Crystal Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal Dam |
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Crystal Dam with overflowing spillway
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 Location of Crystal Dam in Colorado
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| Location | Cimarron, Gunnison County, Colorado, USA |
| Coordinates | 38°30′38.48″N 107°37′30.60″W / 38.5106889°N 107.6251667°W |
| Construction began | 1972 |
| Opening date | 1977 |
| Operator(s) | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete thin arch |
| Impounds | Gunnison River |
| Height | 323 feet (98 m) |
| Length | 620 feet (190 m) |
| Width (crest) | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Width (base) | 29 feet (8.8 m) |
| Dam volume | 154,400 cu yd (118,000 m3) |
| Spillway type | Ungated ogee-crest to plunge pool |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Crystal Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 26,000 acre-feet (0.032 km3) |
| Catchment area | 3,970 sq mi (10,300 km2) |
| Surface area | 301 acres (122 ha) |
| Power station | |
| Hydraulic head | 209 ft (64 m) |
| Turbines | 1 x 31.57 MW Francis turbine |
| Installed capacity | 31.5 MW |
| Annual generation | 137,950,098 KWh |
Crystal Dam is a huge concrete dam in Colorado, United States. It stands 323-foot (98 m) tall. This dam is built across the Gunnison River. It is about 6 miles downstream from another dam called Morrow Point Dam.
Crystal Dam is the newest of three dams in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. Its construction was finished in 1976. The dam creates a lake called Crystal Reservoir. Crystal Dam and its reservoir are part of a bigger project. This project helps manage the water of the Gunnison River for farms and cities in the American Southwest. The main job of Crystal Dam is to make electricity from water power.
About Crystal Dam
Crystal Dam is a special type of dam called a thin-shell arch dam. It is mostly used to create electricity. It is similar to the Morrow Point Dam located upstream.
One unique thing about Crystal Dam is its spillway. A spillway is like a giant drain for extra water. Here, extra water flows over the top of the dam. This can create a 227-foot (69 m) waterfall when there's a lot of water!
Normally, the river's water flows through a large pipe called a penstock. This pipe is 11.5 feet (3.5 m) wide. The water then spins a powerful turbine. This turbine helps generate 28 megawatts of electricity. The dam is built deep inside the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Building the Dam
Crystal Dam was the last of three dams to be built for the Colorado River Storage Project. Its design and construction took longer than the other two dams, Morrow Point and Blue Mesa.
Work began in 1964 by preparing a site for materials. In 1965, they started building an access road and drilling to explore the ground. Then, work stopped for five years.
The original plan was to build an earth-fill dam. But the design was changed to a double-curvature, thin-shell concrete arch dam. This means it's a curved concrete wall, thinner than other dams.
In 1972, a contract was given to build a tunnel to divert the river. This tunnel was completed the same year. The main contract for building the dam itself was given in June 1973.
Building the temporary dams, called cofferdams, continued into 1974. They had some problems with water leaking through. So, they drilled wells to stop the water. At the same time, they dug out the dam's foundation. The first concrete was poured in June 1974. Work on the power plant also started that year.
Concrete work stopped in November and started again in April 1975. The dam was supposed to be finished by December 1975, but it was behind schedule. Concrete work continued in April 1976. The main dam structure was finally finished on August 30, 1976.
The reservoir began filling with water on March 14, 1977. The diversion tunnel was permanently closed on April 12. The power plant was not finished until 1978. This was because a fire destroyed many electrical parts needed for the plant.
Because Crystal Dam was a new design, it was carefully checked in 1978. Divers inspected the dam to make sure it was strong and safe. This was especially important after another dam, the Teton Dam, failed in 1976.
Images for kids
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A Francis-type turbine from Crystal Dam Powerplant is now shown at Glen Canyon Dam.
