On the Chattahoochee River, 201.4 miles
above the mouth of the river, in Troup County, Georgia and Chambers County,
Alabama, approximately 3 miles north of West Point, Georgia, and 146.9
miles below Buford Dam. The authorized purposes include flood control,
power, fish and wildlife and recreation. Other purposes
include stream flow regulation.
GENERAL
Drainage area, Buford Dam to
West Point Dam, sq. mi.
2,400
Total drainage area above West
Point Dam, sq. mi.
3,440
NATURAL STREAM FLOW AT DAMSITE
- Before filling reservoir*
Period of record
1896-1974
Average flow for period of record,
cfs
5,609
Minimum monthly flow, period
of record, cfs
(Sep. 1925)
333
Maximum monthly flow, period
of record, cfs
(Mar. 1929)
32,700
Minimum daily flow, period of
record, cfs
(12 Sep. 1925)
224
Maximum flow during period of
record, cfs
(10 Dec. 1919)
134,000
Peak stage, period of record,
feet above msl
(10 Dec. 1919)
581
Estimated bankfull discharge,
cfs, with floodway
25,000
without floodway
18,000
*River flow was first interfered with in May 1967 when the river was diverted through a channel cut in the east bank.
REGULATED FLOW
Average regulated discharge,
period of record, cfs
4,820
Average discharge critical period,
cfs (May-Dec. 1954)
2,330
Minimum monthly regulated discharge,
cfs (Oct. 1933)
2,045
Maximum monthly regulated discharge,
cfs (Mar. 1929)
27,500
RESERVOIR
Pool elevations - feet above
msl
Top of flood control pool
635.0
Top of power pool (summer level)
635.0
Top of power pool (winter level)
625.0
Minimum power pool
620.0
Spillway design flood
646.4
Standard project flood
640.9
Maximum flood of record (Dec.
1919)
639.7
Storage volumes - acre
Total storage at maximum flood
pool (elev. 641)
74,800
Flood control storage - winter
(elev. 635 to elev. 625)
221,000
Power storage - summer (elev.
635 to elev. 620)
306,100
Power storage - winter (elev.
625 to elev. 620)
85,100
Inactive storage (below minimum
power pool, elev. 620)
298,400
Reservoir area - acres
Maximum flood pool (elev. 641)
31,000
Top of power pool - summer
(elev. 635)
25,900
Top of power pool - winter
(elev. 625)
18,600
Minimum power pool (elev. 620)
15,500
Shoreline at maximum power pool
(elev. 635), miles
Mainland shoreline
525
Islands shoreline
14
DAM
Type
Concrete gravity and earth embankment
Length, feet
Concrete sections
896
Earth embankments
6,354±
Elevations, feet, msl
Top of dam
652.0
Streambed
556
Spillway crest
597.0
Top of tainter gates, closed
638.0
Service bridge
652
Maximum height, feet
Concrete section
132±
Earth embankment
78
Maximum top width, feet
Concrete (non-overflow)
20.5
Roadway
15.0
Earth embankment
25.0
Sideslopes, earth embankment
Upstream
1 on 3
Downstream
1 on 2.5
Spillway
Type
Concrete gravity ogee
Gross length, feet
350
Clear opening, feet
300
Piers, number
5
Piers, width, feet
10
Tainter gates, number
6
Tainter gates, width, feet
50
Tainter gates, height, feet
41
Type of bucket Roller
Radius of bucket, feet
50
Bucket lip, elevation
550.64
Intake-powerhouse section
Length, feet (estimated)
321
Non-overflow section
Length, feet
185
Left embankment retaining wall
Maximum height, feet
114
Length, feet
590
POWER PLANT STRUCTURE
Location
Right bank of the river between the
earth dike and the spillway
Size of building
Length, feet
321
Width, feet
164.5
Elevations, feet, msl
Bottom of substructure (main
units)
504.5
Low point of draft tube
Main units
509.0
Small unit
538.0
Centerline of distributor
Main units
561.0
Small unit
556.0
Turbine room floor
Main units
582.0
Small unit
567.0
Control room
582.0
Erection room
602.0
Transformer deck
602.0
Draft tube deck
599.0
Intake deck
652.0
Crane runway rail
626.0
Roof (high point of concrete
slab)
642.08
Top of parapet
645.25
Trash racks
Number of openings, main units
9
Small unit
1
Size of rack opening, each main
unit, feet
17.0 x 44.0
Spacing of bars, center-to-center,
inches
6
Intake gates
Type
Vertical lift, single leaf, tractor
Number, each main unit
3
small unit
1
Number provided, main units
6
small unit
1
Size (clear opening), feet
Main units
17.0 x 31.06
Small unit
9.0 x 9.0
Method of handling
Individual hydraulic hoists
Draft tube gates
Type
Double leaf, vertical lift, slide
Number, each main unit
3
small unit
1
Number provided
3
Size (clear opening), feet
17.67 x 25.0
Method of handling
Gantry Crane
MAIN GENERATING UNITS
Number, initial
2
ultimate
3
Speed, rpm
100
Spacing of units, center-to-center,
feet
77
Turbines
Type
Fixed blade propeller, counter-
clockwise rotation
Capacity, guaranteed:
- at 52.5 feet net head,
hp each
45,000
- at 58.0 feet net head
(rated) hp each
51,500
- at best gate, hp each
48,000
Spiral cases - concrete semi-spiral,
three discharge passages
Draft tubes - concrete elbow,
three discharge passages
Generators
Type
Vertical shaft, enclosed, self-ventilated,
with thrust and guide bearing below rotor
Rating
Normal, continuous, each,
kw
35,000
Normal, continuous, 60*
C. rise, each, kva
36,842
Maximum, continuous capability
each kva
42,368
Power factor
0.95
Voltage (60 Hertz, 3-phase)
13,800
SMALL GENERATING UNIT
Number
1
Speed, rpm
327
Location
in erection bay block
Turbine
Type
Fixed blade propeller, counter-
clockwise rotation
Capacity, guaranteed
- at 52.5 feet net head,
hp
3,500
- at 77.0 feet net head
(rated), hp
5,400
Spiral case
steel, one discharge passage
Draft tube
concrete elbow, one discharge passage
Generator
Type
Vertical shaft, enclosed, self-ventilated,
with thrust and guide bearing above rotor,
and guide bearing below the rotor
Rating
Normal, continuous, kw
3,375
Normal, continuous, 60*
C. rise, kva
3,750
Maximum, continuous capability,
kva
4,312
Power factor
0.90
Voltage (60 Hertz, 3-phase)
4,160
TAILWATER ELEVATIONS, FEET, (msl)
Spillway design flood (423,900
cfs)
604.0
Standard project flood (249,500
cfs)
595.0
Maximum flood of record (73,200
cfs)
579.0
Two main units running (16,000
cfs)
565.7
Small unit running (675 cfs)
558.0
Minimum (no flow)
557.0
HEADS, NET FEET
Maximum
Small unit (675 cfs)
77.0
One main unit (6,300 cfs)
73.0
Minimum
Small unit only (675 cfs)
62.0
Both main units and small unit
(19,000 cfs)
52.5
Mean operating
Small unit (675 cfs)
62.0
Both main units (14,600 cfs)
63.2
Rated
Small unit
77.0
Main units
58.0