Roanoke Rapids Power Station is located on a lake near the
town of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Roanoke Rapids lake, created by the
power station dam, is near the North Carolina-Virginia border. It is supplied
by water from the Roanoke River that is regulated eight miles upstream by Dominion
's Gaston Hydro Station and Gaston Dam.
When water is allowed to pass from the lake through the powerhouse,
the station's four generators can produce up to 104 megawatts. The station can
produce as much electric power in one hour as about 10 average homes use in
one year.
The Roanoke Rapids dam is 3,050 feet long and forms an eight-mile-long
reservoir with a surface area of 4,600 acres and 47 miles of shoreline. It took
245,000 cubic yards of concrete to build the dam — the equivalent of a
sidewalk six feet wide and 189 miles long. The power house rests atop a rock
foundation 70 feet above sea level, and rises at its crest to an elevation of
142 feet above sea level.
About the Environment
A submerged weir - an underwater dam - is located within
the lake just before the dam's intakes to direct surface water from the lakes
into the station. The weir rises to within 25 feet of the surface to ensure
that high quality water is discharged from the power station to benefit the
aquatic life and provide recreational opportunities and economic growth in the
lower Roanoke River Basin.
In addition to the energy-related advantages of hydroelectric
power, Roanoke Rapids Lake provides swimming, fishing, boating and other water
sports, as well as fish and wildlife preservation.
Environmental Report
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 our 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.
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: 20,000 cu. ft. per sec.
Reservoir: (Characteristics at 132 feet elevation
at dam)
Length of reservoir: 8 miles
Length of shoreline: 47 miles
Maximum width: 1.25 miles
Storage: 77,000 acre-feet
Reservoir surface: 4,600 acres
Elevations: (Feet above mean sea level)
Top of dam: 142
Base of dam: 70
Base of power house: 7
Bottom of tailrace: 15
Normal full power pool: 132
Power house generating units:
Four adjustable blade propeller-type turbines: 36,000 hp, 74.5-feet head, 128.6
rpm
Four generators @ 26,000 kw each
Total generating capacity: 104 megawatts
Turbine generator manufacturer: General Electric Co.
Engineering and construction: Stone & Webster/Chas. T. Main, Inc.
