunshine Line
Treated
Water
Barker Line
Raw
Water
Silver Lake
Raw Water
Pipeline
INSTALLED
FACILITIES
Lakewood
Raw Water
Pipeline
Type of
Turbine
CITY OF BOULDER
HYDROELECTRIC FACILITIES FACT SHEET
Type of
Design Design Generation In-Service
Generator
Head
Flow
Pumping
Date
(feet)
(cfs)
Capacity
Reaction
(Francis)
Induction
240
5.4
Reaction
(Francis)
Induction
235
8.8
Reaction
(Francis)
Induction
260
4.8
Reaction
(Francis)
Induction
340
Impulse
(Pelton)
Synchronous
Impulse
(Pelton)
Synchronous
70 kW
150 hp
Synchronous
Construction
Cost
(4)
March
1985
513,382
20,573
110,000
(note 1)
November
1985
598,889
32,903
280,000
(note 2)
180kW
September
1987
823,022
19,507
540,000
13.2
800kW
September
1987
4,151,523
177,833
1,100,000
1,200
34
2,900 kW
December
1987
9,056,116
539,419
3,200,000
1,430
31
3,200 kW
March
2000
17,000,000
500,000
4,960,000
32,142,932
1,290,235
10,190,000
19,621,800
2,180,000
51,764,732
12,370,000
7,286 kW
Impulse
(Pelton)
Annual
Annual
Generation Revenue
(kWh)
($)
1,400
31
3,200 kW
11,086 kW
Note 1: Hydroelectric portion only; total cost of Maxwell Pump Generation Station was $300,000.
Note 2: Hydroelectric portion only; total cost of Kohler Pump Generation Station was $526,000.