MCPHEE POWERPLANT
McPhee Powerplant
| Plant Contact: | Vern Harrell Western Colorado Area Office - Southern Division |
| Telephone Numbers: | Phone: (970) 565-0865 |
| E-Mail Address: | vharrell@uc.usbr.gov |
| Reclamation Region: | Upper Colorado |
| NERC Region: | Western Electricity Coordinating Council, Rocky Mountain Power Area |
| PMA Service Area: | Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project Management Center |
| Project Authorization: | The Congress authorized the Dolores Project under the Colorado River Basin Act of September 30, 1968 (Public Law 90-537), as a participating project under the Colorado River Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956 (Public Law 84-485). |
| Project Purposes: | The Dolores Project, located in the Dolores and San Juan River Basins in southwestern Colorado, develops water from the Dolores River for irrigation, municipal and industrial use, recreation, fish and wildlife, and production of hydroelectric power. It also provides flood control and aids economic redevelopment. Powerplants are located on McPhee Dam and the Towaoc Canal to generate an annual average of 36,578,000 kilowatt-hours, which enters the Colorado River Storage Project power transmission system. The McPhee Dam facility operates year-round on fishery releases from McPhee Reservoir. |
| Plant Facts: | McPhee Dam is a rolled earth, sand, gravel, and rockfill structure with a volume of approximately 5,029,000 cubic yards. The crest of the dam is 270 feet above streambed, 1,300 feet long and 30 feet wide. A gated spillway located in the right abutment includes a concrete chute leading to a stilling basin. The McPhee Dam Powerplant consists of a penstock located within the outlet tunnel of the dam, two turbines and a generator at the base of the dam, and a 4.5-mile, 12.5-kilovolt transmission line to Great Cut Switchyard. |
| Plant Purpose: | McPhee Powerplant provides energy for project use. |
| Plant History: | The powerplant is operated and maintained under a contract with the Dolores Water Conservancy District. The powerplant was out of service from September 1994 to January 1997 due to a turbine problem. |
| Present Activities: | Normal operation |
| Future Planned Activities: | None |
| Special Issues: | Shutdown in May 2002 through the rest of the water year due to lack of water. |
| River: | Dolores River |
| Plant Type: | Conventional |
| Powerhouse Type: | Above Ground |
| Turbine Type: | Francis |
| Original Nameplate Capacity: | 1,283 kW |
| Installed Capacity: | 1,283 kW |
| Year of Initial Operation: | 1993 |
| Age: | 12 years |
| Net Generation: (FY 2005) |
4,292,835 kWh |
| Rated Head: | 215 feet |
| Plant Factor: (FY 2005) |
38.2 percent |
| Remotely Operated: | Yes |
| Production Mode: | Peaking |
Click here for graphs and charts of McPhee Powerplant performance.
Click here for information on McPhee Dam.
Click here for information on the Dolores Project.
Revised December 29, 2005 Hydropower Site Map Help