Warrior Project
INTRODUCTION TO WARRIOR PROJECT OPERATIONS
Alabama Power Company's Coosa River and Warrior River hydroelectric projects are operated either locally or remotely from the Alabama Control Center (ACC) in Birmingham. The ACC monitors the Alabama Power's electrical system and directs the generation schedule. For additional information about the operation of these hydroelectric developments, click on one of the links below or see the Project Operations and Management (section 3.0) in any of the Initial Information Packages.
Warrior Project
Alabama Power Company operates the Smith Project (the Project) principally to produce peaking power. From early April through the end of June the lake is operated near the normal full pool level of el. 510 ft above mean sea level (msl). Drawdown begins in early July and ends in late November near the winter pool level of 496 ft msl. The winter pool level is maintained until January 31, and the lake is refilled from early February through the end of March. The plant normally schedules power operations on the basis of system demands and availability, seeking to keep the pool at or below el. 510 ft msl at all times except during flood conditions. Power generation may be restricted during periods of downstream flooding and may be increased to release flood control storage within the limitations described below.
Flood Control Operations
The lake's flood control pool is from el. 510 to 522 ft msl and provides 280,600 acre-ft of storage. This volume is equivalent to 5.6 inches of runoff from the drainage area and is sufficient, within the prescribed plan of operation, to contain the runoff from the flood of March 15 through 18, 1951, the maximum of record at the site prior to the beginning of construction. Smith Lake is typically lowered to near el. 496 ft msl during the winter which can result in additional flood storage.
Operations for flood control are based on the following requirements:
- The storage space between elevations 510 and 522 ft msl is available for flood control use.
- During flooding when reduction of flow is necessary in view of downstream conditions, outflows are to be restricted as specified by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) regulation plan down to but not lower than 2,100 acre-feet each 24-hour period.
- After passage of the flood peak downstream, the flood storage is to be emptied as soon as reasonable and practicable by discharge up to full plant capacity each 24-hour period when the pool is at or above el. 513 ft msl and up to one-half of plant capacity each 24-hour period when the pool is between el. 513 and el. 510 ft msl.
- The ACOE regulation plan will be followed unless special instructions are issued by the district engineer through the Reservoir Regulation Section of the Planning and Reports Branch.
Low Water Operations
During periods of low inflows downstream, the Smith Project releases water for the benefit of navigation. The Project is expected to contribute a daily average of 245 cubit feet per second (cfs) to downstream inflows during those dry periods.
Nonpower Operations
In addition to power production, Smith provides other benefits to the immediate vicinity and region including recreational and environmental enhancements.
In the spring, operators at Smith stabilize lake levels during bass spawning. After notification by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), the lake level is held constant or slightly rising for a period of 14 days provided the level remains below 510 ft msl. This action enhances fish spawning habitats in the lake.
Although the ACOE has the right to request operators at Smith release water for navigation, special releases for this purpose are not frequently required. Normal power releases, combined with other inflow to Bankhead Lake, are usually sufficient for navigation purposes. However, additional flow may be required during periods of extreme drought, after floods (if shoaling occurs in the upper reaches of Bankhead Lake), and during any extended drawdown of Bankhead Lake.
For a more detailed description of project operations at the Smith Project, see the Project Operations and Management (section 3.0) in the Smith - Bankhead Initial Information Package.
Alabama Power Company operates the Bankhead powerhouse principally to produce peaking power, either locally or remotely from the Alabama Control Center (ACC) in Birmingham. The ACC monitors Alabama Power's electrical system and directs the generation schedule. The plant may be brought on line at any time to most effectively meet system load requirements. Usable storage of 26,000 acre-ft is provided by an allowable daily drawdown of 3 ft to el. 252 ft above mean sea level (msl). The normal tailwater elevation is 186.5 ft msl, providing 68.5 ft of gross head at normal full pool.
The Bankhead Project (the Project) is operated as a run-of-river project which means that whatever water enters the lake each day is released that same day. The unit in the powerhouse is operated daily to maintain the proper lake elevation while generating electricity during the peak use times. When high inflows to the lake exceed turbine discharge capacity, Alabama Power notifies the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) lock operator that spillway gates should be opened. The lock operator raises the required spillway gates to manage the proper lake elevation. When the high inflows decrease, the spillway gates are closed and the water level is managed by turbine releases.
Flood Control Operations
All flood routing and spillway operations for the Bankhead Dam are the responsibility of the ACOE. The ACOE notifies Alabama Power of all planned flood control operations. The flood of record for the facility occurred in April 1979 with a peak daily flow rate of 143,000 cubit feet per second (cfs). During this event, plant flow was 9,000 cfs and peak spillway flow was 162,300 cfs, for a total peak flow of 171,300 cfs.
Low Water Operations
Because the Bankhead Project is a run-of-river project, water releases during low inflow conditions are equal to inflow. The lack of seasonal storage prevents the Project from making sustained releases in excess of inflows.
Nonpower Operations
The Bankhead powerhouse does not perform any nonpower operations. For a more detailed description of operations at the Bankhead Project, see the Project Operations and Management (section 3.0) in the Smith - Bankhead Initial Information Package.
