HomeMy WebLinkAboutLawing Project Alaska 1955LAWIN C PROJECT
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UNITED STATES
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Alaska
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Can a d a
_1.1 / DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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{ , BUREAU OF-RECLAMATION -
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INrERIOR
Douglas McKay, Secretary
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
W. A. Dexheimer, Commissioner
A.LASKA DISTRICT
Daryl L. Roberts, Acting District Manager
STATUS REPORT
ON THE
LAWIM} PROJECT
ALASKA
Juneau, Alaska
September 1955
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UNITED ~~AETEI~TERIOR
DEPART,.ENT O~ECLA MATI ON BU~Et:S~~ DISTRICT
LAWING PROJECT
COOPER LAKE UNIT
AND
LAKE UNIT CRESCENT MAP
GENERAL
IC4l[ 0' "ILlS , ., "
June 21 1955 1~2° ", 1$00 1490
REPORT OF THE
ACTING DISTRICT MANAGER
Location:
Authorized:
Plan
SUMMARY SHEETS
LA~JING PROJECT
COOPER LAKE AND CP.ESCENl' LAKE UNITS
South Central Alaska, on the Kenai Peninsula,
approximately 25 miles north of Seward, Alaska.
Interior Department Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 1955
and appropriation acts for previous fiscal years
authorizing expenditures b,y the Bureau of Reclamation for
engineering and economic investigations, and for related
reports, for the development and utilization of the water
resources of Alaska.
Cooper Lake Unit:
Construct a low weir across Cooper Creek at the lower end
of Cooper Lake. Drill a tunnel 4,900 feet long and place a penstock
5,200 feet long between Cooper and Kenai Lakes. \'1ater is to be
carried to the powerplant on the west shore of Kenai Lake. Tunnel
intake, gate shaft, and surge tank are included in the tunnel
construction. Future plans for transmission would include an inter-
connecting line to Crescent Lake Unit as well as other lines to
various load centers on the Kenai Peninsula.
Crescent Lake Unit:
Construct an earth dam at the head of Crescent Creek.
Divert water for power b,y channelizing 4,830 feet between Crescent
and Carter Lakes. Precast concrete pipe would be placed in the
channel cut. A similar section of precast concrete pipe, 1,540 feet
long, would extend toward Upper Trail Lake from Carter Lake
terminating in a penstock. The waterways would include a surge tank
and 5,670 feet of penstock. A powerplant \1ith an installed capacity
of 7,000 kilowatts would be built near Upper Trail lake.
1
Summary Sheets
Costs--Generation Plant °
Crescent Lake Unit remotely controlled from Cooper Lake Unit)
CooEer Lake Crescent Lake Total Lawing
Dam. (or weir) 1); 8,000 $1,181,000 $ 1,1$9,000
Powerplant 6,261,000 4,718,000 10,979,000
General Property 357.°00 360.000 717.°00
Construction Cost 6,626,000 6,259,000 12,885,000
Interest During
Construction 235 z0oo 23 2 2 °00 !!67 z00 0
Total Investment $6,861,000 $6,491,000 $13,352,000
<; I" Annual Costs 'J / ) 1->.
v, J
, I I
Operation & Maintenance $100,000 $25,000 $125,000
Provision for Renlacements 30~000 25,OOQ 55,000
Total .~ual Costs .,130,000 50,000 180,000
Average Firm Power Rate 10.0 mills 10.3 mills 10.1 mills
Cooper Lake Unit
Powerplant :
Installed capacity (2 units at 4,500) •••••••••••••••• 9,000 kw
Operating head ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 612-717 feet
Annual firm output ••••• , •••••••••• , •••••••••••••••••• 39,000,000 ~;hr
Average annual non-firm potential •••••••••••••••••••• 2,400,000 ~vhr
Tunnel:
Length ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4,900 feet
Diameter (lined and reinforced) •••••••••••••••••••••• 7 feet
Slope (ft per It) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 002
Discharge •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 80-190 cfs
Penstock:
Length ••••••••••••••••••••••• o ••••••••••••••••••••••• 5,200 feet
Diameter ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 48 inches
Reservoir:
Elevation at maximum controlled storage (112,000 ac-ft~ ••• 1,168 msl
Elevation at minimum operating level •••••••••••••••••••••• l,122 msl
Diversion TUnnol Inve~ ••• 4 •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1,106 msl
Storage allotted as follo"IS:
POlrer •••••••••••••••••• o ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 83,400 ac-ft
Sedimentation (accumulation for 50 years)...... ..... 2,200 ac-ft
Ice cover and head on intake •••••••••• o •••••••••••• 26.400 ac-rt
112,000 ac-ft
2
SUIrltlary Sheets
Hydrology:
Drainage area above Cooper Lake outlet •••••••••••••••• 31.0 square miles
Annual runoff, average (1940-1954) •••••••••••••••••••• 72,200 ac-ft
Annual runoff, maximum (1944) ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 110,400 ac-ft
Annual runoff, minimum (1952) ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 43,900 ac-ft
Crescent Lake Unit
Powerplant:
Installed capacity (2 units at 3,500) ••••••••••••••••• 7,000 kw
Operating head •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o ••• 971-1,000 ft
Annual firm output •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 30,500,000 b~hr
Average annual non-firm potential ••••••••••••••••••••• 1,700,000 kt-lhr
Channel:
Lengtho ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ ••••••••••• 6,370 feet
Diameter, precast concrete pipe •••••••••••••••••••••• 72 inches
Invert (slope = a) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• elevation 1446 ms1
Penstock:
Length •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 5,670 feet
Diameter •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 60 inches
Reservoir:
Elevation at maximum controlled storage (61,000 ac-ft) ••••
Elevation at minimum operatL~g level ••••••••••••••••••••••
Divoroion Channel Inve~t •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
1,486 ms1
1,1+60 msl
1,446 ms1
Storngo allotted as fo1101ITS:
Power •••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••.••••••••••••••••
Sedimentation (accumulation for 50 years) •••••••••••
Ice cover and head on intake ••••••••••••••••••••••••
Hydrology:
39, BOO ac-ft
2,000 ac-ft
19,200 ac-ft
61,000 ac-ft
Drainage area above Crescent Lake and Carter Lru<e Out1ets •••• 24.6 sq. milf
Annual runoff, average (1940-1954) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 41,200 ac-ft
Annual runoff, maximum (1944) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 65,000 ac-ft
Annual runoff, minimum (1952) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 26,700 ac-ft
3
COtll'ENTS
CHAPTER I TRANSHITTAL •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Cooper Lake Unit ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Crescent Lake Unit ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Transmission Plant ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Project Status ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Authority •••••••••••••••••••••••• , ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Cooperation and Acknowledgements •••••••••••••••••• , •••••••••••
CHAPTER II THE KENAI PENINSULA •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
PQysical Geography ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Climate •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
H':l st ory-. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •••••
Population ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Communities •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Resources and Economic Activities •••••••••••••• o ••••••••••••••
Fishing •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Forestr.y ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Agriculture •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
1ti.ning. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • '. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Construction and Militar.y •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Wildlife ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Transportation ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Tourist Attractions •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Land Withdrawals ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER III POWER SUPPLY AND MARKETS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Power Market Area •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Present Power Supply ........................................... .
Present Power Rates and Use~ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Future Power Requirements ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ •••••••
Residential and Nonfarm •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Farm ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Commercial •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• , •••••••••••••• , ••
MUnicipal and other •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Small Industrial ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
}.fili t a-ry-•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••
SllIIlIIlary-•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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CHAPTER IV WATER POWER •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••
Water Resources •••••••••••••••••• ~ ••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••
Cooper Lake Development •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Drainage Basin •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o •••••••••••••
Period of Study and Runoff Estimates.e ••••••••••••••••••••
llater Rights ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• <i ••••••••••••
The Reservoir •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Sedimentation •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Evaporation •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Power Head.~ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Overall Efficiency ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Reservoir Releases ••••• c ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Reservoir Operation Study •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Energy Output and Installed Powerp1~~t Capacity •••••••••••
Cresc~nt Lake Development •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Drainage Basin ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Period of Study and Runoff Estimates ••••••••••••••••••••••
Water Rights ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
The Reservoir •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Sedimentation •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Evaporation •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Power Head ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Overall Efficiency ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Reservoir Releases ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Reservoir Operation Studies •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Energy Output and Installed Powerp1ant Capacity •••••••••••
CHAPl'ER V PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT •••• v ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Cooper Lake •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Crescent Lake •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Cooper Lake Development •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Accessibility •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Rights of ltJay ••••••••••• 'O ...... 0 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Housing •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Construction Period •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Reservoir •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Waterways •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Powerplant ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Geologic Conditions •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Cost Estimates ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Crescent Lake Development •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Accessibility •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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Right s of \qay •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• -•••••
Housing· •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Construction Period •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Reservoir •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
lrVate~ys •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Powerplant ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Geologic Conditions •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Cost Estimates ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ ••••
Transmission Plants ••••••••••• o •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Alternative Power Developments ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CRAPIER VI FINANCIAL ANALYSIS •••••••••••• o •••••••••••••••••••
Econo~ic Justification ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Investment •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 0 • _ .................... .
Annual Costs ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Repayment •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 0 ••••
S 1lIIIII1a!jT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
CHAPTER VII CONCLUSIO~B AND RECOMMENDATIONS •••••••••••••••••••
Discussion.u ................................................ .
Conclusions •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Recommendations •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
APPENDIX I
Part fA
Part B
PROJECT GEOLOGY
Cooper Lake Project Geology
Crescent Lake Project Geology
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TABLES
Power Market Area ••••••••••••••••••• e ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Page
21
Estimated Load Growth, 1957-1970................................. 25
Runoff of Cooper Creek at Cooper Landing......................... 28
Summary--Operation of Cooper Lake Reservoir and Powerplant....... 32
Runoff of Crescent Creek at Crescent Dam Site.................... 34
Summary--Operation of Crescent Lake Reservoir and Powerp1ant..... 37
PF-l Official Estimate--Cooper Lake Unito ••• o ••••••••• fol1owing 41
PF-2
PF-1
PF-2
Control Schedule--Cooper Lake Unit ••••••••••••••• following
Official Estimate--Crescent Lake Unit •••••••••••• following
Control Schedu1e--Crescent Lake Unit ••••••••••••• following
41
44
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Lawing Project Cost Allocations.................................. 48
CHARTS, MAPS« AND DRAWImS
Fishing and Lumbering Indu5tries--(585-906-2) ••••••••••••••••
Land Status--1952 (585-906-1) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Following
Page
11
18
Lawing Project Power Market (812-906-20)..................... 25
Precipitation at Seward and Cooper Landing (812-906-9)....... 26
Correlation Curve--Cooper Lake Unit (812-906-15)............. 27
Area and Capacity Curves--Cooper Lake Unit (812-906-14)...... 29
Reservoir Operation and Energy Output--Cooper Lake
Unit (812-906-18)......................................... 31
Correlation Curve--Crescent Lake Unit (812-906-16)........... 33
Area and Capacity Curves--Crescent Lake Unit (812-906-10).... 35
Reservoir Operation and Energy Output--Crescent Lake
Unit (812-906-19)......................................... 37
P:lan of Development ................................... -. • • • • • • • 39
Profi1e--Tunne1 and Penstock--Cooper Lake Unit (812-906-2)... 39
General Plan and Sections--Dam Area--Crescent Lake
Unit (812-906-11)......................................... 39
General Plan and Sections--Diversion System--Crescent Lake
Unit (812-906-12) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• a............ 39
v
CHAPTER I
T RAN S MIT TAL
To: Commissioner
From: Acting Distriot Manager
Subject: Status report on lalring Project, .Alaska
This is my statu.s report on l'lotential development of laldng
Project, near Seward Alaska. The project encompasses Crescent and
Cooper Lakes, topographically unrelated, but fatl'orably placed
geographica~ tor an integrated power operation. Cooper Lake and
Crescent Lake lie above but on opposite shores of Kenai Lake. The
water of Crescent take drains into Kenai Lake, whereas Cooper Lake
drains into Kenai River, a short distance below the mouth of Kenai
Lake. Center of the taldng Project area is approximately 25 miles
north ot Seward, Alaska.
A complete field investigation was accomplished on the
Cooper Lake Unit.. Crescent Lake Unit field studies were prematurely
tel'tninated du.e to a decision made by the City of Seward to develop
the project independently.
Need far tb:is single ... purpose project is based on the local
high cost of diesel generation, anticipated population growth, and to
encourage industrial development within the area.
Amlual firm output of the project would be: Cooper Lake
Unit 39,000,000 kilowatt ... hours; Crescent Lake Unit 30,5001'000 kilowatt ...
hours. Full utilization of this block of energy would be attained by
1967. There is no foreseeable market for the estimated average annual
nonfirm potential of 4,100,000 kilowatt-hours.
Cooper Lake Unit
Water from Cooper Lake would be conveyed through a tunnel
and steel penstock to a powerplant located on the west shore of Kenai
Lake. A low weir is proposed at the lake's outlet. The active
storage of 85,600 acre-feet would be obtained between lake
elevation 1168 and 1122 feet. The tunnel would be 7 feet in diameter
and 41 900 feet long. The 48-inch steel penstock would be 5,200 feet
long. A reinforced concrete surge tank 20 feet in diameter and
70 feet high would be located near the tunnel outlet. The powerplant
would have an installed capacity of 9,000 kilowatts, equally
divided between two generating units.
Field investigations indicate that the tunnel will
penetrate a series of alternating graywackes and argillites. The
Transmittal
natural characteristics of argillite may result in some excessive
slabbing in areas where incipient movements have taken place along
the argillite beds. The relative shallo\-, rock cover above the
tunnel would seem to preclude the possibility of squeezing ground,
and it is expected that only a minor quantity of water will be
encountered in the tunnel. Tunnel construction should present no
special problems.
The penstock alinement would be over glacial till for its
major length. -The powerplant would be over sand and gravel.
Total construction cost (not including switchyard, trans-
mission lines, or substations) based on April 1955 price level, is
estimated at $6,861,000. The cost includes field investigations,
designs, construction expense, operation and maintenance during
construction, overhead, contingencies, and interest during construction.
Average rate necessary to repay nat siteU costs of the
Cooper Lake Unit within a 50-year period and at 2-1/2 percent interest
would be 10 .. 0 mills per kwh. All transmission plant costs would be
additional.
Crescent Lake Unit
Development of Crescent Lake enV1S1ons an earth dam
constructed to an elevation of 1,492 feet near the lake's outlet.
Active storage 1-,ould be 41,800 acre-feet and \·muld be provided between
elevations 1460 and 1486 feet. Flm., from Crescent Lake \'fould be
reversed through Carter Lake and thence to Upper Trail Lake. A
4,830-foot section of 6-foot-diameter precast concrete pipe would be
placed in a channel cut between Crescent and Carter Lakes. Near the
outlet of Carter Lake a similar section of precast concrete pipe
1,540 feet long, placed in a channel cut, would extend toward Upper
Trail Lake to a connecting steel penstock. The 60-inch-diameter
penstock pipe would extend down the mountain slope 5,670 feet to a
powerplant a short distance from Upper Trail Lake. A surge tank
20 feet in diameter would be placed near the start of the penstock.
The powerplant would have an installed capacity of
7,000 kilowatts, equally divided between two generating units.
Field investigations indicate feasibility for locating and
constructing an earth dam. Ample and suitable impervious material
exists near the damsite. Channel excavation betlveen Crescent and
Carter Lakes and between Carter Lake and the penstock junction is
expected to be in glacial till and outwash material. Field studies
\-,ere terminated prior to this determinationo It is believed that
suitable rock will be found for penstock anchors. The powerplant may
require piling.
2
Transmittal
Total construction cost (not including switchyard, trans-
mission lines, or substations) based on April 1955 price level, is
estimated at ~6,49l,000. The cost includes field investigations,
designs, construction expense, operation and maintenance during
construction, overhead, contingencies, and interest during construction.
Average rate necessary to repay "at site" costs of the
Crescent Lake Unit witrLin a 50-year period at 2-1/2 percent interest
l'lould be 10.3 mills per kwh. All transmission plant costs would be
additional.
An average rate of 10.3 mills per kwh is possible for the
Crescent Lake Unit only if remote~ operated. If operated as an
individual and separate plant, the average rate would increase to
12.9 mills per kwh.
Transmission Plant
A transmission plant sufficient to serve the power market
area is estimated to cost about $2,460,000. This includes switchyards,
69,000-volt transmission lines, and SUbstations at Seward and at Kenai
Junction on the Sterling Highway.
Although none of the necessary transmission plant presently
exists, it appears certain that a portion of the facilities will be
built in the near future by local utilities regardless of project
construction.
Development of potential power loads in the Kenai lowlands
may determine the optimum transmission voltage to be 115,000 volts
rather than the 69,000 previously mentioned.
Project Status
Field investigations of the project were terminated due to
positive actions taken for local development.
In May 1955, the Federal Power Commission granted a
preliminary permit to the City of Seward for the City's proposed
hydroelectric development of Crescent Lake.
In June 1955, a similar permit was granted to Chugach
Electric Association of Anchorage for that R.E.A. Coop's proposed
hydroelectric development of Cooper Lake.
Field investigations have been initiated for both
developments by the respective applicant concerned.
3
Transmittal
Authority
Investigations of the Lawing Project were authorized by virtue
of the Interior Department Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 1955, which
provided $100,000 to be expended by the Bureau of Reclamation for
ft ••••• engineering & economic investigations, as a basis for legislation,
& for reports thereon to Congress, relating to projects for the
development & utilization of the water resources of Alaska ••••• "
Completion of this report in FY;6 is authorized by virtue of the
designation of the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out the provisions of
House Bill 3990, 84th Congress, authorizing the Secretary of the Interior
to investigate and report to the Congress on projects for the
conservation, development, and utilization of the water resources of
Alaska.
Cooperation and Acknowledgements
Valuable assistance was given in preparation of the basic data
contained in this report by officials of the City of Seward, Homer Electric
Association, Kenai Lake Electric Association, Estes Brothers' Power Co.,
and the Kenai Power Company. Cooperation of Federal and Territorial
Agencies is also acknowledged, particularly that of the Geological Survey
in obtaining vital hydrologic data and preparing topographic and river
sheets.
4
C HAP T E R II
THE KENAI PENINSULA
The Kenai Peninsula is a land of rugged mountains, fertile
plains, and a multitude of climateso
Located in south central Alaska, it is bounded on the west
by Cook Inlet and on the east and south by the Gulf of Alaska. It
is joined to the mainland by a narrm-.r neck of land nearly severed by
the convergence of the long reach of Turnagain Arm on the l'lest and
Passage Canal on the east. Total area of the Peninsula is approximately
9,200 square miles, a land mass slightly smaller than the State of Nelf
Hampshire and some,·,hat larger than the combined areas of the States
of Rhode Island and Net-I Jersey.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY'
The Peninsula can be divided into tvlO distinct geologic
divisions. The Kenai lowlands or plateau, found on the northlfestern
side, comprise approximately 1/3 of the total area. The northern
1/3 of this plateau is quite flat and very poorly drained resulting
in extensive swamplands and small lakes. Further south, drainage
systems are better developed with much of the land useful for
agricultural purposes. Even here, however, large sections are dotted
with small lakes and muskeg. The plateau varies in elevation from
about 50 to 800 feet. Its Cook Inlet shores are generally cliffs of
50 feet or more vIhile its western boundaries merge into the foothills
and thence the rugged mountains of the Kenai I'lountain Range.
In sharp contrast to the 'tIrestern lowlands, the Kenai
Mountains are steep and rugged, rising to altitudes of from 3,000 to
7 ,000 feet. This range is a continuation of the Chugach Nountains to
the north and constitut.es approximately 2/3 of the Peninsula area.
Bordering on the Gulf of Alaska and the southern shore of Kachemak
Bay, the mountains rise abruptly from the sea creating many coves
and fiords. A multitude of fine harbors exist along this shoreline,
but few are accessible by land. These mountains host numerous
glaciers many of them sternmlng from the Harding Ice Field.
Due to the relatively narrOvJ girth of the Peninsula and
the mountainous character of the eastern side, most of the river
systems are short and drainage basin areas are small. The notable
exception to this rule is the Kenai River. Traversing approximately
78 miles from the outlet of Kenai Lake to its mouth in Cook Inlet,
this river, along with its tributaries, drains some 1,860 square
miles or approy~tely 20 percent of the Peninsula.
5
The Kenai Peninsula
Crescent and Cooper Lakes are both tributary to the Kenai
River; Crescent Lake eventually emptying into Kenai Lake through
Crescent and Quartz Creeks and Cooper lake emptying directly into
the river through Cooper Creek. Located within 7 miles of each
other on the map, the tl-10 lakes are separated by intervening ridges
and the deep valley occupied by Kenai Lake.
CLIMATE
A wide variation in precipitation and temperatures is
encountered on the peninsula. For the most part the western plateau
is dry while the eastern slopes of the Kenai IvIountains are quite wet.
The heaviest rains occur in August, September, and October making it
difficult to mature and harvest crops. Normal precipitation, recorded
over a period of several years, varies from 18.20 inches at Kasilof to
69.92 inches at Sel-mrd. The normal for three years recorded at
Sterling is 15.98 inches. Nhittier, geogra.phically located at the neck
of the peninsula, experiences the heaviest rainfall recorded in the
area. Recordings for eleven months in 1953 show 181.57 inches with
an estimated total for the year of about 200 inches. For the same
year at Seward recorded precipitation was 69.16 inches.
Recorded average snowfall varies from 46 inches at Homer to
78 inches at Seward. Considerable snowfall is experienced in the
mountains and in the northeast corner of the peninsula; however, the
incomplete records of VJhittier give the only representation. Actual
recorded snowfall at Nhittier in 1953 (records for .f.:Iarch and November
missing) totaled 19502 inches.
Similar to conditions found in other parts of Alaska, the
coastal waters have a tempering effect on the temperature. Greatest
recorded temperature range is at Sterling, some 20 miles inland from
Cook Inlet. The shortest range is found at Homer.
The foilol-ling tabulation compares recorded climatic
conditions at various peninsula stations:
Station
Homer
Kasilof
Kenai
Sterling
Seward
:Years of: Temperature : Precipitation:Sno\'rfall:Growing
: record ~Maxi;rrum:~finimum: inches inches season
15 80 -18 11 25g2 46 104
13 87 -43 18.2 58 87
10 87 -48!/ 20 00 69 89
3 90 -51 13.2 : 60 43
41 85 -20 69.9 :!/ 78 !/136
!/ 19 years of record
6
The Kenai Peninsula
HISTORY
Recorded history of the Kenai Peninsula dates back to 1788
when the Russian-American Fur Tr~ding Co. established settlements at
Kasilof and Kenai. Hith the exception of some minor agricultural
colonization in the Kachemak Bay area in 1793, expansion of peninsular
activity was quite limited until the establishment of the salmon
canning industry in the 1880's.
Discovery of gold in 1896 on Resurrection Creek near its
confluence l"lith Turnagain Arm resulted in the founding of the tent
city of Hope 1"lith a population of about 5,000 gold seekers. Most of
the gold mining operations in this area were placer and few men
remain9::i when the source Has exhausted. Prospectors ranged over most
of the pflninsula in the late 1890' s and the to·tffi of Homer ",as founded
in l896.. Except for the placers at Hope, hmvever, no important
st.:rikes Here made.
Fishing proyed to be a stable and profitable industry along
the west~rn shores of the Kenai. Salmon runs ~n Cook Inlet were
extensive, and the excGllent gardens wh:i..ch cOl.L:.d be raised permitted
the fishermen to be a.:L'llost entirely self-sufficient. The early
1900's saw many homes-l:.eads established by the p:i.oneer fishermen,
particularly near the villages of Kenai, Kasilof, Ninilchik, and
Homer.
The central and eastern sections of the peninsula did not
share in the early developm.3nt of the Cook Inlet area. Fishing
along the eastern sho:,:,es has never been an liuportant industry. The
rugged topograpi1Y of these mountainous areas \vas a transportation
obstacle until the railroad vas completed in the early 1920 i s. Except
for prospecting and trapping there was little to entice the early
settler.
The City of Sewa,:,d Has founded in 1903 as a supply center
and tide-water term:.:'l-j"J.S fOl' the railroad soon imder construction.
Although the railroa,~ "Tas :10t completed until J.923, Seward continued
to serve as sup:Jly ac'.,:l tran',portation hub for the central and eastern
part of the pe!1insula. Co~,:;:-letion of the railroad linked Seward's
economy directly wEh t.hat, ':.If interior Alaska a'1d its growth pattern
has followed th3.t 0: P.nchcr-;;;.ge and Fair1;)anks although to a lesser
degree.
POPULATION
Near the turn of the century, the population of the Kenai
Peninsula probahly e:~ceeded 6,000 people, but in the 1929 census the
C01.ll1t was slightly over 2,,100. Growth Has slow' \"lith an annual
average gain of less than 100 people bet,.,een 1929 and 1939.
7
The Kenai Peninsula
The milita.ry buildup in the interior in the 1940' s more than
doubled the population of Se1'fard, but had little influence on the rest
of the Peninsula. Of an increase of slightly more than 1,700 persons
bet~reen the 1939 and 1950 censuses, over 68 percent was in Seward.
Completion of the highway system connecting Seward and
Homer with Anchorage opened large areas in the Kenai lowlands to easy
access and settlement and a rush for land developed. Construction
of a large Signal Corps base and an Air Force fighter landing strip
at Kenai brought in additional people. It is estimated that the 1954
population of the 101'11ands 1vas about 2-1/2 times that of 1950.
The follmdng tabulation lists 1950 census data and
estimates for 1954:
Population
Rocor5i.ng Censu.s Estimated Percent
distl"ict --1950 1954 change
SevJard 2,708 4,200 55
Seldovia 701 750 7
Homer 907 1,900 109
Kenai Area 11 11 550 1,750 218
Total 4 ,866 8,600 77
1/ Kenai, Kasilof 1 and surrOlmding area is included in the Anchorage
recording district. Census tabulations list the population of the
villages of Kenai and Kasilof but rural popula'cion was estimated for
this report.
COWiJUNITIES
Seward, southern saltwater terminus of the Alaska Railroad,
is the largest and most modern of the Peninsula communities.
Incorporated in 19)2 , its governing body is an elected mayor and city
council. Daily operations are superintended by a city manager. All
utilities except telephone service are owned and operated by the city
and managed by a 5-man utility board.
The paved S81~rd-Anchorage high't'my terminates at the city
limits, and all city streets are unpaved. The local airport is
owned by the Territc!'y~ but operated by the city. This unlighted
airport has a runway length of 3,800 feet, long enough for use by
DC-3's. Daily plane schedules link this city with Anchorage by air.
Seward bOCl.f3ts a bank, a \-reekly newspaper, excellent hotel
accommodations, modB~~ schools, a hospital, and all the usual stores
and shops that go to make up a thriving community.
8
The Kenai Peninsula
In addition to the normal facilities and services found at
busy sea-rail terminals, Seward is the site of a large TB Sanitorium
and an orphanage for native children, both owned and operated by the
I~thodist Church.
Primarily a seaport and transportation center, Seward's
economy fluctuates with the development of the interior and the rest
of the Kenai Peninsula, as i.,re1l as with the volume of cargo handled
by other ports such as l'lhittier and Anchorage. It is not presently
!mm'ffi j ;.:.st what effect the planned sea-train service to hlhittier ".,rill
ha7e OC). Seward, but apparently Seward is exp~cted to continue to handle
cO::JSiG.E'12,ble fc:'eight. This is attested by the recent contract in
excess cf ~~3:300,OOO for a new dock and facilities awarded by the
U. S. D<Jpartment of the Interior.
A small salmon c<"nnery and three sawmills near Sel-mrd add
to 7·!--<; ~Jconozr.y of the arec:, but could not hope to supplant a loss in
fr0ig:lt handling.
Other corr~unities on the Peninsula are considerab~ smaller
than Sel'iard \-lith its 1950 population of 2,1140 Those listing a 1950
P()pulation of ever 100 are Seldovia, 437; Homer, 307; and Kenai, 32l.
Seldovia is located A.bout 18 air miles from Homer on the mountainous
side of Kachemak Bay. Due to its isolation, it has not materially
benefitted from completion of the Sterling Highway. Since its basic
economy is fishing, an industry that has seen little expansion in the
past fevT years, its presen4~ growth is slow. Five canneries and 1
cold storage plant are sit.'..J.d.ted here constituting most of the tOim' s
source of income. Seldovia has a good deep-water harbor, ice-free in
\-linter. A small landing field and facilities for handling seaplane
traffic provld.e a second m,)ans of transportation to and from the
town. Radio co:mnunication service is available for fast communications
while a mail boat from Homer serves that need daily.
Seldovia has a Yariety of stores, a machine shop, various
marine repair shops, a church, hospital, and a Territorial-operated
school.
Homer, served by the Homer Public utility District and the
Homer REA Coop')ratiYc, is the trading center for the south3rn section
of the Kenai Imvland.::;. Among the many businesses and facilities to
be found there are t·W'o hot::-ls, a dry cleaning plant, self-service
laundry, bakery, thcc;:::'er, 'Gank, various stores and shops~ and a radio
station. A small dairy supplies most of the milk requirp~ents of the
community. A combined grade and high school is operated by the
Territory. The towa is s')!'Ved by a first-class airport operated by
the CAA and capable of ha~dling DC-3'so Seaplanes operate fram a
9
The Kenai Peninsula
lake near the airport. Air mail is received daily from Anchorage
and radio communications vlith Anchorage supply the need for faster
service.
A deep-vrater dock at the end of the 4-1/2 mile I1Homer SpitO
permits docking of large freighters, 't'lhile the IlSpitf1 offers limited
protection on its lee side for smaller boats. The iiSpitl? also hosts
Homer's three small fish processing plants.
A berry processing plant and several small salmlls add to
the general economy of the area.
Since the land itself is the greatest attraction of the
Kenai lowlands, most of the grovrth since 1951 has been in the rural
areas rather than in the communities. The Homer area has undergone
considerable settlement since completion of the Sterling High'lTay, but
only a limited amount of new construction has been carried on in the
tmm itself.
The village of Kenai, also situated in the Kenai lowlands,
on the shore of Cook Inlet, is not blessed with good harbor
facilities. Although fishing boats dock at the two large salmon
canneries located at Kenai, low tides do not leave sufficient vrater
for deep draft vessels. Kenai, like Homer, has a CAA~operated airport
capable of handling DC-3's. In addition an Air Force fighter
refueling base is located nearby.
A large Signal Corps base a few miles north of Kenai has
helped make the village one of the fastept grolJing communities on the
Peninsula. Similar to the Homer area, hO't'fever, the greatest grO'tvth
is experienced in the outlying areas.
I\enai has about the same type of stores and services found
at Homer with the exception of a radio station. A typical fishing
community, the usual marine supply and repair shops are to be found.
A large Territorial School built only a few years ago at Kenai
required extensive additions in 1954 to accommodate the rapidly
increasing school enrollment.
A private power company started in 1952 is the power
source for the community.
Several additional Peninsular communities have attained
a population exceeding 100 since 1950. A general store, filling
station, and possibly a lunch counter usually supoly immediate local
needs at these smaller villages with the additional services required
being supplied by the larger trading centers.
10
The Kenai Peninsula
RESOURCES AND ECOl\'OMIC ACTIVITIES
Since the gold rush of 1896 and the subsequent depletion of
the important gold mines on the Peninsula, development of the more
permanent resources has led to a more stable grmvth. Even the large
influx of people that has taken place since 1950 is felt to be a sign
of real gr~~h of the areas affected since development is primarily
in the field of rene,'lable resources.
Fishing
Similar to other areas along the southern coast of Alaska,
fishing is one of the oldest and most j]llportant peninsular industrial
activities. In 1954 the value of the Peninsula's fishery products
wa s an € stimated~:;5, 500,000. As shown on Drawing No. 585-906-2, the
bulk of this industry is concentrated along Cook Inlet with all but
two small processors located in this area. These commercial operations
vary in size from the hand canners of a fe'" annual cases to those
canneries capable of an output in excess of 100,000 cases per season.
Salmon are the most important fish of the area and account
for most of the industry's dollar value. Other important species
caught locally" hOl'leVer, include crab and shrimpo King crab are taken
from the waters of Kachemak Bay in considerable numbers. ~funy are
shipped to Kodiak for processing. Any expansion of crabbing in this
area, hOl'lever, is believed to be quite limited.
Clams are plentiful in many places along the shoreline, but
their use is primarily domestic with only one or two very small
commercial operations being carried on at the present time.
It is generally agreed that the salmon fisheries of the
Kenai Peninsula are presently developed to about the maximum but
limited expansion is possible in processing other species of fish"
nel'l methods of preparation, and the increased production of by-products
from fish waste.
Forestry
The more important timber re source s of the Kenai Peninsula
are found in the Chugach National Forest. The predominant cmrunercial
species of the forest are the hemlock and Sitka spruce combination
typical of the Tongass National Forest of Southeastern Alaska. Unlike
the Tongass Forest, however, the stands are not as heavy. The average
volume of commercial tL~ber is about 5,000 board feet per acre in the
Kenai portion of the Chugach Forest as compared to 15,000 to 20,000
board feet per acre in the Tongass. The cedar of Southeastern Alaska's
11
EEl 6 to 10 MBM
I ta 5 MBM
June 21 1955 ~~~"~2:' ______________________ __
\~~~~~?;; . R 0 I • G
~--' Ie [
G
A T ION
PROCESSORS (19541 FISH
o
and/or smoked Sal mon, canned
Crob and/or Bottomfish
Fish meol ond oil
sh rimp, other Salman, crab,
Ise O
A
UNlTEO STAETEI~TERIOR
DEPARTMENT FO~ETC~AfI.ATlON
BUREAU 0 DISTRICT
ALAS'A INDUSTRIES and LUMBERING
FISHING PENINSULA KENAI
The Kenai Peninsula
forests does not extend to the Gulf Coast but are replaced by stands
of white birch and cottonwood. The hemlock-Sitka spruce combination
is also found in a thin belt along the Cook Inlet coastline from its
confluence with the Gulf of Alaska to an area a little north of the
town of Kenai. This belt of timber is not sufficiently dense to
support a large-scale harvesting operation but will support several
small mills capable of supplying a part of the local need. West of
the Kenai Mountains and a few miles inland from Cook Inlet, the
hemlock-Sitka spruce gives \'lay to sparse white spruce and birch
forests of non-commercial value. Much of this area was burned over
in 1946 to such an extent that natural reseeding has not taken place.
Three large commercial mills and 2 small mills exist on the
eastern slopes. One of the biggest mills in Alaska is located at
Hhittier, but a large percentage of the saw logs are brought in from
the Tongass National Forest. Those mills in the vicinity of Seward
and 1vlo089 Pass are considerably smaller than the Hhittier mill and
their logging operations are more localized. Besides local markets
these smaller mills supply a portion of the lumber requirements of the
Interior.
Agriculture
The agricultural outlook for the Kenai lowlands has altered
considerably since 1950. Chief reason for this change is the
marketing situation. The highway linkup with Anchorage has provided
a large pctential market within an economic hauling distance, while
military construction and operations in the vicinity of Kenai have
greatly aided the local market.
Some of the most important agricultural land in the Territory
is to be found on the Kenai where an estimated 100,000 -1/+0,000 acres
are suitable for some kind of cultivation. Suitability of this
acreage for farming varies considerably. Inland the climate ranges
colder and the growing season 15 shorter than along the coast. This
1s best illustrated by a comparison of Weather Bureau data for the
villages of Kenai. on the coast, and Sterling, 20 miles inland:
Year 1953 1952 1951
Sterling--Growing Season days 30 17 82
~animum temperature -33 -51 -48
Kenai--Growing Season days 89 83 110
Minimum temperature -25 -40 -42
Soils are generally shallow, in many areas poorly drained,
and vary considerably in quality. Heavy applications of fertilizers
greatly aid production of all crops.
12
The Kenai Peninsula
The coastal or 11 lowe l' bench'~ at Homer is the area most
suitable for cultivation. Here, winters are relatively mild, the
average grmring season exceeds 100 days, and precipitation averages
around 25 inches per year. Most of this bench is occupied, some of
the homo steads being among the oldest in Alaska.
A deterring characteristic to crop production throughout
the Ke~ai Peninsula is the cool climate and the fall rainy season.
Spring .:.Uld early summer are usually dry sometimes making seed
g6rmirt-,rt..ion difficult ''lhile August, September, and October are
g:merc.D.y quite wet precluding ripening grain and making it difficult
to cure hay.
A large variety of vegetables, berries, and root crops do
well in this farming area "lith potatoes being the primary crop grown.
P-_~ospec';~s for ripening and harvesting grain are poor although so;ne
varieti~s of oats, barley, and ,,{heat ,,,ill occasionally mature. Vetch,
OdGS, peas, and bromegrass constitute the preferred hay crops.
Ga.rdening is popular but farming on a full-time basis is employed by
fevl. Supplemental incomes are still generally needed primarily
because of the slov, development of potential markets, the high cost of
clearing land (~i;45 -.~:;150 per acre), and the 101', ret urns usually
received in the first fe,,, years of operation.
The natural grass lands of the upper benches near Homer are
conducive to raising of livestock and an estimated lOO-head of beef
cattle are to be found there at the present timeo There is room for
considerable expansion of this industry in the area, altho~gh winter
feeding varies from 6 to 8 months and is quite expensive if local hay
cannot be cut. Several dairies are located in the lowlands although
most of them are small and not considered co~~ercial operations. Fresh
milk can usually be obtained at Homer. Poult.:r,Y' farmi.ng is carried on
profitably on '~he Peninsula and markets are plentiful.
Land settlement ha.s been rapid for the past fe,,, years and
is still contitiuing at a fast pace. A large percentage of the home-
steads, hm>lever, have been taken up for purposes of speculation,
recreation, or various reasons other than farming. This was
particularly true of many 110rld War II veterans who, prior to 1953
legislation, 'vere required to establish residence on the land for only
7 months with no cultivation necessary to gain title. Present laws,
however, requ:i_re the veteran to place 1/8 of the land under cultivation
before title can be r€ceiv(:d. In 1950 a survey of the tiAgricultural
Possibilities of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula"' by the Agricultural
Research Administration, Departmei.1t of Agriculture, revealed that of
the 355 patented hom~steaQs on the Pen5_nsula at that time, 71 percent
vmre held by people 'l"Jho pl'')bably will not farm. The percentage is
probably even greater at the present time.
13
The Kenai Peninsula
lvIining
For many years gold ''las the only mineral sought or mined
on the Peninsula. A large number of claims exist, many of them
worked for a number of years, but none are being operated on a
commercial scale today. lvlost of the !mown gold bearing ores of the
Peninsula are too low grade to permit economical recovery under
present operating and marketing conditions.
The most jmportant Kenai mineral at the present time is
chromite, nO"t'f being mined in the m01mtains south of Kachemak Bay near
Seldovia 0 The chromite deposit in this area is extensive and three
separate operators are working or are planning to begin mining in the
near future. I~esent summer employment is about 45 men but deep
winter snow'S limit the annual operations to a period of 6 or 7 months.
A chipnent of 3,000 tons of ore, as mined, was made in 1954. It
appc~rs, however, that some concentration may be required before very
many more shipments are made.
Large coal deposits exist on the Peninsula in the vicinity
of Home~. These beds are flat lying and well suited to a mechanized
operation with continuous miners. Same investigation work has been
carried on but actual mining has been negligible.
By the end of 1954 at least three major oil companies had
leased acreages on the I:enai and several others ''lere conducting
field investigations and geological reconnaissance. In leasing
agreements with the Department of the Interior, these companies are
committed to actual drilling programs in the area. Geologic
formations of the Kenai lowlands are i:rightii for occurrences of oil
and gas and the prospects are very good for bringing in commercial
wells. Ho~vever, the actual developnent of a petroleum industry,
assuming oil \vere found in commercial quantities, may depend on other
economic factors both local and abroad. It is conceivable that a
period of several years could elapse before any oil discoveries
which might be made would be utilized.
Construction and Nilitary
The bulk of the major construction of the Peninsula has
been for Federal agencies such as the Alaska Railroad, Alaska Road
Commission, Bureau of Public Roads, and the Vlilitaryo
Construction of the two major highways is nearly comnlete
with black topping of the Sterling Highway scheduled over the next
5 years. Rehabilitation of the Alaska Railroad properties between
Seward and Portage is a large-scale project presently in progress.
Reconstruction of the Seward docks is a multi-million dollar project
recently authorized by Congress.
The Kenai Peninsula
The military have built the large Signal Corps base at
Kenai and it is still being expanded; the jet fighter refueling base
at Kenai, scheduled for enlargement; and are now planning construction
of a small base near Homer.
All of th~ activity plus the accelerated housing and
public building construction required to keep pace with the increased
rate of settlement, has made the Kenai Peninsula one of the prjmary
work areas of the Territory in the past few years.
Needless to say, these construction programs have
materially boosted the economic conditions of the area.
lJ~_ldlife
The Kenai Peninsula is well known for its abundance of
wildlife.
Moose are found in the foothills and lowlands and trophies
taken are among the largest to be had. Nountain sheep are plentiful
on the west side of the Kenai Mountains and mountain goats range
throughout the higher elevations. Both bro't'm and black bear are in
abundance.
Big game hunting is big business on the Kenai. Guide
service, plane and boat charter service, hunting cabins, lodges, etc.,
cater to an industry that is worth many thousands of dollars. It is
estimated that over 400 moose and 100 goats are taken annually.
Grouse and ptarmigan are the more important game birds and
are found throughout the Peninsula.
Kenai sport fishing ranks among the finest in the world
involving principally rainbovl, dolly varden, and lake trout, and
king and cohoe salmon.
Beaver, mink, and marten are the principal fur bearing
animals ,'lith lynx, marmot, and coyote abundant but less important.
Intensive trapping over a period of years had greatly reduced the
overall populations of fur bearers; however, a gradual increase during
the past three years has been accomplished by a series of closed
trapping seasons.
Transportation
Construction of the Peninsula t s highway system and it s
linkup with Anchorage in late 1951 has done more to aid the development
of the Kenai Peninsula than all other events of the past. The primary
15
The Kenai Peninsula
road system consists of the 128 miles of 2-lane, black-topped Seward-
Anchorage Higm~y and the 137-mile, gravel-surfaced Sterling Highway.
The latter traverses the western plateau from Homer to Kenai Village
and thence westward to a junction-with the Seward-Anchorage Highway.
There are a number of short secondary roads around Kenai
Village and Homer which provide access to the homesteads in the
area. The bulk of these roads are in good condition except during
the spring breakup.
With the exception of the town of Hope, the Peninsula
towns and cities are all located within a few miles of a pr:ima.ry
highway. A narrow 17-mile dirt road connects the town of Hope with
the Seward-Anchorage Highway.
The Alaska Railroad, owned and operated by the Department
of t.he Interior, handles the bulk of the freight consigned to
Interior Alaska. Seward was the only year-around salt water terminal
of t~e railroad from 1923 until 1942. In the latter year a 12-1/2
mile spur line from Portage to Whittier was constructed for the
military. This spur bypasses the steep grades and winter maintenance
problems between Portage and Seward. It was originally assumed that,
following tvorld War II, the port of v.lhittier would be utilized for
both military and civilian cargo and that the Portage-Seward section
of the railroad would be abandoned. This has not been the case,
however, and rehabilitation of the Seward docks is to be undertaken
in the nE'ar future. The railroad is standard gage and utilizes modern
rolling stock and diesel engines. Train service is scheduled twice
wee:dy, Anchorage to Seward round trip and six times weekly Anchorage
to vJhittier round trip.
Two steamShip and one barge lines have scheduled operations
to Seward. In addition intermittent service is supplied by
unscheduled small ships, barges, and tugs. Seward is presently the
main port of entry for nonmilitary cargo to points on the eastern
half of the Kenai Peninsula and to the Interior. Civilian petroleum
supplies for western Kenai are landed here and trucked to their
destination.
The Cook Inlet shoreline of the PenOl~sula is void of good,
deep water harbors north of Kachemak Bay. The isolated port of
Seldovia and the wharf at Homer, both situated on Kachemak Bay, provide
the only docking facilities for deep draft vessels. Prior to
completion of the Sterling Highway, the bulk of cargo for Kenai,
Ninilchik and surro~ding area vas unloaded at Seldovia and reshipped
16
The Kenai Peninsula
via small boat or barge. The present highway system permits
reshipment from Homer by truck effectj.ng a savings over the water
route.
Efforts to cut shipping costs and speed up transportation
service to the Interior have resulted in the adoption of a plan to
use rail-car ferry service betvleen the states and Hhittier. Loaded
railroad cars vlou1d be ferried to lrJhittier and disembarked as a unit
ready to roll to their destination.
Scheduled air service links the major Kenai towns l<lith
Anchorag~, KOdiak" and other Alaskan points. Connecting service can
be obt:{~Jled at Anchorage for any place in the world. Three daily
f1ight~ CI.re scheduled between Anchorage-Kenai Village, Homer, Kodiak,
anc B:;. ... :::::t·o1 Bay. Lai"ge first-class fields at ICenai and Homer permit
t~33 of ))(;-3 planes. Two daily DC-3 f15.ghts between Anchorage" S9ward"
a'1d CorJ':-Na are schciu1ed o 1>'Iany small 1andi:1g fields are scattered
throughy~t the Peni.'18 1 Ua particularly on the ,,,estern plateau. Existence
of a 1e.i:ge multitude of lakes on the Peninsula makes almost all areas
accessi:)le to small float planes ..
Small plane charter service is available at most of the
s~tt1ements al()llg tin high1r1ay.
Tourist Attra(';·;~·:tons , ..... _,-
The KC:1ai Peninsula is one of the mos~ scenic a~ .. (')as in Alaska.
Thousa~'1s of lakes ranging in size from small ponds t.o the 120-square
mile Tug::,umena Lake offer unlimited boating anc1. fl.::lll::.ng. The Kenai
mountains are quite rugged a-:1d generally suppo~,t a (Jense vegetation.
M()':~orin~ and hiking unfold a new panorama witj~ 8VO"',i' :mile cf progress
a1thoug~'1 it i3 'usua1ly necessary to trayerse establ-i ~hed !_'oads and
trails due to the heavy underbrush encountered in S088 areas.
The paved surface of the Seward-Anchorage Highvray makes
driving a pleasure. The Sterling High,vay is grave1-surfacl3d and
maintained in good repair.. The railroad offers a sC2nic trip from
Anchorage to Seward and bus service is also available bet1veen the
two citi3s.
Mo03e and b9ar are often seen along the road literally
posing for the camera fan ..
Hany residents of Anchorage have summer homes on the
Peninsula particularly along the shores of Ken/1.i Lake. Cabin sites
in this area are released from time to time by' the Forest Service
wi'::'h the demand far exceeding the supply.
17
The Kenai Peninsula
The tourist business is growing rapid~ along the
Peninsula. Catering to the motorist, motels, gas stations, and
lunch counters are sufficiently plentiful to take care of the needs
of the travelers, hunters, and fishermen. Plane charter service is
available at many locations along the highway and boats can be
chartered at most of the coastal tmmso
Although the Peninsula has many ldnter activities such as
skiing, skating, winter fishing, etc., most of its tourist business
is liIn5t8d to the summer and fall seasons.
Reservations and vdthdrawals eliminate a large percentage of
the KevF.i Penitlsula from public dcmain. App:r0ximately 34 percent of
th'3 tr.t'il lani area is cont:iined in the Nati.o:-~al ~100se Range., whtle
a:1 adG.i~~.~~onal 2~ pel'cHnt is incluc.ed. :i:1 the CI"J.1J,sach ltatiOilal FOl'~st.
In 191:Jj 2.<1d 19'~9., ne<.l.d~l lr:'~~,OO() acres of th.!' agri.,::uItural lowlands
were s:;;:-, aside from :::ettlem:::nt cr entry-by Un Depa:;:'tment, of
AgricuJ·~.u:..oe to Vi* ;'} -::. -!falLH'If time for examina:~i.)n and classification
to deter:iline the feasibili'LY of planned settlf;tnG!1t ~f-if-* -l~. ii These
191.;.8-49 :Y'eservBd areas are slowly being reop.:'med fo:c settlement as the
de'1land .:cLses.. Nilit"lry, a3ronavtical" N(j.tive Servj.ce, and other
Fed3ra.2.. .:md TE:J~.·-dtoL.al "Iithdrawals exclude several thousand additional
acres fro~ the ~ublic domain.
App!'0xi.mately t't-lO-thirds of the rema:ullng land not withdrawn
is loca':,,"d in the exf.remely rugged mounta.::.ns b:.:r;de:d.~.g the Gulf of
AICl.ska &nd incl'ldes a large portion of the Har·i.5.ng J:C'3 Field, a second
ice field east of Sewa:cd, and many of the glaci3rs vi the <-oast.
DrawjZ1.g No. 585-906-1 illustre.:tes mos'i:, of the lands
withdrawn from public domain by 1952.
IS
June 20 1955
G
EXPLANATION
_ Military Withdrawal
Miscellaneous WHhdrowots
Surveyed Lands
o
Kenai Notional Moose Range
Chuljloch Notional Forest
A
5
OEPART",UNITED STATES
BUR EA~ N~F O~ETCH~A ~~~f;~OR
ALASKA DISTRICT
LAND STATUS -1952
KENAI PENINSULA
14,0 585-906-1
C HAp T E R III
POWER SUPPLY AND MARKETS
Markets for project power 't'1ould be residential, farm,
commercial, municipal, militarJ, and industrial. The unit costs of
firm en3rgy from the project would be considerably lower than the
present cost of diesel en8rgy in the area, and this, coupled with
availability, could be expected to attract some local industry.
PopulaticJTI cf t~e pO'tofer market area is growing rapidly
and is expecta1 t,;:, co:r::.inu,'3 to do so. 'rhe P'j1.'Je:r needs of 1960 are
expected to more than ·::'riple those of the present.
PO"l'ffiR NARKET AREA
The project power market area discussed in this report has
b9~n arbitrarily limited tc: thQGe load cenL~i'S on the Peninsula
't,J:~ich H')l~ld not ent;J.il e.x('. ?)s~lv8 P~1'··u>.1it t!'<S.n:=:mi.ssion costs. Power
},::Jquir8mcnts of Seld0vie.~ l..rJ. tr.e s0uthH3st,o C1.nd a1.1 p~ints north of
tho jmlction of tha Seward-Anc>orage ~,;.ld St~rl:,_ng fL.gh1.\rays, have not
been consideredo These relatively small and scatter·,.~d load centers
can be included when supply lines can be econo;nically justified. The
power requireI!1.ents of Whittier were not included, there being sufficient
steam-electric Mopacity already available in that locale.
The rugged topogre.phy of the Kenai Nountains and the swamps of
the northern part of the lowlands further reduces the considered power
market area to a strip along the highway from the project to Seward on
the east and to Homer on the 't'rest plus the potential farming areas of
the lowlands.
The large load center of Anchorage, approximately 90 miles north
of the project, was not included as a part of the power market area. Lo~c
studies of the Kenai indicate a complete utilization of both Cooper and
Gr3scent Lake developments within 7 years after completion of the first
um.t. On this basis an estimated added expense to the project of 2!
rnj.:~J_ion dollars for transmission facilities to dispose of such a small,
shoTt term power surplus could not be justified.
PP.ESENT POhTER SUPPLY
Two small private power companies, one municipal utility, and
one REA Cooperative constitute the present power utilities serving the
public.
v-lhere centr.al station power is available on the Peninsula,
generating capacity usually tlonsists of a collection of small diesel-
electrid eets. Small gasoline-driven plants of 5 kw or less are popular
in :rural areas not served by a utility. A moderIl oil-fired steam-electric
plant at Nhittier supplies both military and civilian requirements while
the large sawmill located there generates its own electricity with a
waste-wood-fired steam plant.
19
Power Supply and Market s
The accompanying tabulation lists the more important power
generating plants of the power market area and approximate area of
service.
PRESENT POVJER R.I\TES AND USE
Large rural sections of the power market area are presently
without electricity or are dependent upon small individual power-
plants. Every effort is being made, however, to extend distribution
lines as rapidly as is economically possible.
Since all central station power on the Peninsula is
generated by diesel-electric sets, high consumer rates are to be
expected. Highest charges are encountered at Kenai Village and the
lo't"lest at Seward. Tbe fcl.l,,)1,ring tabulation compares the cost of a
mO~lthly use of 250 ki1011'a~'c,·-.ho':trs on the four non-military utility
systems:
Cost Average
Locale Utilit;y 250 kwl]./mo kwh cost
Kenai Kenai Power Co. $29.50 1l.B~
Moose Pass Estes Brothers 24~50 9.8~
Homer Homer Electric Ass'n. Inc. 20,50 8.2~
Seward Municipal 16.50 6.6~
Greatest energy use is found at Seward. Records for 1953
reveal that some 1,599,000 kilowatt-hours were consuHed by 741
residC'\::t.:ta1 customers or an annual average use of 2.,158 kilO't"latt-hours
per cus·'.:J:ner. One reason f~r this apparent high resj.dential usage,
despite high rates, is a special hot water heating rate of 3~ per
kilowatt-hour.
The commercial rate schedule at Seward is:
First 100 kwh 10i
Next 300 kwh 8¢
Next 500 k-vlh 6¢
Allover 900 kwh 5¢
In spite of the high overhead costs which these rates impose,
163 commercial customers used 1,200,948 kilowatt-hours in 1953--an
annual average of 7,368 kilowatt-hours per customer.
Elsewhere on the Peninsula electricity is used more sparingly.
From the few scattered records available it appears that residential
requirements average less than 1,000 kilowatt-hours per customer annually
and commercial use averages about 3,000 kilowatt-hours annually.
20
Locale
HomeI'
Kenai
Moose Pass
Seward
Homer
Kenai
Seward
YWhittier
Utili ty or Agency
Homer REA Cooperative
Kenai Power Co.
Estes Brothers
Municipal
POWER MARKET AREA
PUBLIC UTILITY SYSTEMS
Installed Planned
capacity (lew) Type capaci ty (kw)
Aug. 1954 generation immediate future
500 Diesel
160 Diesel 500
100 Diesel
2,830 Diesel
EIner ency Service and other Major Powerplants
CM Station 60 Diesel
CAA Station 150 Diesel
U.S. Army Signal Corps ~500 Diesel 500
Kenai Packing Co. 130 Diesel
San Juan Dock 300 Diesel 450
U. S. Army 4,000 Steam 2~OOO
Columbia Lumber Co. 1,000 Steam
11 Whittier not included as part of power market area.
Service area and miles
of
transmission lines
Homer--50 miles in service
40 miles under construc-
tion
Kenai--Approximately 10
miles under construction
Moose Pass--l mile in :1
service
Seward--2 miles in service
Emergency standby
CAA use
Military use
Industrial use
Industrial use
Mili tary and Civilian use
Industrial use
Power SupPLy and Markets
FUTURE POtllER REQUIRENENTS
It is not to be expected that the cost of project power to
the ultimate consumer ~~ll compare favorably with low rates generally
attributa.ble to hydro power in the States. Hm'lever, when the
comparison is based on the annual cost of energy as a percent of the
consumer's income, the picture improves. Therefore, it appears
reasonable to assume that the use of electricity for lighting,
cooking, refrigeration, miscellaneous heating, and for other
residential and com~3rcial requirements will increase substantiallY
in the decade follovdng availability of project power.
In the case of large industries which must compete for
Stateside or foreign markets, the cost of project power is not
expected to be an inducement.
Residential and Non-Farm
The 1950 population of the power market area was approximate~
4,080 people. Estimates of the population of 1954 show that an
increase of about 90 percent has taken place in the past 4 years. A
rapid rate of increase is expected to continue for several years
with the 1960 population approaching 14,000. Assuming very little
large industrial activity before 1970, the population for that year
has been conservatively estimated at 20,000.
Power use by this type of customer will probably increase
very slowly until a substantial reduction in consumer rates can be
effected. Assuming such a reduction is established b.Y 1960, the
average annual residential and non-farm usage should approach 6,500
kilowatt-hours per customer b.Y 1970.
Estimated customer growth and use is illustrated in the
table "Estimated Load Growth 1957-1970."
Farm
Farming is expected to play a role of steadily increasing
importance in the project power market area. An estimated 240 such
customers in 1960 should jump to over 500 by 1970. Average annual
use by 1970 should exceed the 7,500 kilowatt-hours shown in the
accompanying table. Irrigation may prove a definite advantage in the
near future.
Commercial
Commercial customers in Seward used an average of nearly
7,400 kilowatt-hours each in 1953. This power use despite relative~
high commercial rates illustrates a local adaptability to the
utilization of modern electrical equipment. As consumer rates in the
22
Power Supply and Market s
power market area decrease, average commercial power requirements
will increase compounding an estimated load of over 15,000,000
kilowatt-hours by 19700 As the area grows, it is to be expected that
competition l.all necessitate continual modernization by this class of
customer •.
Municipal and Other
This clas~ification, shown as totaling 16,860,000 kilowatt-
hours by 1970, is composed of street lighting and other municipal
needs, Government oi.'fices, seasonal residential use, miscellaneous
require:!l.ents, and distribution and transmission losses. Municipal
loads should exceed 900,000 kilowatt-hours by 1970, principa1ly from
street lighting, municipal utility requirements, etc., for the several
small communities.
Kenai Lake, Skilak Lake, Tustumena Lake, and others are
ideal for development as summer recreation areas including summer
homes and cabins. This is already evidenced at Kenai Lake where many
such homes are located along the shores.
Thirteen percent distribution and seven percent transmission
losses were assumed, totaling some 14,000,000 kilOl'latt-hours in 1970.
Sma1l Industrial
The small industries are expected to be the backbone of the
Peninsula's economy. Included in this category are such power loads
as processors of fishery and forest resources, commercial airports,
the Alaska Railroad, docks and warehouses, some small scale mining,
etc.
Mining loads, included in IIsma1l industrialif in the
summary, were assumed at 100,000 kilowatt-hours in 1960 increasing
to 500,000 kilowatt-hours by 1970. Very minor development of the
Homer coal fields could easily account for this small load.
An estimated need of 8,600,000 kilowatt-hours by 1970 for
small industrial users may prove to be overly conservative.
Military
The military requirements shown in the table of estimated
load growth are based on present and contemplated needs of the near
future. The 1954 peak at the Kenai Signal Corps base was around
800 kilowatts. Estimated capacity requirements in the future are
between 1,000 and 1,200 kilowatts.
23
Power Supply and Markets
The Air Force refueling strip at Kenai probably required
only about 25 kilO1lJatts in 1954, but enlargement of facilities is
expected in the near rut ure.
Capacity requirAments of the proposed military installation
at Homer will probably be small.
Assuming little additional military activity in the power-
market area, a cons"lr'".rative peak of 1,300 kilowatts was est:imated for
1960. At a lClad f2.·?tor of between 55 and 60 percent., a military load
of 6, 500,000 k~lowc'i.-c-hours "'"as derived for 1960. It is concluded
that this load would be supplied by project power since the alternative
would be diesel generation.
SUIIIIIlary
A summary of estimated load gro,ith of the power-market area
is shown in the accompanying table. Drawing No. 8l2-906-20
illustrates graphically the total energy and capacity requirements
and supply.
It is demonstrated that the Cooper Lake Unit would be fully
utilized by 1962 and the total Lawing Project firm capability needed
by 1967.
Possible establishment of an oil industry was not taken
into account in the power-market study. Should such a development
take place, however, the picture would change completely.
It is assumed that project firm power will be utilized to
the extent available in lieu of other generation.
24
Population--Estin~ted
Cus:'omer Class Use (lOOO kwh)
Residential and Nvn-Farm
Farm
Commercial
Municipal and Other
Subtotal
Distribution Losses
Small Industrial
l\) Military
Vl
Subtotal Sales
Transmission Losses
TOTAL ENERGY RE~UIRED
Capa.dt,y (10 .... )
Annual Load Factor (%)
ESTIMATED LOAD GROirITH, 1957-1970
LAWING PROJECT MARKET AREA
Calendar Year
1957 1929 1960 1962 1964
10,900 12,850 13,800 15,350 16,700
4,050 5,620 6,820 11,080 16,220
180 350 550 1,300 2,010
2,950 4,170 5,060 7,130 9,620
780 1.170 1.380 1.760 2 1070
7,960 11,310 13,810 21,270 29,920
1,190 1,690 2,060 3,180 4,470
3,090 3,650 4,030 5,170 6,160
6,500 6,800 7,100
12,240 16,650 26,400 36,420 47,650
920 1 2 250 1.980 _ 2.740 2.2 80
13,160 17,900 28,380 39,160 51,230
3,000 4,090 6,480 8,940 11,700
50 50 50 50 50
1966 1967 197 0
17,950 18,500 20,000
22,210 24,860 31,650
2,650 2,950 3,900
11,890 12,870 15,650
2.340 2 2470 2.82 0
39,090 43,150 54,050
5,840 6,450 8,080
7,000 7,420 8,600 .
7,400 7,550 8,000
59,330 64,570 78,730
4.470 4.860 5.930
63,800 69,430 84,660
14,560 15,850 19,330
50 50 50
(/)
l-
I-
et
~
0
oJ -~
IL
0
(/)
0
.~ Z
et
(/)
~
0
:I:
I-
(/)
a:
~
0
l:
l-
I-et
:t
0
oJ
~
IL
0
(/)
z
0
~
oJ
~
8-10-55
LAWING PROJECT POWER MARKET
REQUIREMENTS a SUPPLY
PEA K
20
TOTAL DECEMBER
PEAK
REQUIREMEN TS
I I / CRESCENT LAKE .........
r\ L
/
V
COOPER LAKE', V
16
12
/
V V
.--V
8
4
o
1956 58 60 62 64 66 68 70
E
TOTAL ANNUAL
N E R G Y
E'NERGY 90
EQUI REMENTS
80'
CRESCENT LAKE .....
70
0 · . . · . . 0 . . 0 0 0 · · 0
0 . · . 0 0 0 0 0 . · 0 . . · RESIDENTIAL 60 . . FARM
0 · · · . . 0 COMMERCIAL
0 · 0 . . . . . · · . SMALL INDUSTRIAL . . 0
~O
COOPER · · .
40
30
20 MILITARY
10 MUNICIPAL
OTHER
0
1956 58 60 62 64 66 68 70
C A L E N D A R Y E A R S 812-906-20
CHAPTER IV
WATER POWER
Water studies f~r the project were hased on recorded
runoff of Cocp~~r a~:c~ Gref;C"lnt Creeks and prec ipit9.tion re~ords of
Seward. Shore resc-:rv.)ir a..l1d po·.rerplant operation "cudies covering
the critical perio~·;. ,mly K-3re ffip.de for several plc\t)s of project
develop:nent. A ccxpL:te J't~servoir operation study ~v-as ffia6.e for the
adopteci plan fr.)lJ.J. L'L,1 ru,,·i'::' data. R.eservoir and p,)werpl3,nt capacities
were than baserJ. cn t'113se sc,udies.
vi ATER RESO UReES
The Kenai Peninsula has a wide variation in precipitation.
The western lowlands are comparatively dry while the eastern slopes
of the Kenai Mounta.ins are quite wet. Normal precipitation,
recorded over a pe:..'i.)d of saveral years, varies from IB.20 inches at
Kasilof (in the west) to 69.92 inches at Sevard (in the east). The
normal for Sterling, inland about 20 miles from Cook Inlet, is
15.9B inches, averaged over a 3-year period. Complete annual records
for Whittier are not available; however, for an II-month period in
1953, IBl.57 inches were recorded.
Recorded snowfall varies from 46 inches at Homer to
78 inche s at Seward. The mountains and northeast corner of the
peninsula receive considerably more, with snowfall at ~fuittier in
1953 estimated to have exceeded 200 inches.
Annual precipitation at Seward (record of 46 years) and
at Cooper's Landing (record of 2 years) is shown graphically on
Drawing No. B12-906-9.
COOPER LAKE DEVELOPMENT
Cooper Lake is one of several lakes feasible as a storage
site for development of hYdroelectric power on the Kenai Peninsula.
A low weir across Cooper Creek at the lOvler end of Cooper Lake and
a tunnel invert 62 feet below the present lake level would provide
storage capacity of 112,000 acre-feet, of which B3,400 acre-feet
will be required for an annual firm generation of 39,000,000 kilo-
watt-hours. An annual average non-firm output of 2,400,000 kvlhr
could also be generatedo
Drainage Basin
Cooper Creek heads above Cooper Lake in the mountains on
the soutmiest slopes of the Kenai River Basin. The drainage area above
26
120
I SEWARD -Record for 46 years
~
...!J Record incomplete for these years
COOPER LANDING -Record for 2 years
100
II)
I&J
80 ~
z -
z -
60 Z
0 -
I-
"' I-
0. -
40 ~
It:
a.
20
JJ .JJ lJ
I .. 1.1 I .. I. W III III .. I 0
1909 1914 1919 1924 1929 1934 1939 1944 1949 1954
WATER YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30
PRECIPITATION AT SEWARD AND COOPER LANDING
MAY 16, 1955 812-906-9
Water Power
the outlet of Cooper Lake comprises 31.9 square miles. Several
peaks bordering Cooper Creek Basin exceed 5,000 feet in elevation
and harbor a number of permanent sn~~ields on the southern and
western slopes. Frem the lake, Cooper Creek runs through a rugged
wooded canyml for about 5.4 miles before discharging into the Kenai
River about 2 miles below Cooper Landing.
The top<'craphy of the basin is rugged ann steep, except
near the head of the lake where a low saddle and more gentle slopes
separate Cooper LaE.'J from Kenai La!{e. The 10l.rer slopes of the
mountains above Cooper Lake are covered with a dense underbrush.
Period of Study and Runoff EstLmates
The Cooper Creek stream gaging station was established by
the U. S. Geological Survey in August 1949. Prior to this time no
\~ter supply information is available. To extend the period of
record, for the purpose of reservoir operation and power production
studies, a correlation curve was prepared (Draldng No. 812-906-15) by
relating the water year runoff at Cooper Creek gage and water year
precipitation at Sel'lard, Alaska.
From the Correlation Curve, the period of record was
extended back to October 1939 by estimating runoff for the period
of missing record. Data established is believed reasonab~
representative of actual runoff.
Hater Rights
Appropriation of water in Alaska is not governed by Federal
or Territorial laws. Common law, expressed in court decisions,
recognizes principles of priority, beneficial use, and negotiability.
In October 1954, the Chugach Electric Association, Inc.,
of Anchorage, Alaska, filed an application for a preliminary permit
under the Federal Power Act. In June 1955, the Federal Power
Commission granted a 3~onth preliminary permit to the Association
to make the necessary stUdies for its proposed hydroelectric
development of Cooper Lake.
The Re servoir
Storage at Cooper Lake is nece"ssary for tlrlO reasons: To
equalize the flows i1ithin each year; and to provide holdover storage
for years of below normal runoff. About 70 percent of the annual
runoff occurs from June to October. The reservoir must store water
during this period of high runoff to meet the greater-than-average
27
-..: 140
0
0
0
0 -
(!)
Z
0 120
Z
<t
...J
a:::
W
Cl. g 100
U
a:::
<t
W
Z
~ 80 w
w a::: u
a:::
w
Cl.
0
0 60 u
LL.
0
LL.
LL.
0
Z 40 ~ a:::
....,:
Cl.
W
(/)
I
....,: 20 u
0
• 1954
1951
1952
ANNUAL RUNOFF OF COOPER CREEK
NEAR COOPER LANDING
versus
ANNUAL PRECIPITATION
I
CORRELATION
AT SEWARD
I
I
CURVE
LAWING PROJECT
O~----~----~----~------~I------~----~ o 20 40 60 80 100 12
OCT.-SEPT. PRECIPITATION AT SEWARD-INCHES
JUNE 3,1955 812-906-15
Water Power
demand for firm. energy during the winter, when runoff is low.
Reservoir capacity is also required to store water in wet years to
meet the needs of an extended drier period.
Reservoir and power operation studies show that 83,400
acre-feet of active storage capacity would be adequate for Cooper Lake
Development. A capacity of 2,200 acre-feet should be provided for
sediment deposition. The required capacity of 85,600 acre-feet
could be obtained between the minimum operating level of 1,122 feet
above sea level and the maximum operating level of 1,168 feet. Tunnel
invert would be at 1,106 feet to provide 9 feet for ice cover and
head on the intake.
Curves showing reservoir water surface area and total
storage capacity above elevation 1106 feet are shown in the accompanying
sheet (Drawing No. 812-906-14).
Sedimentation
Quantitative data on sediment deposition in Cooper Lake are
lacking. There are several small glaciers high up in the mountains
of the area. Suspended sediment is carried into the lake, a portion
deposited on the bottom, and the rest is carried out of the lake.
The rate of deposition should not exceed 1.5 acre-feet per square
mile of drainage area per year. On this basis an allowance of
2,200 acre-feet was made for sediment deposition above the minimum
operating level. This allows for a 50-year period of encroachment
on the active storage capacity of the reservoiro
Evaporation
Evaporation studies for Cooper Lake are incomplete. However,
at an elevation of 1,100 feet and with the moist cool atmosphere
which prevails in the area, evaporation would probably be quite small
and no correction was made for this factor. .
Power Head
Headwater elevation on the powerplant would vary from
1,122 feet at minimum to 1,168 feet at maximum operating level.
Tailwater would enter Kenai Lake at an elevation of
436 feet.
Head loss between reservoir and power plant was est:iJnated
for various flm\l"s. Loss would vary from 15 feet at a minimum
discharge of 80 second-feet to about 75 feet at a maximum discharge
of 190 second-feet. With average discharge, loss would be about
38 feet.
29
T
I
I
I
-.£.-----------1 --
1160~1 ~~v~
I Active storage (including 2,200 a f
(-for sediment deposition)-85,600 a. 1.
I
1150r---~I----~--------+---------r-------A/Y---------+-------~
I
I
I
I
I
1140r---~1-----r----------+---------~/+-~------~----------4---------~
I CAPACITY-/
~ i )--AREA
~ 1130r----,----~----------~--~~--_+----------+_--------~--------~
>
W
-.J
W
i /V/M;o;m"m opeco,;og , ... ,-EI. 1122.0
i-r-r--/~I--I "I I "20r----~Vr+----~~~:------+--------+--------T---~---'
/
I _Inactive storage to provide depth for r head and ice cover -26,400 a. f.
" 10 ~ I k(L ----c L AREA an~ CAPACITY CURVES
--Tunnel invert - E I. 1106.0 COOPER LAKE
I 100r---------~----~----+---------_+----------+_--------_+--------~
AREA IN ACRES
I
1090~--------16~0-0--------1-7~0-0--------1-8~0-0--------19-0~0--------2-0~O_O ________ ~
o 20 40 60 80 100 120
CAPACITY IN THOUSANDS OF ACRE-FEET
SEPT. 20,1955 812-906-14
c
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Water Power
Based on these figures, the net power head would vary from
612 to 717 feet.
Overall Efficiency
Estimate of overall powerplant efficien~ includes
allowances for leaka.ge at control gates, power use for station
servicp-s, and efficiencies of turbines, generators, and step-up
transformers. It does not include losses in transmission lines or
step-down transformars. Because of relatively small percentage change
in net power head, no variation was made in overall efficiency at
80 percent for all heads.
Reservoir Releases
Controlled releases from Cooper Lake would be made for
power generation only. Adequate historical data regarding monthly
load distribution in the local power market area are lacking.
Future average load distribution was estimated and adjusted to future
conditions of residential, commercial, and industrial loads. The
following table shows this monthly distribution:
Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Reservoir Operation Study
Total
Estimated Future Average
Load Distribution
(Percent)
9.0
8.5
8.0
8.0
7.5
7.5
7.5
8.0
8.0
9.0
9.0
10.0
100.0
A theoretical operation study of the reservoir and powerplant
on a fill-and-spill basis was made for the period of study from
October 1939 to September 1954. The oper~tion study was based on an
active reservoir capacity of 85,600 acre-feet and a firm energy
output of 39,000,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Precipitation and runoff
30
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Water Power
data indicate the reservoir would be full at the beginning of the
operation study. Both tabular and graphical sUllIllB.ries of the entire
study are shown herein (Drawing No. 812-906-18).
Energy Output and Installed Powerplant Capacity
Annual firm energy out put of Cooper Lake Powerplant would
be 39,000,000 kilOl'latt-hours. At a plant factor of 50 percent, a
9,000 kilowatt plant would be required to supp~ the firm load.
In some years water would be available for generation of
non-firm energy. The bulk of this out put would be concentrated in
August, September, and October, if the reservoir is operated on a
fill-ffild-spill basis. Because of the small amount of energy involved
and its limited value as dump energy, no generating capacity was
included for its exclusive production. With a plant capacity of
9,000 kilowatts and a fill-and-spill operation, an annual average of
2,400,000 kilowatt-hours of non-firm energy could be produced during
the period of study.
CEESCENT LAKE DEVELOPMENT
Crescent Lake is another lake feasible as a storage site
for development of ~roelectric power on the Kenai Peninsula. A
dam across the lower end of Crescent Lake and a channel connecting
Crescent and Carter Lakes would provide a storage capacity of
61,000 acre-feet. This capacity would permit an annual generation of
30,500#000 kilowatt-hours of firm energy. An annual average non-firm
output of about 1,700,000 kwh could also be generated.
Drainage Basin
Crescent Lake is bordered on two sides by high peaks and
steep slopes. At its head a low saddle separates Crescent Lake from
Carter Lake which drains in the opposite direction. The lower slopes
of these two basins support very little timber, but are covered with
a dense growth of small alder and willow. Several short creeks, one
stemming fram a small glacier, drain into Crescent and Carter Lakes from
the surrounding mountains. The total drainage area which would
contribute to the reservoir would be 24.6 square miles. Of this total
area, 23.0 square miles is present Crescent Lake Basin and 1.6 square
miles is present Carter Lake Basin.
Period of Study and Runoff Estimates
The U. S. Geological Survey gaging station on Crescent Creek
was installed in August 1949. The gage is located about 4 miles down-C stream. from Crescent Lake outlet and about the same distance upstream.
31
.....
w
W
La..
I
W a:
u «
La.. o
(/)
o
z «
(/)
8~-----.-------.------.-------'------,-------r------'-------'------'-------'------'-------'------'-------'------.8
WATER YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30
ENERGY OUTPUT
120r------.-------.------.-------,------,-------r------,-------,------,-------,------.-------,------.-------r------,IZO
oolL-~~-+~~~~~--~+-+_----~~_+-+--~~~~--~+-4_--~~-----I4_-----r--~--+-----~r_-----t------~------1100
(/)
!.LO::
o=> o
I
(/)1 z .....
0 ..... -« j~
-0
::::E....J
~
..... w
W
LL
I
W
0:: o «
!.L o
(/)
o z «
(/)
=> o
I .....
4O~-------+------~------+_----~L-----_+------~------+_----~------_+------1_------+_----~--~--~~~T_~------140 g
20~--~~----~H-----~~----~----~~----_4------~------t_----_t------~----~r_----~------t_---rTi------~
WATER YE AR ENOl NG SEPTEM BER 30
RESERVOIR OPERATION
June 21,1955
I .....
EXPLANATION
~ Firm Energy Output
Non-Firm Energy Output
EXPLA NATION
Release for Firm Power
Release for Non-Firm Power
Spill
Reservoir Content above EI. 1,106
Inflow to Reservoir
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA DISTRICT
RESERVOIR OPERATION
and
ENERGY OUTPUT
LAWING PROJECT
COOPER LAKE UNIT
812-906-18
c SUMMARY
Operation of Cooper Lake
Reservoir and Powerp1ant
· · · ........ · · J... · ........ · · • • • m : e Release · ~ :Tota1 reservoir content: Theoretical Q) 0 ~~ · • ~~C"'\ • 0 • for power .r-Im : (1000 a.f.) · energy r:: ·r-Im .r-I •
J...:a • :'Eo · production • OM 8 : End · : output Q) ~ · • A. · ~S:A. • HO (1.000 a.f.) .Cf)O : of · Max. Min • : (Million kw-hr) m Q) Q) • 0 • r-I · ~ Cf) r-I l. Firm: Nonfirm : ......, : zear : Firm : Nonfirm ....,
1939 : , 112.0 · · 1940 : 92.7 : 68.5 16.6 7.6 112.0 : 112.0 90.4 : 39.0 9.0
1941 : 94.6 : 68.6 15·,,9 10.8 111.3 : 112.0 • 90.4 : 39.0 8.6 •
1942 : 77.2 : 68.1 6.9 1.5 · 112.0 112.0 84.3 : 39.0 • 3.8 • •
1943 : 52.5 : 67.8 0 0 : 96.7 : 112.0 80.6 : 39.0 • 0 •
1944 :110.4 · 613.6 · 13.3 · 13.2 112.0 • 112.0 87.5 : 39.0 : 7.2 • · • •
1945 : 77.6 : ,;8.0 · 8.9 0.7 112.0 112.0 89.5 : 39.0 4.9 · 1946 58.7 : t8.0 4.1 0 98.6 : 112.0 · 83.6 : 39.0 · 2.2 • •
1947 66.6 : 68.1 : 0 0 97.1 : 101.1 · 74.8 : 39.0 0 •
1948 · 70.5 : 6a.0 • 0 · 0 · 99.6 : 99.6 · 77.8 : 39.0 · 0 • • · · • · 1949 58.7 : 68.1 : 0 : 0 90.2 : 103.0 • 74.3 : 39.0 • 0 · · 1950 63.6 : 68.3 0 0 · 85.5 · 91.8 • 6606 : 39.0 · 0 · • · · 1951 : 47.5 : 69.3 • 0 · 0 63.7 : 83.9 • 53.7 : 39.0 • 0 • · · •
1952 : 43.9 : 70.7 • 0 0 36.9 · 61 .. 5 28.6 : 39.0 • 0 · · •
C 1953 :109.5 : 70.2 0 : 0 76.2 · 76.2 · 30.5 : 39.0 • 0 · · " 1954 : 58.3 : 69.5 • 0 0 65.0 78.1 · 50.7 : 39.0 0 · · · · · : · · • Mean : 72.2 : 68.7 !±.4 : 2.3 · • : 39.0 · 2.4 · · •
c 32
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Water Power
trom Kenai Lake. The total Crescent Creek drainage area above the
gage is 32.4 square miles of which 9.4 square miles drains into the
creek belm" Crescent Lake. It is estimated that about 72 percent of
the runoff at the gage could be utilized by the project.
A correlation of water year runoff for the 5-year period
of record at the Crescent Creek gage and water year precipitation at
Seward is shown in the accompanying curve (Drawing No. 812-906-16).
Based on this correlation, estimates of runoff were made for a period
from October 1939 to August 1949, extending the period of stuqy from
October 1939 to September 1954.
Runoff per square mile of Crescent Lake drainage basin was
determined, enabling estimates of total project drainage basin runoff
to be made.
During winter and spring the outlet flow is a smaller
percentage of the gage flo\v than estimated for the annual average.
This is because precipitation at higher elevations stays on the ground
as accumulated sno~~all and does not appear as immediate runoff because
of dela.yed melting. From June through November outlet flow will be a
higher percentage of gage flow than assumed for the annual average
because of melting of a greater accumulated snowfall and more preCipita-
tion at higher elevations appearing as immediate runoff.
Estimated runoff at the outlet of Crescent Lake, as used in
the power operation studies, is shown in the accompanying table.
Water Rights
Appropriation of water in Alaska is not governed by Federal
or Territorial laws. Cammon law, expressed in court decisions,
recognizes principles of priority, beneficial use, highest use, and
negotiability.
In May 1955, the City of Seward, Alaska, was granted a
three-year preliminar.y permit by the Federal Power Commission for
studies of the area for a proposed bydroelectric project.
The Reservoir
Storage at Crescent Lake is necessar.y to equalize flows
within each year and to provide hold-over water storage for years
with belOW' normal runoff. About 70 percent of the annual runoff
occurs from June to October. During this period of high runoff, the
reservoir must store water to meet the greater-than-average demand
for firm energy during the winter when runoff is low. Reservoir
capacity is also required to store water in wet years to meet the
needs of an extended dr,v period.
3.3
,,,.'"
140
...:
C
0
0
0 -
I 120
(!)
z
0 z
<{
...J
a:: 100
~
/
a.
0
0 u
a::
<{
~
z
~
~
~ a:: u
..... z
~ u
(/)
~ a:: u
LL
0
LL
LL
0
Z
=> a::
...,:
a.
~
(/)
I
...,: u
0
80
60
40
20
ANNUAL RUNOFF OF CRESCENT CREEK
NEAR COOPER LANDING
ANNUAL
versus
PRECIPitATION AT SEWARD
",
/
/'
/'
~/ ///'
1950 /'
1954 .1././ Adjusted runoff of
1-------+------+-~-----::J~19-5-1--+----:::'JI1"--Crescent Creek at -------I
• ,/ ,/ Crescent La ke outlet
/ ::" (proportional to droinoge areas)
/' /'
CORRELATION CURVE
1
///-:/"
, , LAWING PROJECT
o~----~------~----~------~I------~----~ o 20 40 60 80 100 120
OCT.-SEPT. PRECIPITATION AT SEWARD -INCHES
JUNE 6, 1gee 812-906-16
() ()
Runoff of Crescent Creek at Crescent Dam Site
Drainage Area: 24.6 square miles Unit . 1,000 acre-feet .
Year . Oct. : Nov. : Dec. Jan. : Feb. : Mar. Apr • May June : July : Aug. : Sept. : Total .
1940 : 3.3 · 2.3 :: 1.9 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 4.1 · 9.5 10.8 : 11.1 : 6.1 53.2 · · 1941 5.8 : 2.6 1.3 1.3 1.0 : 0.9 0.9 4.3 : 10.0 11.2 : 12.3 · 2.8 54.4 · 1942 1.9 · 1.0 2.0 : 1.1 • 0.8 : 0.7 0.8 3.6 : 8.1 9.2 10.6 : 3.6 43.4 · .
1943 3.3 : 0.5 0.2 0.8 : 0.6 : 0.5 0.5 2.5 · 5.6 : 6.3 3.8 : 5.4 30.0 · 1944 4.8 : 6.3 3.2 1.6 : 1.2: 1.0 1.1: 5.0 : 11.6 : 13.2 12.2 : 3.8 65.0
1945 4.9 · 3.0 1.2 1.0 : 0.8 0.7 0.7 3.3 : 7.8 : 8.8 8.3 · 3.2 43.7 · ·
~ 1946 5.9 : 1.1 1.0 0.8 : 0.6 0.6 0.6 2.5 : 5.8 6.6 4.7 : 2.8 33.0
.s:-1947 4.8 : 1.9 0.6 1.0: 0.7 0.6 0.7 3.0 : 6.8 7.7 5.1 : 4.3 37.2 Average
1948 3.5 · 4.5 1.6 1.0 : 0.8 0.7 0.7 3.2 : 7.4 8.3 3.9 : 4.0 39.6 41.23 · 1949 5.4 : 1.9 0.4 0.8 : 0.6 0.5 0.5 2.4 : 5.6 6.3 · 4.4 : 4.4 33.2 · 1950 4.1 : 4.7 2.4 : 1.3 0.7 : 0.6 0.7 2.1 : 6.4 5.0 : 2.8 : 5.1 35.9
1951 2.2 : 1.2 0.8 : 0.7 0.6 : 0.5 0.9 3.0 : 5.2 4.6 · 2.7 5.1 27.5 · 1952 2.6 : 1.9 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.5 5.7 5.6 : 3.7 2.8 26.7
1953 6.9 : 7.2 3.2 1.5 1.7 1.3 1.2 5.4 : 15.5 : 12.0 : 5.4 4.0 65.3
1254 4.4 : 1.9 leI : 0.7 O.~ 0.1 0·1 2·7 : 6.0 : ~.7 : ~.5 2·2 JO·l
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Water Power
Reservoir and power operation studies show that 39,800 acre-
feet of active storage capacity would be adequate to generate
30,500,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Capacity of 2,000 acre-feet should
be provided for sediment deposition. The total active storage
capacity of 41,800 acre-feet could be obtained between the minimum
operating level of 1,460 feet above sea level and the maximum operating
level of 1,4B6 feet. Channel invert would be at 1,446 feet to provide
8 feet for ice cover and head on the intake. Curves showing
reservoir water surface area and total storage capacity above an
elevation of 1,446 feet are shown on Drawing No. B12-906-l0.
Sedimentation
Quantitative data on sediment deposition in Crescent Lake
are lacking. There is one small glacier in the mountains south of
the lake. Suspended sed:im.ent is carried into the lake, a portion
deposited on the bottom, and the rest carried out. The rate of
deposition should not exceed 1.5 acre-feet per square mile of drainage
area per year. On this basis an allowance of 2,000 acre-feet was made
for sediment deposition above the minimum operating level. This
allows for a 50-year period of encroachment on the active storage
capacity of the reservoir.
Evaporation
Evaporation is not expected to be a significant factor and
therefore was not taken into accol.ll1t in the water supply studies.
Power Head
Headwater elevation on the powerplant 't'lould vary from
1,460 feet minimum to l,4B6 feet at maximum operating level. Tail-
water surface would be at elevation 486 feet.
Head loss between reservoir and power plant was estimated
for various flows. Loss would vary from 2 feet at a minimum discharge
of 60 second-feet to about 6 feet at a maximum discharge of 104 second-
feet. With average discharge, loss would be about 3 feet.
Based on these figures, net power head would vary fram
96B feet to 99B feeto
Overall Efficiency
Estimate of overall powerplant efficiency includes
allowances for leakage at the control gates, power use for station
services, and efficiencies of turbines, generators, and step-up
35
(\ () ("
1500
1490r-------+-----~-----_+-----4-----_4-----4_------~~~----~----~
.... -Maximum operating level -EI. 1486
T
L ____ _
I
1480r------+--+----------+--------+----------+---------~~---~+_-------~--------~------_;
I
I
I
AREA
z I Active storage (including 2,000
o > for sediment deposltion)-~ 1470 t-----t--+ 41,800 a. f. +------+---~"c.......---+_-----r-__i_--------+_------__t--------_+_----__t
> Note: ~ I Dead storage below EI. 1446
UJ I is approxi mately 168,700 a. f.
I
I
1460 1-------1
1450 I---_~~
-Minimum operating
level -EI. J 460 ---+------~r------_+_--------___I
AREA and CAPACITY CURVES Inactive storage to
I provide depth for
---::10'----1-----+>-head and ice cover -____ --+-___ _ CRESCENT LAKE
I 19,200 a.f. ---1.-t--
AREA I NACRES
1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900
14400L---~----1~0--------~2~0~------~3~0~------~4~0~~~~~5~0~~~~==6~0~========~70~==~~~~8~0~------~90
CAPACITY IN THOUSANDS OF ACRE-FEET
MAY 17, 1955 812-906-10
c
c
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l~ater Power
transtormers. It does not include electrical losses in transmission
lines or step-down transfo~mers. Because of relative~ small
percentage change in net power head, no variation was made in overall
efficiency estimated at 80 percent for all heads.
Reservoir Releases
Controlled releases from Crescent Lake would be made tor
power generation on~. Adequate historical data r~garding monthly
load distribution in the local power area are lacking. Future
average load distribution was estimated and adjusted to future
conditions of residential, commercial, and industrial loads. The
following table shows this month~ distribution:
Month
January
February
March
April
Viay
June
JuJy
August
September
October
November
December
Reservoir Operation Studies
Total
Estimated Future Average
Load Distribution
(Percent)
9.0
B.5
8.0
B.O
7.5
7.5
7.5
B.O
B.O
9.0
9.0
10.0
100.0
A theoretical operation study of the reservoir and powerplant
on a fill-and-spill basis was made for the period of study from
October 1939 to September 1954. The operation study was based on an
active reservoir capacity of 41,800 acre-feet and a firm energy
output of 30,500,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Precipitation and
runoff indicate the reservoir would be full at the beginning ot the
operation study. Both tabular and graphical summaries of the entire
study are shown herein. (Drawing No. B12-906-19).
Energy Output and Installed Powerplant Capacity
Annual firm energy output of Crescent Lake Powerplant would
be 30,500,000 kilm1ffi.tt-hours. At a plant factor of 50 percent, a
7,000-kilowatt plant "10uld be required to supply the firm load.
36
c SUMMARY
Operation of Crescent Lake
Reservoir and Powerplant
tot · ,..-.., · ..--..
"" · . · .
~ 0 • to-1 Release · '+-4 :Tota1 reservoir content: Theoretical
tIl)C"\ · ~ . .~ .
00 cO for power • r-I cO 0 (1000 a.f.) energy MS:::. .~ o·M · II) ..... ~ o~ 0 production .p.o : End : output ~ "C1 P. o 0 o tI) 0
cO s::: Q) oHO 0 (1000 aof.) 0 : of Max. Min. : (Million kw-hr) !3:a>CI) o ~ 0 rl
'-' : Firm : Nonfirm : '-' : zear · : Firm : Nonfiru · 1939 : . · 0 : 61.0 · • • · · 1940 53.2 : 37.4 : 9.2 6.6 61.0 61.0 49.1 30.5: 7.4
1941 54.4 : 37.4 : 8.5 · 8.6 60.9 · 61.0 48 .. 8 : 30.5: 4.8 · · 1942 : 43 .. 4 : 37.4 : 3.0 : 2.9 · 61 .. 0 61.0 0 45.7 · 3005: 2.5 · · •
1943 : 30 00 : 37.4 : 0 : 0 · 53.6 • 61.0 · 43.7 • 30.5: 0 0 · · •
1944 : 65.0 : 37.4 : 7.5 : 12.7 61.0 · 61.0 · 49.3 • 30.5: 6.0 • · · 1945 : 43.7 : 3704 · 4.8 : 1.5 · 61.0 0 61.0 : 48.2 : 30.5: 4.0 · · 0
1946 : 33.0 : 37.4 · 2.6 · 0 : 54.0 : 61.0 · 45.3 : 30.5: 2.1 · · · 1947 : 37.2 : 37.4 · 0 · 0 · 53.8 · 55.5 40.8 • 30.5: 0 · · · · · 1948 : 39.6 : 37.4 · 0 · 0 : 56.0 : 56.0 : 43.1 : 30.5 : 0 · · 1949 : 33.2 : 37.6 · 0 · 0 : 51.6 58.1 .. 42.3 • 30.5: 0 · · · •
1950 : 35.9 : 37.6 0 : 0 · 49.9 · 53.7 · 42 .. 0 : 30.5: 0 0 · · 1951 : 27.5 : 38.1 : 0 0 : 39.3 4S.8 · 33.1 : 30.5: 0 · 1952 : 26.7 : 38.6 · 0 0 · 27.4 38.5 • 21.2 30.5: 0 · · · C 1953 : 65.3 : 38.1 : 0 : 0 : 54.6 54.6 : 26.4 30.5: 0
1959: : 30.7 : 37.6 · 0 0 47.7 : 55.7: 40.4 30.5: 0 · Mean : 41.2 : 37.5 2.4 · 2.1 : 0 · 20 •5: 1 .. 7 .. .. ·
c
37
WATER YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30
ENERGY OUTPUT
O.------~------.-------._------._------r_----_.------_.------_.------_r------._------._------._------._------,------,70
O~----.H~----~H-----~K_------+_--_+~~----_4------~------_+------~------~------4_------+_------+_--_+4_~-----110
1941 1943 1944 . 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
WATER YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30
RESERVOIR OPERATION
Sept. 23, 1955
---------_.". -" -"-_. --",--"-_ .... --.......
EXPLANATION
Firm Energy Output
Non-Firm Energy Output
UNITED STATES
D EPARTM ENT OF THE 1 NTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA DISTRICT
RESERVOI R OPERATION
and
ENERGY OUTPUT
LAWI NG PROJ ECT
CRESCENT LAKE UNIT
812-906-19
c
c
c
Water Power
In some years water would be available for generation of
non-firm energy. The bulk of this out put would be concentrated in
August and September, if the reservoir is operated on a fill-and-
spill basis. Here again, the small amount of energy involved and
its limited use and value precludes installation of extra capacity
for its exclusive production. With a plant capacity of 7,000 kilo-
watts and fill-and-spill operation, an annual average of 1,700,000
kilowatt-hours of non-firm energy could be produced during the period
of study.
38
c
CHAPTER V
PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT
Development of Cooper and Crescent Lakes would be for a
single purpose, generation of hydro-electric power. Need for this
project is based on the local high cost of diesel generation,
anticipated population growth, and to encourage industrial development
within the area.
The plan of development shown on Drawing No. 812-906-13
encompasses Cooper and Crescent Lakes, topographical~ unrelated, but
favorably placed geographically for an integrated power operation.
Cooper and Crescent Lakes lie above but on opposite shores of Kenai
Lake. The water of Crescent Lake drains into Kenai Lake, whereas Cooper
Lake drains into Kenai River, a short distance below the mouth of Kenai
Lake.
Cooper Lake
Water from Cooper Lake would be conveyed through a tunnel and
steel penstock to a powerplant located on the west shore of Kenai Lake.
A low weir is proposed at the lake's outlet. An active storage of
83,400 acre-feet and 2,200 acre-feet of sediment storage would be obtained
between elevations 1168 and ll22 feet. The powerplant would have an
installed capacity of 9,000 kilowatts.
A profile and sections of the Cooper Lake Unit are shown on
Drawing No. 8l2-906-2.
Crescent Lake
An earth dam constructed to elevation 1492 feet would create
an active storage in Crescent Lake of 39,800 acre-feet and provide
2,000 acre-feet of sediment storage between elevations 1486 and 1460 feet.
Flow from Crescent Lake would be reversed through Carter Lake and then
to Upper Trail Lake. A 4,830-foot section of 6-foot-diameter precast
concrete pipe would be placed in a channel cut between Crescent and
Carter Lakes. At the outlet of Carter Lake another section of pipe,
1,540 feet in length and placed in an excavated channel, would connect
with a 60-inch-diameter steel penstock at Station 87/40. A surge tank,
20 feet in diameter, would be placed at Station 116100. The penstock
would have a total length of about 5,670 feet and would terminate in the
powerhouse a short distance from Upper Trail Lake. Installed capacity
of the powerplant would be 7,000 kilowatts.
A profile and sections of the Crescent Lake Unit are shown on
Drawings No. 812-906-11 and No. 812-906-12.
39
Cooper
Landing
Cooper
Lake
~L
ll'
\~ ~
\ \PENSTOCK
\ \TUNNEL
CAN A D A
,
\
ANCHORAGE
KEV MAP
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA DISTRICT
LAWING PROJECT
COOPER LAKE UNIT
AND
CRESCENT LAKE UNIT
PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT
MAY 24,1955 812-906-15
1600
1400 y~'
COOPER LAKE
Norm. W. S. El 1168~
\
\ 1:-7~0" Dio. Gofe Shoff ---1200
en
z ~r I
I I Troshrock/ ~rco ;!;,g
0
-1000
I-
et ~It;:i
> 800 "'I
'"
..J
'" 600
400
200 0+00 STATIONS 12+00
8
B
UNSUPPORTED
TUNNEL SECTIONS
Oct. 21,1954, Rev. June 1,1955
~~~~ . -.1,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ""'"
,. ----Original ground surface -----~~ .. ~,
/Top of toni EL 1180'
.;,'7'-0" Dio. Tunnel S = .002 ~~ ~-20~0. ra Slfr,e, Tllnt
01-""
24+00 36+00
SUPPORTED
<S
Ci
'b
-I ....
1
48+00
~ 20'-0"Dio.';o<
.1-t"''''''''''''d=o=''',;'''''., """"'''''rt---T
1 r T~·~.';,<·'::/}."<;f
EI. /096./' -_/
SURGE TANK
colcO ~I~ .... 1-
~1i:U
"'1
.
PROFILE
~
COOPER LAKE
MilS. EL 116B'_ ......
Or;,;no/ Grolfllll Slfrfll~e,
I >'I
Ezanllted -" ,/ I I I ., I ....
Trlls"rlld - / SM:: wsl
5' X" SIf/tlletHI Gllte --' ~I~ ~I
~::::~I
~It;:i~
INTAKE PROFILE
....
-4~0· Dia pensfoc~
/ 1
~.
""", /'·~'I p"" I KENAI LAKE
NOTE, W. S. EI. 435.7'-, .0, h"'U ".,,;., ., ... " Co.. ~ .,
Mali ••• elewotion observed Sept. 1938 ____ -442.12
lIini ••• elewotion observed Apr 23,1934 ____ 430.37 -----
96+00 108+00
UNITED STATES
DEPARTM ENT OF' THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA DISTRICT
LAWI NG PROJECT
COOPER LAKE DEVELOPMENT
---
PROFILE-TUNNEL 8 PENSTOCK
I
I
I
600
400
200
en
z
I
o
000 -
I-
BOO >
'"
..J
'" 600
400
200
812-906-2
z
0
~
c(
>
III
..J
III
MAY 20,1955
A f+
1550
1525
/Cr~sf £1. 1492
.......... ,
1500
1415
1450
' ... ...., I ........ -,<~-~ -~~ "' .... ·~'l'rq."wl¥. .. ~ ---"" '" ... ~ '-, -,... --... -Original ground surfac~ --->< ---...........
14Z5
--,----' ... 1------ - - - - -...... --Assum~d ~lcavafion lin~ ---
1400
0+00
A-
I I
1+00 2+00 3+00
Nof~:
Topogrophy fat~n from U S. G. S. ShHf --Cruanf Ltlt~, Altlsttl-1953;
wifh minor chtlng~s on dtlm tlxis b, U5.B.R.
400 o
PLAN
SCALE IN FEET
400 100 IZOO
-.l I
4+00
PROFILE
Moximum
N
~L lr-
5+00
op~rafing If. S. £1. 1486-,
. "
I
6+00 7+00
1 1
--1/0' t-
SECTION A-A
UNITIEO STATIES
OEPAItT.IENT OF THIE INTIEItIOIt
IIUItIEAU OF ItIECLA.ATIOtI
ALASKA DISTRICT
LAWING PROJECT
CRESCENT LAKE DEVELOPMENT
DAM AREA
1
GENERAL PLAN AND SECTIONS
1550
1525
Z
1500 0 ---...
1415 c(
>
1&1
1450 ..J
1&1.
1425
1400
8+00
Maf~rial
812-906-11
1500 ~--Maximum operating It: 5 EI. 1486.0
14eO
Z
0
I-14eo "
e
> ..,
...J of 'Channel-EI. 1446.0 ..,
0+00 5+00 10+00 15+00 20+00 25+00 30+00 35+00
CONCRETE PIPE .... /
40+00
PROFILE ALONG CHANNEL
VERTICAL SCALE
20 0
I, ! I
HORIZONTAL SCALE
500 o
I • , I ,
100
I
1000
I
eo+oo
--~---,---------,---------,---------,---------,---------,---------,---------,---------,--------~--------~--------~---------,Ieoo
/' PENSTOCK
----~9=0~+00~----~9~5~+0~0~----~10~0+~0~0~----~10~~~0~0~----~11~0~+0~0~----~11~5l+0~0~----1~2~ol+0~0~----~12~~lO-0-------13-0l+0-0------1-3-5+LO-0------1-4-0+oL-0-------14-~LO-0------~400
~, REV. JULY 27, 1955
PROFILE ALONG PENSTOCK
VERTICAL SCALE
100 0 500
I , , , .! I
500
! ,
HORIZONTAL SCALE
o
, , I
1000
I
u+OO
."ater surface}
~I
~Io 1500 ctl"'"
~I~ 1480 ~IQ)
!I~
~IU) 1460
'-EI. 1446.0
1440
:r:: ::~
~::;
1420
70+00 75+00 90+00
~ ~ .. ~. . .
• '. 11/ •
Q/ ,.' . I . . G • .:s: '. 0
. 1--J' Min. . •
_1 .
--72" Diameter Precast
Concrete Pipe
I I
I , I
104--6---.4
CHANNEL SECT/ON
SHOWING PRECAST CONCRETE PIPE
Diameter
STEEL PENSTOCK SECT/ON
Z
0
l-
e
> ..,
...J ..,
2000 o
PLAN
SCALE OF FEET
2000 4000
UNITEO STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA DISTRICT
LAWING PROJECT
CRESCENT LAKE DEVELOPMENT
DIVERSION SYSTEM
GENERAL PLAN AND SECTIONS
6000
812-906-12
Interior -Reclamation -Denver. Colo.
c Plan of Developnent
COOPER LAKE DEVEIDPMENr
Accessibility
There is no road to Cooper Lake. The canyon through which
Cooper Creek flows is steep, rugged, and covered by timber. The site of
the weir has lush vegetation but is easi~ passable. The tunnel intake
near the upper end of the Lake is covered with an extreme~ dense growth
of dwarf alders and willows. These are interspersed with spruce, birch,
and aspen trees, with some hemlock and cottonwood. MOst of the shrub-
covered areas over the tunnel line are difficult to traverse. Travel to
Cooper Lake is easi~ accomplished by seaplane.
In the powerhouse area on the shore of Kenai Lake the evergreens
predominate, with sparse underbrush. This area can be reached b,y seaplane
and by boat from Cooper Landing. B.1 extending the Forest Service Road
along the southwest shore of the Lake, men, equipnent, and materials could
be transported b,y road to the powerhouse and tunnel sites.
Right s of Way
All project works would be located in the Chugach National
Forest. Permits for timber removal in clearing construction sites and c:; power lines must be obtained from the Forest Service.
c
Housing
A Government C~p would be located on the shore of Kenai
Lake, near the powerplant site. The facilities would include five
residences for permanent operating personnel. In addition, an office,
a warehouse, and a garage would be built.
A c~p would be established at Cooper Lake. It would include
facilities required for a permanent c~p and construction work.
Construction Period
Construction would be completed three years after awarding
the initial contract. This is based on normal operation, assuming funds,
labor, and materials are readi~ available. vlork on the penstock and
the powerplant might be stopped at times by severe weather.
Reservoir
The water surface of Cooper Lake remains constant except for
flood conditions during s~er and early fall. Elevation of the water
surface is 1,167.7 feet above mean sea level; regulation at this level
would be controlled b,y a weir, over which water would spill into Cooper
40
-
3
Plan of Deve10enent
Creek. The reservoir would have an active storage of 83,400 acre-feet
between elevations 1168 and 1122 feet, the latter being the minimum
operating water surface.
Waterways
All water entering Cooper Lake except that which would spill
over the weir would be diverted through a 7-foot circular reinforced
concrete pressure tunnel tor power development. Its invert at Cooper
Lake would be placed at elevation 1106 feet. This would be 16 feet
below minimum operating level. The turme1 would have a slope of
0.002 and would be 4,900 feet long. Maximum discharge would be 190
second.feet at which the velocity would be 4.93 feet per second.
A 7-foot-diameter gate shaft at Station 4fb9.S would house a
5-foot b.Y 7-foot bulkhead gate. A trashrack at Station 3f60 would
prevent debris frOlll entering the tunnel.
At station 52/-00 a surge tank with an inside diameter of
20 feet would extend 84 feet above the mountain to elevation 1180 feet.
A 48-inch steel penstock laid on the surface would extend a distance of
5,200 feet from the tunnel to the powerplant, branching into two pipes
before reaching the turbines. Maximum velocity of flow in the penstock
would be 15.13 feet per second. A butterfly valve would be installed in
each pipe just ahead of the turbine.
<=:. Powerplant
.c .
Cooper Lake Powerplant would be located about 9 miles southeast
of Cooper Landing on the western shore of Kenai Lake. Each of the two
generating units would have an installed capacity of 4,500 kUowatts.
Centerline of the turbine would be at elevation 436 feet. Water from
the powerplantwould discharge into Kenai Lake.
GeOlogic Conditions
The description given in Appendix I, Part A, of geologic
conditions is based primarilY on field investigations conducted by the
Bureau of Reclamation in 1954. Information was also obtained from
report s by the Geological Survey.
Cost Estimates
The total construction cost of Cooper Lake Unit is estimated
at $6,626,000 based on April 1955 price level. The entire cost is
reimbursable. Summarized on Fo~ PF-l, Official Estimate, the total
cost includes field investigations, designs, construction exPense, opera-
tion and maintenance during construction, overhead, and contingencies.
41
UNI TED STAT"£S
DEPlUn'MENT 0 .. ntE IN'TERIOft OFFICIAL Project: __ }"'&(J~Jl. _____________________________
BUREAU 0 .. MelLAMAnoN
P'OItM PI"·I (REV. SEPT.I.5IU ESTIMATE
____ CQQ2t.:t.J&J~!' _____________________
Prepared by: _____ ~!_.!3.!_:!'~l!~: _______ Approved by: ______________________ Dote of Estimote:--J:1J.Ilft.J,95.~---------r-T--SheeL __ of _____
Uniform Unit Total Construction Materials Construction Other Previous
Cost DESCRIPTION Quantity and Labor Official
Classification Cost Estimate Contracts Supplies Facilities Cos1s Estimate
" (8) (10) (I) {2 ) .. (3) (4) (5) -.i~ __ I-m (~ {II->-_
-------t-----,--'-----_.------01.01 COOPER LAKE DAM (Weir l and RESERVOIR $ 8.1 000 _ 7,000 $ 100 $ 900
-._-----
11.01 POWERPLANT {732-foot head} 9 1 000 kw 6,261,000 69.900 685.000 -----
11.01.32 Clearing Lands 23,000 -
11.01.33 Structures and Improvements 546,000 --11.01.36 Waterways 3,923,100 ---.. -------1l.01.41 Turbines and Generators 780.000
11.01.48 Accessory Electrical Equipment 156,000 --11.01.49 Miscellaneous Equipment -78,000
---.
15 GENERAL PROPERTY 357,000 --15.01 Government Camp 313.000 6.000 38.000
_. .
TOTALS 6.626.000 5.826.100 76.000 723.900
GL 130 CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES --------f--(76.000) (9.000)
.33 Structures and Improvements (24.000)
.72 Office Furniture and EQuilXllent ( 24.000)
.73 Transportation Equipment (19.000)
._--1----Gross Cost GL 130 --_. (76,000)
Less Sa1va2e 0
Net Cost (cleared to oermanent nroperty) (76 000)
GL 142 PROJECT INVE::rrIG4.TIONS (17,0501
~h~,..a_ to '_nt_ ~v (36.050)
In to GL 110 (1.000)
Gl ll1 GENERAL EXPDl SE (695.850) --Charge to GL 130 --------_ ... .... _------------.. (8.000)
Char2e to permanent property -------....... _ ..... -----_ .. "_ .. ----.. ~-----1---I--(687 .850)
---_. __ ._-----------_. -----._-----
Desi2n & Specifications S267 ,350 -------_._-~ ------------------_.-
Supervision of Construction) 321.450 -_ .. _---._----._--------_.
General Exoensee 107 01)0
(Total 1695 850
-----_. _ .. _-----------------------f-----
_. ---_._------_ .. _-------. --- - - -_._-------
-----1-----------------
---------
LEGEND: Types of ActIviIr
PnIconIIrUCtion ConItructlon
Mm;;;!'
. \
PROGRAM ITEM QUANTITY UNIT
2 3 4
I POWER DEVELOPMl!XT 9000 lor
f
3 108 Construction Pro2rUl
4 01.01 Cooner Lake Dam (Weir)
5 li.Ol Cooper Lake Powerplant
6 15 General Property
7
8 TOTAL COST
9
10 Transfers Credits and other Exnendituree
\I
12 TOTAL EIPDlDI'l'IJRES
U
14
15 Allotment Reauired
"
17
18
19
20
fl
f2
23
f4
25
2'
f7
28
ft
30
J\
J2
33
Notes:
ESTIMATED
TOTAL
TO
FISCAL YEARS
ls~ Year 2nd Year 3rd Year
tOTAl.
I • 7 8 ' II 10 II 12 13
BALANCE
TO
COMPLETE
14
ESTIMATED
COMPlETION
DATE
15
8000 400 7.600
6.261.000 <tAli _nM 3 876 000 2.000.000
357.000 '0;7.000
6.626.000 385.400 4.233.000 2.rxn.600
6.588.950 -37.050 385.400 4.233.000 2.rxn.600
6.588.950 385.400 4.210.000 .
Approved:
Revised:
tbilel
(bilel
(Diiil
SHElT ____ 0' _____ SN[[TS
F ..... PF-2 UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
CONTROL SCHEDULE
FOR THE
Laving-Cooper Lake
PROJECT OR UNIT
Alaska District June 1955
Of"CI o &E.EIlAL I.VESflGAfla.S
IitI COIISTIIUCT_
eAn .....
o OPE.AT_ •• AI.TE.AIICE o OT"E.
4
5
6
•
9
10
II
12
Il
14
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
fJ
f4
.f5
26
27
28
ft
..".. ...
c
c.
c
Plan of Development
Estimated annual cost of operation and maintenance is
$100,000 for all project features, including waterways, powerplant,
and all incidental works necessary to project operations, but
excluding a transmission s.ystem. Estimated annual provision for
necessar,y replacements of project works is $30,000.
The above est1mates, both of construction cost and annual
cost, are only reconnaissance grade. Current feasibility estimates
would have to be made prior to any request for project authorization.
CRESCENT LAKE DEVELOPMENt'
Accessibility
Crescent Lake cannot at present be reached directly by road.
The nearest road west of the Lake is Sterling Highway which crosses
Crescent Creek 4 miles below the lake outlet. The Anchorage-Seward
Highway skirts Upper Trail Lake and is a little over 2 miles from the
northern or upper end of Crescent Lake. Access to Crescent and Carter
Lakes is easilY accomplished b,y seaplane.
The area immediately adjacent to Crescent Lake is generally
covered with Cottonwood and Alder, with only a moderate undergrowth.
The terrain between Carter and Crescent Lakes has a ra~her uniform
slope and is covered with grass and low shrubs. The material is mostly
till. The penstock slope and powerplant area are heavily forested with
evergreen trees and considerable underbrush. ~ building access roads
from either or both highways, men, equipment, and materials for
construction could be transported by road to the various construction
areas.
Rights of Way
All project works would be located in Chugach National Forest.
Permits for timber removal in clearing construction sites and power
lines must be obtained from the Forest Service.
Housing
If it were assumed that the Crescent Lake Unit of the Lawing
Development would be operated remotely from the Cooper Lake Unit, a
permanent Government Camp at the powerplant would not be required.
Construction Period
Construction would be completed within three years after
awarding of the initial contract. This is based on normal operation,
c
c
c
Plan of Development
assuming funds, labor, and materials are readi~ available. Work on the
penstock and powerplant might be interrupted at times by severe
weather.
Reservoir
The water surface of Crescent Lake remains constant except for
flood conditions during summer and ear~ fall. Elevation of the water
surface is 1,454.3 feet above mean sea level. The water surface would
be raised to elevation 1486 feet by an earth dam, which would control
and regulate the water surface at the new elevation. The reservoir would
have an active storage of 39,800 acre-feet between elevations of 1,486
and 1,460 feet, the latter being the minimum operating water surface.
Waterways
All water entering Crescent Lake except that which would spill
over the dam into Crescent Creek would be diverted through a 72-inch
precast concrete pipe placed in a channel cut extending from Crescent
to Carter Lake. The intake structure would be at Station 4/-40 and
invert elevation would be 1,446 teet. This would be 14 feet below
minimum operating level. The 4,8,30-foot channel between Crescent and
Carter Lakes would be without gradient.
The water surface elevation of Carter Lake is 1,485.5 feet.
From Carter Lake, a second section of 72-inch concrete pipe 1,540 feet
in length would be placed in an excavated channel and convey the water
from Carter Lake to the penstock. The total length of the two sections
of pipe would be 6,370 feet. Maximum discharge would be 104 second-feet,
at which the velocity would be 5.3 feet per second.
A 60-inch-diameter steel penstock would extend on the surface
fram Station 87/-40 to a 20-foot-diameter surge tank at Station 116/-00.
From the surge tank the penstock would continue to the powerplant. Total
penstock length would be 5,670 feet.
Powerplant
Crescent Lake Po~rplant would be located at Station 142/-20,
the junction of Carter Creek and Moose Creek, a little above Upper Trail
Lake. Each of the two generating units would have an installed capacity
of 3,500 kilowatts. Centerline of the turbines would be at elevation 486
feet. Water from the powerplant would discharge into Upper Trail Lake.
43
c
c
c
Plan of DeveloPment
Geologic Conditions
Crescent Lake Unit field studies were premature~ terminated
due to a decision made by the City of Seward to develop the Project
independent~. The field work which was completed is reported in
Appendix I, Part B.
Cost Estimates
The total construction cost of Crescent Lake Unit is estimated
at $6,259,000, based on April 1955 price level. The entire cost is
reimbursable. Summarized on Form PF-l, Official Estimate, the total
cost includes field investigations, designs, construction expense,
operation and maintenance during construction, overhead and contingencies.
Estimated annual cost of operation and maintenance for all
project features (including waterways, powerplant, and incidental
works necessar,y to project operation, but excluding the transmission
plant) is estimated at $25,000 if remote~ operated or $95,000 as an
independent development. Estimated annual provision for necessar,y
replacement of project works is $25,000.
The above estimates, both of construction and annual costs,
are o~ reconnaissance grade. Current feasibility estimates would have
to be made prior to any request for project authorization.
TRANSMISSION PLANTS
Costs of the transmission plants, including switcbyards,
transmission lines, and substations, were not included in the project
costs shown on the PF-l and PF-2. The purpose of this omission was to
derive "at siteU costs which would be relatively firm. The transmission
facilities which may be required are quite variable, depending on the
actions of existing utilities, as well as the power market conditions.
If it were assumed that construction of Lawing Project would include
construction of all presently nonexistent transmission facilities for
serving the power market area, the follovdng tabulation presents the
minimum requirements:
Crescent Lake
Cooper Lake
Switchyards
69 kv 7,800 kva
69 kv 10,000 kva
Subtotal
$260,000
280,000
540,000
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT 01" THE INTERIOR OFFICIAL Project: ____ ....LA~ItiQ ___________________________
BUREAU 01" Ma..AMATION __________ Qr!~~~n~_~~~~ _____________
PlClftM PF-I (REV. SEPT. 19SIt) ESTIMATE Prepared by: _____ Q.~_~!.._'tY..~oJ:. _______ Approved by: ______________________
Date of Estimate: ____ ~;rJ.9.55. ______________
SheeLl_of_J.. __
Uniform Unit Total Construction Materials Construction Other Previous
Cost DESCRIPTION Quantity and Labor Official
Glassification Cost Estimate Contracts Supplies Facilities Cosis Estimate
" (I) (2 ) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) ( 8) (9) (10) Cll)
---
01.01 CRESCENT LAKE DAM AND RESERVOIR (earth dam) Sl 181 000 $ 27 000 $136.000
01.01.'32 C1earinR: Lands II 149.000
01.01.35 Dam 525.000
01.01.50 Roads 344.000
11.01 POWERPLANT (l.OOO-foot head) 7.000 kw 4.718.000 84.000 443.000
11.01.32 C1earin.v: Lands 28.000
11.01.'3'3 Structures and Improvements 420.000
11.01.36 Waterways 2.234.000 172~.000
11.01.41 Turbines and Generators 600 000
11.01.48 Accessorv Electrical EauiDment 120 000
11.01.L.9 Mi Be e11aneouB EQui pment 60 000
Pi GENERAL PROPERTY (tf-j. J il' but,!f Inti6'£Jt!ndenf/{.() 360,000 6.000 41.000
lS.01 Government Camp I 313.000
TOTALS 6.259.000 4.793.000 729.000 117.000 620.000
GL 130 CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES (117.000) (11.000)
.33 Structures and Improvements (24.000)
.72 Ottice Furniture and Equi~ment (26.500)
.73 Transportation Equipment (55,500)
Gross Cost GL 130 (117.000)
Les8 Salva.v:e 0
Net Cost (Cleared to permanent property) (117.000)
GL 142 PROJECT INVESTIGATIONS (26.000)
Char.v:e to Permanent Property (25.000)
Charge to GL 130 (1.000)
GL 143 GENERAL EXPENSE (605.000)
Charge to GL 130 ----_._---r---------(10.000)
Char.v:e to Permanent Pro~ertl': -_._ .. _--_ .. _._---_. (595.000)
---_.-----_. __ . -_._-----
(Designs and Specifications $231.000) --~-----------
(Superivision and Construction 28?~ ._-------~ -------~--
(General ExRenses 22 OOO~ -----~----~--------~-----
(Total 605 :000: -.------.-~-
-
LEGEND: T~ ~~
Preconstruction Construction ,
POWER DEVELOP~T 7.000
3 108 Construction ProRram
01.01 Crescent Lake Dam ' 1I1'I.non 136 000
4
ll.Ol Crescent Lake Powerplant 4718.000 443 000
6 15 General Property 360,000
TOTAL COST 6,259,000 ')79,000
8
9
10 Transfers, Credits and other l!:lmendi tl!l'H -26,000 -26000
11
TOTAL EXPErrnlTURES 6,233,000 -26 000 579 000
12
13
15 Allot.ment Required
17
18
19
lO
21
22
23
25
26
27
28
29
JO
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33
Notes:
590,000 455,000
360 000
3,440,000
3,440,000 2,240,000
3,424,000 2,230,000
RKom~: ____ -.~~~~ ____ _
( Prajoct-)
RKom~: ____ ~~~==~ __ __
.......... 1JhctDr1
~:--~=-~~--~~~ \0.-.. "".-. • ~)
AppnMd:
....... :
cDlit)
cDiii)
(OIiij
Form PF·2 UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
CONTROL SCHEDULE
FOR THE
Lawin&-Creecent. LAke
PROJECT OR UNIT
15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
2J
24
25
26
27
28
29
JO
31
32
33
April I",
May 19J5 ~!ka '}aIM Dhtrict.
or'ICI o , .. IIIAL I .. UTMOATICMIS
iii COIISTIIUCTICMI
o OI'IIIATICMI •• AI.n.AIIa o ·OTIII.
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Plan of DeveloPffient
Seward
Kenai Junction
Substations
7,SOO kva
10,000 kva
Subtotal
Transmission Lines
$ 80,000
270,000
350,000
Crescent Lake Switchyard--Seward -69 kv $ 450,000
220,000
900pOOO
Crescent truce Unit--Cooper Lake Unit Tie -69 kv
Cooper Lake Switchyard--Kenai Junction -69 kv
Subtotal
TOTAL
1,570,000
2,460,000
Permission has been requested by both the City of Seward and
the Kenai Lake Electric Association (REA Coop.) to construct a
distribution and transmission line from Seward to the vicinity of Upper
Trail Lake. The possibility also exists that this line would be extended
to Cooper's Landing. If the Bureau were to construct the Lawing Project,
proper coordination and construction by a utility of a line from Seward
to Cooper's Landing would eliminate the requirement of Federal
construction of a substation at Seward, a 69-kv line from Crescent Lake
Powerplant to Seward, and a tie line betN'een Crescent Lake Unit and the
Cooper Lake Unit.
The intense interest and expenditure of large sums on oil
explorations throughout the Kenai lowlands illustrates the possibility
of development of a petroleum industry in that area. The resultant
power loads which could conceivably develop might dictate construction
of such power sites as Devil Canyon on the Susitna. In looking ahead it
may prove more desirable to build a 115-kv line as far as Kenai Junction
instead of 69-kv.
ALTERNATIVE F01~1ER DEVELOPMENTS
Preliminary studies indicate the optimum development of
Crescent Lake to be that proposed in this report. The feasibility of a
stage development of Cooper Lake by a diversion of Stetson Creek should
be investigated prior to drafting a final plan for that unit.
Due to the premature termination of investigations of the
project by the Bureau of Reclamation, alternative power developments were
not considered.
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CHAPTER VI
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
All Lalrlng Project costs are allocable to electric power
generation and all benefits would be attributed to generation of electric
energy. Little if any recreational value nor improvement of fish and
wildlife resources is anticipated. It is not present17 foreseen where
either Crescent or Cooper Lake waters could be utilized for ~ other
type of development.
Economic Justificatio~
Since investigations were terminated prior to completion and
since no future action on this project is to be taken by the Federal
Government, a benefit-cost analysis was not made.
Investment
Total Federal investment in generation plant, including
interest during construction, would be $13,352,000 for both units of
the project. Cost of the Cooper Lake Unit would be $6,S6l,OOO and for
the Crescent Lake Unit $6,491,000.
Total investment in transmission plant for both units,
including switchyards, substations, and 69-kv transmission lines, to
serve the power market area would be about $2,460,000.
Annual Costs
Estimated annual costs for the bTO units developed as a single
project, including operation, maintenance, and provision for replacements,
amount to $lSO, 000.
If operated independently the same charges for the two units
would total an estimated $250,000.
Operation, maintenance, and replacements for the complete
transmission plant would approximate $SO,OOO annually.
Repayment
Repayment of each unit would be over a 50-year period
following completion of that unit and would include payment of interest
at the rate of 2-1/2 percent compounded annual17.
Assuming marketing conditions to be those illustrated in the
tabulation in Chapter III f7Lawing Project Power Market,~~ the average
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Financial Anabysis
"at site" cost of firm power for each unit would be 10.0 mills for
Cooper lake and 10.3 mi1ls for Crescent lake. A 10.3-mill rate is
possible for the Crescent lake Unit only if remotely operated. If
operated individually the average rate would increase to 12.9 mi1ls.
SUIIDllar;y
Investment, annU2.l costs, and repayment are summarized on the
accompanying table lllawing Project Cost Allocations. U
Estimates were also made of the cost of a 115-kv transmission
line from Cooper Lake Unit to Anchorage. Based on the Bureau's
experience in construction of the 41 miles of ll5-kv lines for the
Eklut.na Project, total construction cost of such a line (including
interest during construction) would approximate $2,500,000. Annual
expenses for such a line would appro~te $135,000 aggregated by
provision for replacements $29,000; operation and maintenance, $18,000;
and payment to repay investment, $88,000.
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Financial Ana~vsis
LAvTIlU PROJECT COST ALLOCATIONS
Acc(l1mt
Generation Plant
Cooper
Unit
Plant Cost.
Interest d1wing Construction
Total Investment
Operation and :f..Iaintenance Y
Provision for Replacements
Annual Operating Costs
$6,626,000
235,000
6,861,000
100,000
30 p OOO
130,000
Crescent
Unit
$6,259,000
232,000
6,491,000
25,000
25,000
50,000
Average Firm Power Rates y 10.0 mills 10.3 mills
Transmission Planty
Total
$12,885,000
467,OqQ
13,352,000
125,000
55,000
180,000
10.1 millE
Total
Plant Operation & Provision for annual
Account cost
Cooper
Switcnyard 280,000
Crescent S.Y. 260,000
Seward Sub-
station 80,000
Kenai Jet. Sub-
station 270,000
69-kv Trans.
LLTJ.e
Crescent-
Seward 450,000
Crescent-
Cooper 220,000
Cooper-
Kenai Jct.900pOOO
2,460,000
9,900
9,200
2,800
9,500
15,900
7,800
31,700
86,800
maintenance
~
7,000
5,400
7,000
5,400
6,200
3,600
10,000
44,600
re lacement
4,400
4,100
1,300
4,300
4,800
2,400
11,900
33,200
costs
21,300
18,700
11,100
19,200
26,900
13,800
53,600
164,600
11 Cooper Lake Unit completed first; Crescent Lake Unit completed second
and remotely operated from Cooper.
gj At site rate onlY and does not include switcnyards, SUbstations, and
transmission lines.
21 Minimum facilities needed to supply the power market area with project
power. Not included as part of plan of development in this report.
(See explanation Chapter I.)
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C HAP T E R VII
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Discussion
1. The area power market study indicates the need for ear~
development of either Crescent or Cooper Lakes for a source of cheaper
power for the area. The present use of diesel generation is extremely
costly to users. Average residential costs for 250 kilowatt-hours per
month range from 6.6 to 11.S cents per kilowatt-hour.
2. Studies made of Crescent and Cooper Lakes indicate both
projects to have engineering and economic feasibility. Unit power
costs would be highest for the Crescent Lake development.
3. Availability of a plentiful supply of electrical energy
would accelerate settlement and development of the area. The area
offers excellent recree.c.ioncl possibilities for camping, boating, fishing,
and hunting. It is potentially endo't'red with good agricultural lands,
grazing lands, abundant wil~life, commercial fishing, coal fields,
timber resources, and a geologic formation favorable to gas and oil
reserves.
4. Additional years of water supply data would provide a better
basis for deter.mining annual firm power generation available from these
proj~cts. Stream gaging programs were initiated in 1949 on both Cooper
Creek and Crescent Creek, thereby providing on~T a 5-year period of
actual runoff from the watersheds.
Conclusions
It is concluded that:
(a) Present area power needs would justify the :ilmnediate
development of either Crescent or Cooper Lake for electrical energy
to serve the area.
(b) Cost of energy from either development will not be
favorable as an attraction to industrial growth since nat sitett rates
(transmission plant not included) are expected to exceed 10 mills.
However, costs would be substantially reduced from those of present
generation.
Recommendations
It is recommended that:
(a) You approve this document as a status report. The purpose
of the report is to record information and planning developed by the
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Conclusions and Recommendations
Bureau of Reclamation in the course of its studies on Cooper and
Crescent Lakes, Lawing Project. (Bureau field investigations were
prematurely terminated to permit noninterference with the City of
Seward, ~laska, and Chugach Electric Association, Anchorage, Alaska,
in their development of the project units.)
(b) Should there ever develop a future request for the
Bureau of Reclamation to construct one or both of these projects,
that the existing information be supplemented with more recent data
and additional field information be obtained prior to the preparation
of a feasibility report recommending project construction.
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APPENDIX I
PRO J.E C T G E ° LOG Y
The Kenai Momltains, for the most part, are made up of
several thousand feet of slates, shales, and gr~ckes. Most of
the beds are extremely distorted by folding and faulting; the lack
of defj~te stratigraphic horizon markers prevents a successful
solution to the orogeny of these mountains. During the diastrophism
of the Kenai Mountains, the argillites (slates and shales) were
extremely folded and crumpled; the intervening graY"lacke layers,
which were hard and massive, tended to fracture rather than fold.
For these reasons the argillites show more metamorphism than the
graywackes.
The argillites and graywackes originally were marine
sediments and consist mainly of ar~illaceous materials, with some
inlpure hard sandstones (graywackes). Minor constituents of these
beds are conglomerates, gr:U:., limy argillite, and argillaceous
limestone and tuff.
The formations in these mountains previously have been
subdivided into the Valdez, the Orca, and the Sunrise Groups. However,
difficulty in establishing definitive characteristics for each of
these groups has led to the complete abandonment of the term "Sunrise,"
and there appears to be a great conflict of interpretation between the
Valdez and Orca. For these reasons, no name is assigned to the
formations in the Project area, the rocks are referred to simply as
graywackes and argillites. There is almost a complete lack of
fossils; however, by association with beds of known age in other
areas, it is believed that the slates and graywackes are chief~
Mesozoic and possib~ of Upper Cretaceous Age.
Structure
In general the beds dip at angles of from 600 to 90 0 and
strike parallel to the axis of the mountain range. Considerable
variations and reversals in dips are noticed in close proximity in
the same beds. There are many faults of unknown displacement, and the
high degree of fissility (or numerous cleavage planes) in the
argillites indicate that a tremendous amount of movement or slipping
has occurred parallel to the bedding. The exact thickness of the
graywacke-argillite mass is unknown but is believed to exceed
5,000 feet.
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Project Geologz
PART A
COOPER LAKE PROJECT GEOLOGY
Geological Investigations Performed
The various project features were investigated in 1954 by
test pits, diamond drilling, surface and aerial reconnaissance, and
airphoto studies. These were supplemented with studies of available
U. S. Geological Survey reports on the area (see references). At
the dam. site, two test pits "Tere dug and one hole drilled; three holes
were drilled on the tunnel intake site; one hole was drilled at the
powerhouse site; and two holes were drilled to investigate powerhouse
sites on tunnel alinements that subsequently were abandoned. The
reconnaissance consisted of a traverse of the tunnel and penstock
line on foot, inspection of the shorelines of Cooper and Kenai Lakes
by boat, and frequent low to high altitude flights over the area.
Sixteen-mm silent colored movies of the project features are
available for study in the Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer's
office, Denver.
Airphotos. The airphoto studies were particular~
invaluable due to the general inaccessibility of most of the terrain
underlain by the tunnel. Furthermore faulted or intensely jointed
zones can be discerned clearly on the airphotos, although they could
not be located on the ground. (Much of the geologic data on the
photo was obtained from the preliminary U. S. Geological Survey report
of July 13, 1954 by Plafker.)
Tunnel Geology
Intake Area. The proposed intake will be located about
30 feet under the surface of Cooper Lake. Three drill holes were put
down on the intake location to deter.mine the possibility of soft
materials. In all three holes, the soft lake muds were not over
5 feet thick; immediately underlying them were a few inches of sand
and gravel which overlay competent graywacke and argillite.
An angle hole, dipping 45 0 toward the shore, was drilled
on the intake line about 200 feet in from the shore. This hole
disclosed interbedded argillite and graywacke starting about 3 feet
from the surface. There is some calcite in the bedding, but most of
the core appears competent. There was no staining or weathering in
the core. lfater tests run below 17 feet (elevation 1161) resulted in
no loss at 25 psi pressure. The test from 7 to 17 feet showed a loss
of 7 gallons per minute, but this apparently was due to a poor seal
between the packer and the rock.
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Project Geology
Numerous outcrops occur along the shoreline, and the
majority ot the, rock appears to be very thinly bedded, almost slaty
argillite. All ot the beds have a very steep dip, with reversals
in dip not mcommon. The general strike of the beds is approximately
North 15 0 East.
The results of the drilling and surface studies indicate
no unusual difficu1:ty in the construction of the intake. Stripping
of the vegetation and the thin overburden on the slopes above the
lake should eliminate the possibility of slides into the excavation.
The bedrock is sufficiently competent to stand on 1/4:1 to vertical
slopes; some air-slaking may occur, but it should be so minor as not
to be detrimental to the construction.
Tunnel. The tunnel will penetrate a series of alternating
graywackes and argillites. These beds dip from 600 to 900 and strike
approximately North 100 to 15 0 East. Two or more faults or intensely
jointed areas may intersect the tunnel line. It was not possible to
definitely locate any fault traces on the ground, and the zones will
be identified in the tunnel only by intense shearing in the beds;
the likelihood of gouge, or clay seams of any appreciable thickness,
is remote. If the beds are intensely sheared, water seepage may occur
through them by surface infiltration.
The tunnel probably can be driven with the minimum ot
support necessary for protection against minor roof falls. For
example, 4-or 5-inch H-beams on 6-to a-foot centers probably will
be ample. It is possible the portions of the tunnel in massive
graywacke will require no support. The relatively shallow rock cover
above the tunnel (not over 500 feet) would seem to preclude the
possibility of squeezing ground or slow heaving of the argillite such
as was found in the Eklutna Tunnel. The natural characteristics of
argillite, however, may result in some excessive slabbing in those
areas where incipient movements have taken place along the argillite
beds. None of these problems, however, should be of a serious nature.
Where the tunnel excavation encounters intensely jointed or faulted
areas, 6-to a-inch H-beams on 4-foot centers may be required. Such
zones should not occur over more than 10 percent of the tunnel length.
It is expected that only minor quantities of water will be
encountered iri the tunnel. Some seepage undoubtedly will occur trom
the intake end into that portion of the tunnel near the lake. Some
minor seepage also may occur from the surface through well-developed
joints or faults. It is not expected that such seepage would be a
serious problem in construction operations. A voluminous source of
water is not apparent due to the absence of lakes over the tunnel, and
deep-seated (hydrothennal) waters are unlikely.
3
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Penstock Line
The penstock will traverse side slopes in rugged topography
in some areas and lie directly on normal ground slopes along other
portions of the line. The thin cover of overburden and the evident
stability of the underlYing rock indicate that slides along the line
will not be a hazard. It is not known whether the lower three-fourths
of the penstock line will be entirely on rock, or partly on rock and
partly on glacial or alluvial deposits. In any case, it appears that
suitable foundations for most of the pipe anchors can be found any-
where along the line. Considerable timber clearing will be required
to protect the pipe against falls of trees which, for the most part,
are shallow-rooted.
The major geological problem in connection with the
penstock is the lack of a competent foundation at the junction of the
penstock and the powerp1ant. It probably will be necessary to fOlIDd
the anchor block on piling, or at least on a foundation similar to
the powerp1ant. The one po~~rplant drill hole shows a considerable
depth of glacio-fluvial material, the consolidation characteristics
of which are unknown. It would be desirable to investigate this
problem during the detailed exploration for the powerplant. c:: Power plant Geology
c
The powerplant will be founded on an unknown depth of
glacio-fluvial material. This IDB.teria1 is composed of sand and gravel
with some silt or clay. The gravel is more clayey (or silty) from
elevation 421 to the bottom of the hole at elevation 396. As this
appears to be typical glaciO-fluvial material, soft strata can be
expected to exist 0
Present geological information indicates that it would be
desirable to found the powerhouse on piling at least 40 feet long,
driven to refusal. The final determination of the pile length will
be dependent upon further exploration at the site.
Future Exploration Reguired. Additional powerhouse
exploration should consist of at least two holes: one at each end
of the powerp1ant and drilled to a depth equal to at least 1-1/2
times the width of the plant (now unknown).
Penetration tests should be taken every five feet in depth
lIDless unusually soft strata are encolIDtered. In the latter case
the tests should be taken as continuously as possible through the
soft strata. All holes should go at least 20 feet below the expected
depth of the pile tips. If any lIDusually soft materials are encountered,
it will be necessary to drill additional penetration holes between the
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Project Geolo&y
original borings. The foundation should be investigated in its
entirety in order to preclude the presence of extremely sott layers
under ~ portion of the powerhouse.
If the penetration test results 'should show that the material
is extremely stiff and not saturated, it may be possible to ellminate
the need for pilings and found the powerplant on a mat or spread
footings. However, if the material is composed pr:imarily of sand and
gravel of a moderate to low density, then it would be desirable to
use piling, as the sand and gravel would tend to consolidate under the
vibrations from the powerplant machinery.
Tailrace. The lack of information on the properties of the
glacio-fluvial material make it undesirable at present to accurately
ascertain stable slope angles for excavation of the tailrace channel.
From meager data, it would appear that the slopes should be no
steeper than 2:1. However, if the material is more clayey than now
assumed, the slopes would have to be flattened accordingly, particularly'
as any clays (or rock flour) in this area are likely to have a bigh
moisture content.
Switchy~. Preconsolidation by the glaciers probably has
compacted the glacial materials sufficiently to withstand bearing
pressures up to 2,000 pounds per square foot. Unfortunately the
glacial action has been later modified by stream and flood deposition
which may have formed sort strata incapable of bearing the desired
design loads. Therefore, foundation design for the switcqyard will
depend upon the results of penetration tests.
Dam Site Geology
The lett abutment of the dam site is located on what appears
to be a terminal or recessional moraine overlying glacial till and
interlensed with alluvium and talus. The moraine and till, where
exposed by test pits, is highly compact. Generally the moraine and
till are composed of boulders, cobbles, gravel, fine sand, and
sufficient silty clays or clayey silts to render the mass relatively'
impervious. The gravel and cobbles are angular to subround, and of
very hard graywacke. The right abutment overlies glacial outwash,
till, and a mixture of outwash with considerable talus. The vegetal
mat overlying these unconsolidated materials is about 12' to 18 inches
deep. The spillway foundation would have to be placed on till or
moraine as bedrock would be extremely deep_
The logs of test pits NOs. 1 and 2 show,that 2 to 5 percent
of the glacial material is over 5 inches in diameter; generally the
oversize does not exceed 15 inches in diameter. The gradation of the
gravel and cobbles is good, but there is a definite absence of some
5
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Project Geology
sizes between the gravel and fine sand sizes. The drill hole (DR 1)
placed in the streambed indicated about 12 feet of loosely
consolidated alluvial sands that are probably highly pervious. The
remainder of the hole in the compact glacial material proved to be
fairly watertight. The alluvial material probably extends from
approximately Station 1150 to Station 2175. It is possible that the
layer of alluvium may thicken directly under the stream. It is
doubtful, however, if this material exceeds 15 to 20 feet in depth
anywhere along the axis.
In general, the foundation materials appear sufficiently
competent for the low height embankment contemplated, providing the
pervious alluvial material is removed. The compactness of the outwash,
the pre loading of the till as evidenced by its extremely hard packing,
and the geologic history of the valley indicate that detrimental
consolidation should not occur under an embankment of the moderate
height proposed (25 to 35 feet). The permeability of glacial
c.eposits, however, is always questionable until extensive drilling
a..'1d water pressure tests are performed~ as highly pervious stringer
sands could occur. The drilling at Cooper Lake dam site has been
insufficient to preclude the possibility of such stringer sands.
Future Exploration. Two additional drill holes should be
placed on the dam axis to determine, to some extent, the continuity
of strata in the outwash and the till. One hole should be located on
the right abutment near the end of the axis, and the other on the
left abutment near the end of the axis. In addition, if time and
f~~s permit, it would be desirable to place a hole halfway between
Drill Hole 1 and the right end of the axiso All future holes should
be drilled down to at least elevation 1160.
It is doubtful if detailed investigations for the foundations
of appurtenant structures, such as the spillway or outlet works, are
warranted. The heterogeneity of these glacial deposits precludes
accurate interpretation of foundation conditions, unless a considerable
number of holes are drilled. Considering the minor size of such
structures, and the known compactness of the glacial material, such
drilling is not warranted as the foundation materials appear to be
sufficiently competent to bear the expected design loads.
Construction Materials
Impervious BorrO't"l Materials. Materials to construct the dam
embankment would have to be obtained from the outwash, the moraine,
and the till. These materials are described in detail in the logs.
Three hundred-pound sack samples are available at the project site for
future reference and tests, and jar samples are available in the
Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer's office. It will be
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Project Geology
necessary to put down further test pits or large-diameter drill holes
to explore these deposits sufficiently to determine zoning require-
ments.
Pervious Borrm'1 ~Iaterials. Pervious materials can be
obtained from the streambed. AlsO-there are numerous alluvial fans
at the bottom of drainages that enter Cooper Lake. Generally the
gravels in these deposits tend to be platy and composed of graywacke
and argillite. Medium to coarse and 13-inch sizes will be lacking.
Most of the deposit s will require underwater dredging to obtain
sufficient quantities. Future exploration should more fully outline
the amount of yardage available in these deposits.
Ripr~ The only riprap sources in the immediate vicinity
of the dam and tunnel intake are outcrops of graywacke. It would be
difficult to secure proper sizing due to the extremely fractured and
highly folded condition of the graywacke, and to the frequent
er,~illite lenses present. Quarried graywacke should be sufficiently
durable for riprap. It would be necessary, however, to remove the
argillites, as they would rapidly deteriorate in an exposed riprap
layer. When the necessary quantities are mown, further exploration
should be directed toward finding a quarriable graywacke outcrop.
Concrete Aggregate. There are no acceptable adequate
deposits of aggregate within a short distance of the project featureso
S~Lle small alluvial fan deposits (See "Pervious Borrow Material") may
contain acceptable materials, although the platy gravels and poor
gradation will require considerable blending and cement. A large
alluvial deposit on the east side of the upper end of Cooper Lake
would require considerable processing to remove the rock flour and
weathered graywackes and argillites. This deposit contains a high
percentage of platy gravels and is poorly graded. The amount of
acceptable material in this deposit is lmknown as it has not been
sampled, but it is estimated that it would not be over 15 to 20 feet
deep. Extensive alluvial deposits on the south and west shores of
the upper end of Cooper Lake may contain some usable materials, but
these have not been investigated. It is very probable that, like all
of the potential aggregate sources in the vicinity, they would contain
high percentages of platy graywackes and argillites.
Concrete aggregate for the· powerhouse might be obtained in
small quantities from nearby alluvial deposits. These were not
investigated, and in any case, only small quantities could be obtained.
All local aggregates are composed primarilY of graywacke-argillite
"shinglel1 gravels with insufficient fines and poor gradation.
Coopers Landing, about 9 water miles from the powerhouse
site, and at the lower end of Kenai Lake J is reported to have acceptable
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aggregate deposits. This would require that the present road out of
Coopers Landing be extended 5 or 6 miles to the powerhouse site.
(The U. S. Forest Service has indicated that such a road may be
constru.cted if the project is authorized.) Or, this aggregate could
be shipped by barge on Kenai Lake, providing docking facilities are
built at the pm'lerhouse site. At the site there is a sandy beach
that apparently has a rather flat gradient for about 35 feet out from
shore. Samples of this aggregate were not available for inspection,
but it is used locally for the production of concrete.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Dam.--The foundation materials should be sufficiently
competent ro-bear the weight of the low dam contemplated. The
permeability of these materials still has to be investigated. It will
be necessary to carry any cutoff about 20 feet deep in the stream
channel section.
2. Tunnel Intake.--The lack of soft materials and the presence
of very competent rock preclude serious difficulties due to geological
conditions dur:ing the construction of the intake.
3. Tunnel Line.-Probably only light supports will be required
for most of the tunnel. Additional or heavy supports may be required
for about 10 percent of the line where the tunnel crosses occasional
faulted or intensely jointed zones. Some water seepage may be
expected at these latter zones. The water problem is not expected
to be serious, hO't~lever, and construction should proceed without
unusual difficulty.
4. Penstock L:ine.--The penstock will be on rock slopes part of
the way. The foundation conditions for the lower three-fourths of
the line are not known at present. It probably will be necessary to
use anchor blocks along this section.
5. Powerplant.--The meager foundation data indicate that it
will be necessary to found the powerplant on about 40-foot long
piles. However, penetration tests may prove the foundation materials
suitable for a mat or for spread footings.
6. Construction Materials.--Ample impervious borrow can be
obtained in the :immediate vicinity of the dam. Pervious borrow
deposits are scattered and will require processing and underwater
dredging. Suitable riprap will be difficult to secure in large
quantities unless a massive outcrop of graywacke can be found. Good
quality concrete aggregate in ample quantities can be procured only
at Coopers Landing at the lower end of Kenai Lake.
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Project Geology
7. Ad<;litiona1 Explorations ReQujred.--Three additional holes
are needed at the dam site. At least two additional holes and
penetration tests are necessary at the powerplant. Several drill
holes, test pits, and possibly trenches are required to adequate~
explore the construction materials deposits.
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Capps, S. R.:
Johnson, B. . L. :
Martin, G. C.,
Johnson, E. L.,
and Grant, U. S.
Plafker, Geo.:
Tuck, Ralph:
• .
Project Geology
REFERENCES
Geology of the Alaska Railroad Region, USGS
Bulletin 907, 1940
Mineral Resources of Alaska--Gold Deposits of
the Seward-Sunrise Region, ~ Bulletin 520,
1911
Geology and Mineral Resources of Kenai Peninsula,
Alaska, USGS Bulletin 597, 1915
Geologic Investigations of Proposed Power Sites
at Cooper, Grant, ptarmigan, and Crescent
Lakes of Alaska, Advance USGS Report, submitted
July 13, 1954; field work done in August and
September 1952. (Available on~ fram USGS Open
Files)
Investigations in Alaska Railroad Belt, 1931--The
MOose Pass-Hope District, Kenai Peninsula, USGS
Bulletin ~, 1933. -
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Project Geology
PART B
CRESCENT LA.TCE PRCJECT GE<?1:2Q!
Geolog~cal Investigations Performed
During September of 1954, an extreme~ brief geological
reconnaissance was made of the Crescent Lake Unit. The dam site and
powerplant site were examined on the ground, and the remainder of the
unit was examined from the air. The area was explored by three
diamond-drill holes at the dam sites, one drill hole between Carter
Lake and Crescent Lake, and two test pits on the left and right
abutments of the dam site to explore for embankment materials.
Dam. Site
Drilling and surface evidence indicate that the dam
foundation is composed primarily of alluvial materials overlying glacial
outwash and glacial till. There is a large talus deposit on the left
abutment, the extent of which is presently tmknown. The talus is
composed of angular cobbles and boulders, with clayey fines. Water
tests in a drill hole into the talus indicated extre~ely tight
materials. The alluvium is prilr.arily composed of sand and gravel but
contains numerous clay layers. The permeability of it would
undoubtedly be extremely variable, ranging from high to no losses.
The underlying glacial outwash is difficult to distinguish from the
glacial till, as both are composed of sand, gravel, and cobbles firmly
embedded in rock flour or silt. The main differentiation is the
extreme compactness of the glacial till. In many places, the till is
almost hard enough to be described as a soft rock. It can generally
be expected that the till will be very impervious, whereas the out-
wash may have some pervious zones. Evidence of water under slight
head was found in Drill Hole 1 in the outwash material.
Before construction of a dam, it would be necessary to
conduct further drilling and water testing to determine the extent of
any permeable layers underlying the fO'lmdation. If the alluvial
material proves to be sufficiently tight, it might be possible to
mere~ strip the topsoil and fOlRld the dam on the alluvium. The
underlying glacial outwash and alluvium probably would be compressible
but not to a degree to cause serious settlement in the low dam
contemplated.
Borrow Materials
Impervious materials probably would have to be obtained from
the alluvium and glacial outwash deposit along the shores of the lake.
Sufficient quantities appear to be available on both the left and the
right abutments.. It can be expected that these deposits will have a
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Pro.iect Geology
high moisture content due to the moderately high grotmd-water table
and the high precipitation in this area. Such deposits will
probably contain a very high percentage of rock flour, and thus
careful control will be required for rolled embankment.
Pervious materials probably can be obtained only in small
quantities by processing of the alluvium and the glacial outwash.
Extens:i.ve sand and gravel deposits were not seen during the brief
reconna.issance, although some of the small drainages into the lal<e
from the south may have p!'.)duced small alluvial fans. It is doubtful
that any of these deposits would contain sufficient sand and gravel
for Zone 3 or filter material in the dam.
Riprap would have to be obtained from nearby outcrops of
graywacke. A careful seleotion would be req'lired to eliminate the
tmdesirable argillites or 81ates found associated with these
graywacke deposits. Massiyc graywackes generally are scarce. and it
can be expected that the ri;>rap will tend to be slabby.
Carter Lake-Crescent Lake Channel
The design requirements as to the depth of this channel
are unknown. The one drill hole placed at the lowest point between
these lakes indicated that bedrock would not be reached until
elevation 1425, which is about 30 feet below the present surface of
Crescent Lake. The main excavation vlould be in moderately hard-packed
glacial till l'lhich contains occasional soft mud or silt layers.
Permanency in the till slopes probably would require excavation at 1:1.
Wherever mud or clay layers were encotmtered, hOl'!ever, it would be
necessary to construct berms to protect the overlying till from being
undermined by mud flows. Those portions of the channel in bedrock
could probably be excavated at 1/4:1 or steeper slopes. If it is
intended that a pipe be laid in this channel and later backfilled,
then the glacial till could probab~ be excavated on about 1/2 to
3/4:1 slopes for temporary stability. Some difficulty could be
expected with mud flows, but these soft layers probab~ would not be
of sufficient thickness to cause tmusual difficulties in the excavation.
At least two additional holes should be drilled along this pipeline
route to determine the depth to bedrock, further characteristics of
the glacial till, and the presence, absence, or continuity of any mud
layers.
Penstock Route
Little is known of the geology along the penstock route
due to the lack of surface reconnaissance and drilling. It is probable
that the portion of the penstock :immediately adjacent to Carter Lake
would be fom1ded in glacial till or possibly talus deposits. Once the
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pipe drops over the ridge to the highway, the anchors probab~ could
be located on bedrock. NUmerous outcrops of graywacke and argillite
were observed along this hill. The extremely dense vegetation and
height of the trees along this route would indicate that extensive
clearbl~ would be req~red if it is desired to protect the pipe fran
the falls of trees ranging up to 75 feet in height and about 2 feet
in diameter.
Powerplant
The power plant is founded in the glaciated valley of Moose
Creek west of Upper Trail Lake. The glacial deposits are probably
quite deep in this valley, and therefore it would be necessary to
found the pol'Terplant on piles unless it is located immediately
adjacent to the toe of the slope. This latter location would not be
desirable due to the steepness of the slope above and the possitJility
of snowslides. The charact9ristics of the glacial materials in the
foundation are unknown as no drilling has been done. It would be very
desirable to drill at least two holes in this location to determine
the desirable pile lengths for the plant. If hard-packed glacial till
is located, then the plant could be founded on short piling driven to
an acceptable penetration resistance. Before final design, however,
careful study should be made of the possibility of soft silt layers
in the till or any other material underlying the plant foundations.
Any such soft layers within the zone of appreciable foundation pressures
should be penetrated by the piles to minimize potential differential
settlement of the powerplant.
Concrete Aggregate
The most desirable source of concrete aggregate is not known
at present. It is possible that alluvial fans could be found around
Upper Trail Lake and possibly around Kenai Lake. Known deposits are
located at Cooper's Landing at the l'lest end of Kenai Lake. These might
be available for the construction on Crescent Lake, depending upon the
location of the access road into Crescent Lake. Furthermore, if
this access road goes up Crescent Creek, it is possible that aggregate
sources could be located along the creek in the various alluvial fans
known to exist in this area.
CONCLUSIONS AND stnvlMARY
1. The dam foundation generally is composed of alluvial, talus,
and glacial outwash deposits. Present information indicates these
deposits to be fairly impervious, but additional drilling is required
to definitely establish zones of high permeability. Differential
settlement could be held to a minimum due to the low pressures imposed
by a low dam on a fairly compact material. Earth borrol'T would have to
be obtained from nearby glacial deposits containing high percentages
of rock flour with a minimum of silt and sand and a small percentage
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of gravel, cobbles, and boulders. This material is !mown to have a
high moisture content.
2. The channel between Crescent and Carter Lakes will
probably be excavated primari~ in glacial till which, for a
temporary excavation, could be held at about 1/2:1 slopes. If a
permanent open channel is contemplated, then the se slope s should be
cut back to a minimum of 1:1. Any soft layers would require berms to
prevent undermining of the over~g compact materials.
3. The penstock anchors could probab~ be founded on bedrock
for the most part. The power plant probably will require a piling
foundat.ion driven into glacio-fluvial deposits or glacial till of
unknown depth.
4. Before preliminary designs and certainly before final
designs, considerable additional exploration is necessary. The dam
site should be more fully explored to determine the permeability and
extent of any soft layers; additional holes are required along the
channel to determine the characteristics of the excavation; the
penstock should be thoroughly studied in detail on the surface to
determine the anchor foundation geology; and drill holes should be
placed at the powerplant to determine the foundation characteristics.
Adequate concrete aggregate deposits have not as yet been located,
and further test pits are required in potential earth borrow areas to
determine the characteristics of the pervious and impervious borrow
materials.
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