December 14, 2005
Taum Sauk Dam Fails
The upper dam at Taum Sauk failed early this morning, about 5:30 AM, sending a wall of water down the Black River. Three children were injured in the flood. Why the dam failed is unknown, although it did rain here in Missouri last night. The dam had prior leaking problems that were fixed in 2004.
The dam that failed is part of a hydro electric battery which consists of an upper reservoir connected to a lower reservoir by a tunnel that houses electricity generating turbines and pumps. During peak electrical usage times (typically summer days) water is released from the upper reservoir to flow through the electic turbines and then pumped back up during low usage times (usually that night). The beauty of the system that it helps deal with high cost peak demand in an elegant way. From the Department of Energy's Residential Electricity Prices: A Consumer's Guide:
In most areas, the cost to generate electricity fluctuates daily and monthly. These fluctuations are a response to changes in demand for electricity. Daily demand for electricity is usually highest in the afternoon and early evening (on-peak). Seasonal peaks reflect regional weather and climatic conditions, with the highest occurring in the summer when air-conditioning use is greatest. Power plants tend to operate in two basic modes: base-load and base-load peaking load. Base-load power plants are most efficient generating electricity at an even, consistent level, around the clock, and generally include nuclear, coal-fired, geothermal and waste-to-energy plants. Some plants may sit as a “spinning reserve” during off-peak or on-peak periods. Peaking plants are turned on or “dispatched” as demand increases above the normal base demand or load. Peaking plants are expensive to operate, often fueled by refined oil products, or natural gas, and have a fuel cost per kWh higher than a baseload plant. Hydropower plants can operate in base and/or peaking mode. A relatively small amount of electricity is generated from “pumped storage” plants. These economically efficient plants pump water from a river or reservoir up into reservoirs located above hydroelectric turbines.
Noted local naturalist Edgar Dennison, once a UE employee, was responsible for the museum at the power plant. I don't know if it is still open, but it was when I visited there as a kid in the early '70s.
The setting for Taum Sauk couldn't be more gorgeous, near the Arcadia Valley. If you like scenery, and you're ever in Missouri, be sure to visit the Taum Sauk area, including Johnson's shut-ins -- cleaned up since I was a kid when it was a haven for biker gangs, Elephant Rocks -- giant pink granite boulders, Mina Sauk falls, and other attractions.
A local resident asks for your prayers.
Gateway Pundit has lots more on the story.
Group blog The Oil Drum looks at the power aspects of the story.
