MORROW POINTPOWERPLANT
Morrow Point Powerplant
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Aerial View of Morrow Point Dam
Morrow Point Dam and Reservoir
Generators at Morrow Point Underground Powerplant
| Plant Contact: | Donald K. Phillips, Manager, Curecanti Field Division |
| Telephone Numbers: | Phone: (970) 240-6300 Fax: (970) 240-6304 |
| E-Mail Address: | dphillips@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 construction of four storage units in the Colorado River Storage Project and 11 participating projects on April 11, 1956, under Public Law 485, 84th Congress, 70 Stat. 105. Additional projects have been added since the original legislation was adopted. |
| Project Purposes: | The Colorado River Storage Project provides for the comprehensive development of the Upper Colorado River Basin. The project furnishes the long-time regulatory storage needed to permit States in the upper basin to meet their flow obligation at Lees Ferry, Arizona, as defined in the Colorado River Compact and still use their apportioned water. |
| Plant Facts: | The Morrow Point Powerplant chamber is tunneled into the canyon wall in the left abutment about 400 feet below the ground surface. The powerplant chamber is 231 feet long and 57 feet wide with a height ranging from 65 to 134 feet. There are two 86,667-kilowatt generators driven by two 83,000-horsepower turbines. The power penstocks consist of 13.5-foot-diameter steel lines in 18-foot-diameter tunnels. The Morrow Point Dam is Reclamation's first thin-arch, double-curvature dam. It is 468 feet high, 52 feet thick at the base, and 12 feet thick at the crest. The dam has a crest length of 724 feet and a volume of 365,180 cubic yards of concrete. |
| Plant Purpose: | Generation of hydroelectric power for the upper basin and adjacent areas. |
| Plant History: | The generators were up rated from 60,000 kW to 86,667 kW in 1992 and 1993. Replaced the three single-phase transformers in FY-1996 and the 230 kilovolt cable in FY-1998. Also replaced the unit circuit breakers in FY-1992. In 2002, surge arresters were replaced in switchyard for new 230Kv underground cable and new governors were installed. In addition, cleaned trash racks and dredged river in 2002. |
| Present Activities: | Replacing transformer wall in power plant. Installing IDD on the generator step up transformers. Operation of the power plant has been affected due to lack of water. |
| Future Planned Activities: | Install a 230 Kv Line breaker in the switchyard. |
| Special Issues: | None |
| River: | Gunnison River |
| Plant Type: | Conventional |
| Powerhouse Type: | Below Ground |
| Turbine Type: | Francis |
| Original Nameplate Capacity: | 120,000 kW |
| Installed Capacity: | 173,334 kW |
| Year of Initial Operation: | 1970 |
| Age: | 35 years |
| Net Generation: (FY 2005) |
269,193,371 kWh |
| Rated Head: | 396 feet |
| Annual Plant Factor: (FY 2005) |
17.82 percent |
| Remotely Operated: | Yes |
| Production Mode: | Peaking |
Click here for graphs and charts of Morrow Point Powerplant performance.
Click here for information on Morrow Point Dam.
Click here for information on the Colorado River Storage Project.
Revised December 29, 2005 Hydropower Site Map Help