SEMINOE POWERPLANT
Seminoe Powerplant
| Contact: | Susan Kelly Chief, Operations and Maintenance Division Wyoming Area Office |
| Telephone Numbers: | Phone: (307) 261-5605 Fax: (307) 261-5683 |
| E-Mail Address: | skelly@gp.usbr.gov |
| Reclamation Region: | Great Plains |
| NERC Region: | Western Electricity Coordinating Council, Rocky Mountain Power Area |
| PMA Service Area: | Western Area Power Administration, Rocky Mountain Region |
| Project Authorization: | The President approved the Kendrick Project on August 30, 1935. Originally known as Casper-Alcova, the project was renamed Kendrick in 1937. |
| Project Purposes: | The Kendrick Project conserves the waters of the North Platte River for irrigation and electric power generation. The project is a multi-purpose development with storage at Seminoe Reservoir and diversion at Alcova Dam to project lands. Operation of the reservoirs and powerplants is integrated with other river basin developments. Seminoe Reservoir, with a total capacity of 1,017,279 acre-feet, provides storage capacity for the water to irrigate the project lands. The powerplant generates electric power as the water is released for irrigation or stored in Pathfinder Reservoir for later release as required. |
| Plant Purpose: | Electric energy generated at the Seminoe Powerplant is marketed through the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program's integrated system. |
| Plant Facts: | The dam is a concrete-arch structure containing 210,000 cubic yards of concrete and rising 295 feet above the rock foundation. Water is released from the reservoir through penstocks at the Seminoe Powerplant or over a controlled spillway and outlet tunnel. The powerplant is located at the base of the dam and has a rated head of 166 feet. The plant contains three units, each composed of a 15,000-kilowatt generator driven by a 20,800-horsepower turbine. |
| Plant History: | Seminoe Dam and Powerplant construction began in 1936 and was completed in 1939. The original installed capacity of the plant was 32,400 but the plant was uprated in the mid-1970's to its current installed capacity of 45,000 kilowatts. The three-phase unit power transformer was replaced in 2001. |
| Present Activities: | A contract was completed for supplying new controls and a new trolley for the 50-ton powerplant bridge crane. Reclamation forces installed the new crane in FY 2004. Preparation of designs and specifications was initiated in FY 2002 for a contract to replace the three single-phase unit power transformers at the plant. The contract was awarded in FY 2003 for installation of a new 3-phase transformer and modification of existing bus work in FY 2004. |
| Future Planned Activities: | Designs and specifications were initiated and will be completed in FY 2004 for a contract to rehabilitate the three Unit Ring Seal Gates. The gates will be rehabilitated by contract in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007 maintenance seasons. |
| Special Issues: | Access to Seminoe Powerplant is affected by periodic rock falls from the steep canyon walls necessitating continual operation and maintenance expenditures. |
| River: | North Platte River |
| Plant Type: | Conventional |
| Powerhouse Type: | Above Ground |
| Turbine Type: | Francis |
| Original Nameplate Capacity: | 32,400 kW |
| Installed Capacity: | 51,750 kW |
| Year of Initial Operation: | 1939 |
| Age: | 66 years |
| Net Generation: (FY 2005) |
108,504,610 kWh |
| Rated Head: | 166 feet |
| Plant Factor: (FY 2005) |
24.01 percent |
| Remotely Operated: | Yes |
| Production Mode: | Intermediate |
Click here for graphs and charts of Seminoe Powerplant performance.
Click here for information on the Seminoe Dam.
Click here for information on the Kendrick Project.
Revised December 30, 2005 Hydropower Site Map Help