Cushaw Hydroelectric Project facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cushaw Hydroelectric Project |
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 Location of Cushaw Hydroelectric Project in Virginia
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| Location | Bedford County, Virginia / Amherst County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 37°35′34.25″N 79°22′52.97″W / 37.5928472°N 79.3813806°W |
| Purpose | Hydroelectric, Recreation, Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Status | In use |
| Construction began | 1928 |
| Opening date | 1930 |
| Owner(s) | Virginia Electric Power Company |
| Operator(s) | Virginia Electric Power Company |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Reinforced concrete gravity |
| Impounds | James River |
| Height | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Length | 1,550 ft (470 m) |
| Elevation at crest | 656 ft (200 m) |
| Spillway type | weir |
| Power station | |
| Operator(s) | Virginia Electric Power Company |
| Turbines | 5 |
| Installed capacity | 7.5 MW |
The Cushaw Hydroelectric Project is a large dam and power station. It makes electricity using the power of water. This project is found on the James River in Virginia, USA. It sits between Bedford and Amherst Counties.
The project is owned and run by Virginia Electric Power Company. This company is also known as Dominion Virginia Power. The Cushaw Project started making electricity in 1930. It was built where an older dam from the 1800s once stood. That old dam was also called Cushaw Dam or Snowden Dam.
Contents
What is the Cushaw Project?
The Cushaw Project is a big structure. It includes a dam and a powerhouse. The dam is made of strong concrete. It is about 1,550 feet (472 meters) long. It stands 27 feet (8 meters) tall.
How the Dam Works
The dam holds back water to create a reservoir. This reservoir is like a big pond. It covers about 138 acres. The water level in the reservoir is usually 656 feet (200 meters) above sea level.
The powerhouse is part of the dam. It has five special machines called turbines. These turbines use the flowing water to generate electricity. The project can make up to 7.5 megawatts (MW) of power. One megawatt is enough to power hundreds of homes!
The electricity travels through underground cables. These cables connect to a substation. From there, the power goes to homes and businesses. The project is controlled remotely. This means people can operate it from far away.
How Water Flows Through the Dam
The Cushaw Project works in a "run-of-river" way. This means the amount of water flowing into the reservoir is about the same as the water flowing out. Water either goes through the turbines or over a special part of the dam called a spillway.
A spillway is like a giant overflow channel. It lets extra water pass over the dam. This helps keep the water level steady. If there's too much water, the turbines might be turned off. All the water then flows over the spillway. If there's not enough water, it also goes over the spillway.
Fun Things Near the Dam
Even though there are no special recreation areas right at the dam, there are fun things nearby. Dominion Energy works with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Together, they help maintain a boat ramp.
Exploring the Area
This boat ramp is called Rocky Row Run. It is located on the reservoir. You can find it about 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) upstream from the dam. It's a great spot for boating!
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is also close by. This famous hiking trail crosses the reservoir. It uses a footbridge built in 2000. This bridge was made on the old supports of a railroad bridge. It's about 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) upstream from the dam.
Other bridges also cross the James River near the project. A railroad bridge, now used by CSX, crosses the water. Also, US 501 crosses the river on a large bridge. About one mile downstream, there's another smaller dam. It's called the Bedford Hydropower Project.
