History
Unit 2 was rewound in 1973. Units 1 and 3 were rewound in 1985. The three unit power transformers were replaced under a single contract in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
The Kortes power development, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program was found feasible by the Secretary of the Interior as a supplement to the Kendrick Project on November 26, 1941. However, it was authorized by the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, Public Law 534, which approved the general plan set forth in Senate Document 191, as revised and coordinated by Senate Document 247, 78th Congress, 2d Session.
Maximum benefits are obtained when Kortes Reservoir remains full and the power releases are coordinated with those from the Seminoe plant. The Seminoe and Kortes facilities are controlled from the Casper Control Center.
Plan
Because of the enormous increase in power demands in the area and power sales commitments, an accelerated power program was developed which consisted of erecting generating equipment and machinery concurrently with Kortes dam and powerhouse construction. The reinforced-concrete powerhouse at Kortes Power Plant occupies the entire width of the canyon at the toe of the dam. The plant has three 18,500-horsepower Francis-type turbines and three 12,000-kilowatt generators with a combined capacity of 36,000 kilowatts. Unit 2 was rewound in 1973. Units 1 and 3 were rewound in 1985. The three unit power transformers were replaced under a single contract in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Design of the replacement CO2 fire suppression system for the three generating units was completed in FY 2002. The contract was awarded in early FY 2003 and will be completed in FY 2005. Designs and specifications were initiated and will be completed in FY 2004 for a contract to rehabilitate the three unit Ring Follower Gates. The gates will be rehabilitated by contracts in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007 maintenance seasons. Designs and specifications will be initiated and completed in FY 2004 for a contract to rehabilitate 12" diameter water supply piping that sees lake pressure. The 12" diameter water supply line will be rehabilitated by contract in the FY 2005 maintenance season. Kortes is used as a peaking plant except when low water years restrict outflow. Kortes Reservoir surface elevation is maintained in the range of 6,138 to 6,142 feet above sea level to maximize the plant's efficiency for hydropower production. In 1972, a minimum flow of 500 cubic feet per second was established in the Miracle Mile to support the blue ribbon trout fishery below Kortes Dam. Access to the Kortes Power Plant is affected by periodic rock fall from the steep canyon walls necessitating continual operation and maintenance expenditures. Significant cavitation damage has occurred in the turbine runners for all three units over the past several years requiring extended outages for extensive welding repairs. Black start procedures have been developed and tested at the upper North Platte facilities to address re-start capabilities under a severe transmission system disturbance. If necessary, Kortes Power Plant could be used as the first step in starting Seminoe, Fremont Canyon, and Alcova Power plants. These plants would then collectively be used to start PacifiCorp's Dave Johnson Power Plant in the event of a power system emergency. Designs and specifications were initiated in FY 2002 and completed in FY 2003 for a contract to replace the three unit turbine runners. The runners will be purchased under contract in FY 2003 and FY 2004 and will be installed over a period of three maintenance seasons beginning in FY 2004 by the Reclamation staff.
