Gaston Hydro Station is located in the small town of Thelma,
North Carolina on the Roanoke River. The station is integral with the Gaston
Dam that backs up water from the river into a reservoir named Lake Gaston. When
water is allowed to pass through the powerhouse, the station's four generators
can produce up to 56 megawatts each, or a total capacity of 224 megawatts.
The 3,600-foot-long Gaston dam lies about eight miles upstream
from Dominion's other station on the Roanoke River, the Roanoke
Rapids Power Station.
About the Environment
A submerged weir or underwater dam at Lake Gaston directs
surface water from the lakes into the station. The weir rises to within 15 feet
of the surface to ensure that high quality water is discharged from the power
stations to benefit the aquatic life and provide recreational opportunities
and economic growth in the lower Roanoke River Basin.
Lake Gaston is 34 miles long with more than 20,000 acres of
surface area and 350 miles of shoreline. In addition to the energy-related advantages
of hydroelectric power, Lake Gaston provides facilities for swimming, fishing,
boating and other water sports, as well as fish and wildlife preservation.
Dominion has been working to meet its customer's energy needs
in an environmentally responsible manner for decades. We know that today's operations
affect tomorrow's environment. As the major energy supplier in a uniquely beautiful
and natural region, we have always worked to protect and enhance the economic
and environmental quality of life for our customers and our employees.
As a part of our corporate commitment, read about Dominion's
environmental efforts to protect
the natural resources that surround us all, and to keep our operations safe
for both our employees and the public.
Lake Environmental Data
As part of its long-term environmental and public service
commitment, Dominion provides water
level, flow and quality information from its Roanoke Rapids and Gaston hydroelectric
stations. Posted information includes real-time monitoring of water temperature
and dissolved oxygen content, and projected water flow from the Roanoke Rapids
dam, and lake level information for Lake Gaston.
Gaston Power Station River flows at dam site:
Average annual flow: 8,000 cu. ft per sec.
Maximum flow of record (8/18/1940): 261,000 cu. ft. per sec.
Minimum flow of record (12/16/1955): 250 cu. ft. per sec.
Turbine discharge capacity: 48,000 cu. ft. per sec.
Reservoir (Characteristics at 200 feet elevation
at dam):
Length of reservoir: 34 miles
Length of shoreline: 350 miles
Maximum width: 1.3 miles
Storage: 450,000 acre-feet
Reservoir surface: 20,300 acres
Elevations (feet above mean sea level):
Top of dam: 217
Base of dam: 110
Top of spillway gates: 203
Normal full power pool: 200
Power house generating units:
One adjustable and three fixed-blade propeller type turbines: 70,000 horsepower,
67-feet head, 100 rpm
Four generators @ 56,000 kw each, 224 megawatts total generating capacity
Turbine generator manufacturer: Westinghouse
Engineering and construction: Stone & Webster/Chas. T. Main, Inc.
