MARYS LAKEPOWERPLANT
Marys Lake Powerplant
| Plant Contact: | Max Spiker Plant Foreman Estes Powerplant |
| Telephone Numbers: | Phone: (970) 586-4151 Fax: (970) 577-0487 |
| E-Mail Address: | mspiker@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 Secretary's finding of feasibility was approved by the President on December 21, 1937. |
| Project Purposes: | The Colorado-Big Thompson Project is one of the largest and most complex natural resource developments undertaken by Reclamation. It consists of over 100 structures integrated into a transmountain water diversion system through which multiple benefits are provided to the people. The project spreads over approximately 250 miles in the State of Colorado. It stores, regulates, and diverts water from the Colorado River on the western slope of the Continental Divide to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. It provides supplemental water for irrigation of about 720,000 acres of land, municipal and industrial use, hydroelectric power, and water-oriented recreation opportunities. |
| Plant Purpose: | Marys Lake provides afterbay and forebay capacity for reregulating water flow. Marys Lake Powerplant provides generation of hydroelectric power for the project. |
| Plant Facts: | Marys Lake discharges into Estes Powerplant. There is limited afterbay storage, therefore, operation of Marys Lake Powerplant must be coordinated with the Estes Powerplant. |
| Plant History: | The water and power control center for Colorado-Big Thompson Project's reservoirs, powerplants, and transmission lines in Wyoming, Colorado, and western Nebraska is at the project headquarters in Loveland, Colorado. This Western Division of the Missouri River Basin is an interconnected system of 15 Reclamation powerplants. |
| Present Activities: | Mary's Lake switchyard replacement, Transformer, Breaker, Disconnects and add oil spill containment for transformer. |
| Future Planned Activities: | In Fall of 2003, Mary's Lake Control Boards replacement, Relaying, AC/DC Station Service Panels, Unit Control Board. |
| Special Issues: | During fiscal year 1995, major work was completed on the powerplant causing plant availability to be down for that year. |
| River: | Colorado River |
| Plant Type: | Conventional |
| Powerhouse Type: | Above Ground |
| Turbine Type: | Francis |
| Original Nameplate Capacity: | 8,100 kW |
| Installed Capacity: | 8,100 kW |
| Year of Initial Operation: | 1951 |
| Age: | 54 years |
| Net Generation: (FY 2005) |
17,854,200 kWh |
| Rated Head: | 212 feet |
| Plant Factor: (FY 2005) |
25.80 percent |
| Remotely Operated: | Yes |
| Production Mode: | Base Load |
Click here for graphs and charts of Marys Lake Powerplant performance.
Click here for information on the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.
Revised December 30, 2005 Hydropower Site Map Help