HomeMy WebLinkAboutEklutna Project 1948II
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
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The Secretary
of the Interior.
Sir:
mUTED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREA.U OF RECLAliiATION
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
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In reply refer to:
Attention: 737
7, 1949
This is my report on a plan for the development of the potential
Eklutna Project near Anchorage, Alaska, for the purposes of developing
the hydroelectric power and recreational potentialities of Eklutna
Lake. My report is based on the attached report of the Chief of the
Alaska Investigations Office of the Bureau of Reclamation, datec
October 1, 1948. I concur in the plan proposed in that report, and
adopt it and the recommendations contained therein.
The rec~mmended plan calls for the construction of a low dam
to raise the level of Eklutna Lake by two feet; recreational facilities
at the la~e; a tunnel 4t miles long leading from the lake through the
mountain to the north; a penstock 1,250 feet long; a power plant of
30,000 kilowatts installed capacity at the base of the mountain; and
transmission lines to conduct the energy to load centers in the vicinity
Jf the City Jf Anchorage and in the l'iIatanuska Valley.
The primary function of the project would be the production of
electrical energy---energy which is urgently needed for military and
industrial uses, and for meeting normal growth in domestic loads in
the vicinity of the project. In addition to the firm power which would
be produced to serve the aforementioned loads, a large amount cf
secondary power would also be produced and would be available f~r
industrial uses and, if needed, for irrigation pumping during a portion
of each year. The recreational facilities which are proposed to be
built by the i'Jational Park Service as p3.rt of the project would prGlvide
an urgently needed outlet in this rapidly expanding area.
The total estimated cost of the project, taking into consideration
Alaskan differentials and price lev81s prevalent in October 1948 is
$21,580,900 of which $20,365,400 is for the power features of the project
and is reimbursable. In the event that extraordinary protection of the
plant from attack by air is recommended by the Alaskan military command,
the increased cost of the "protected type" installation over the in-
stallation shovm in the report should be non-reimbursable. The remaining
~1,215,500, the Natiunal Park S8rvice's estimate of thE:; cost of providing
the recreational facilities at Eklutna Lake should be non-reimbursable.
The reimbursable project cost could be returned to the Government during
a 52-year repayment period with interest c3.t 3~~ by revenues secured from
the sale of pow8r. r-·----·--.. ··~:-: -;;:,~;~~:;.~;~:; .;~;~::: .. _-----,----
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I Since the area in which the Eklutna Project is to be built is
known to be mineralized, it is possible that its construction--particularly
the tunneling operation--might permit the recovery of valuable minerals,
proceeds from the sale of which should be used to offset a portion of
the reimbursable costs of the project.
Construction of the Eklutna Project at the ea~liest practicable
time is highly desirable. Inasmuch as the reco~nended plan of develop-
ment has engineering feasibility and as all reimbursable costs would
be repaid in full to the Federal Government, I reco~~end that the
Eklutna Project be authorized for construction as reco~~ended by the
Chief of the Alaska Investigations Office.
I recommend further that you adopt this report as your report
on the Eklutna Project, Alaska, and that you authorize me, in your
behalf, to transmit copies of the report to other affected Federal Agencies
and the Governor of Alaska for their comments, prior to transmittal of
the report to the President, and, subsequently, to the Congress.
Respectfully yours,
lsI Michael W. Straus
Commissioner.
Approved and adopted: January IS, 1949
I s I J. A. Krug
Secretary of the Interior
Enclosure 785
50688
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
JULIUS A. KRUG, Secretary
EKLUTNA PROJECT
ALASKA
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Michael W. Straus, Commissioner
ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE
Joseph M. Morgan, Chief
Juneau, Alaska
October, 1948
"
REPORT OF THE CHIEF
ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE
and
SUBSTANTIATING MATERIALS
1330 Rep by Engr U.s. Army. Alo.I<o. 1948
REPORT 0' THI CHm ,,-
COHTEN~rs
Page
Map -Eklutna Project • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Preceding I
TranSllli t tal • . . -. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I
Authority for Report • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I
Cooperation and Acknowledgement • • • · . . · . . . . . I
History and Settlement • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2
Location and Major Project Features · . . . . . . . . . 2
Climate •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • · . . . . J
Purposes to be Served · . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • J
Power Market Area and Loads • • • · . · . . . · . . . . J
Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . J
Recreation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4
Industry and Economic Conditions • • • • • • • • • • 4
Plan of Development · . . . . . · . . . . • • • • • 6
Costs ••• · . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . 7
Benefits • • · . . . . · . . . . . . . 8
Allocation of Costs · . . . . . . · . . . . . . . . . 8
Repayment of Reimbursable Costs • · . . . .... . . 8
Conclusions • • • • • • • • • · . . · . . . . • • • 9
Recommendations • ,
• • • • • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . 9
T A
CANADA
LOCATION MAP
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STATUTE UILf.S
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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS
EKLUTN1~ PROJECT
GENERAL MAP
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UNITED STA~
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Alaska Investigations Office
Juneau, Alaska
To: The Commissioner, Bureau of Reolamation
Octo ber 1, 1948
From: Chief, Alaska Investigations Office, Juneau, Alaska
Subject: Report on the Eklutna Project, Alaska
Tr&npi ttal
1. Herein is m.1 report on the potential development of the EklutL6
Project near Anchorage, Alaska. Substantiating Materials are appended
to this report. Project benefits would exceed project cost in the
ratio of 1.7 to 1.00. All monies necessary for construction would be
repaid to the Federal Government with interest at 3% within 52 years.
I recommend that you approve this project. The power shortage in the
project area is so acute as to constitute an emergency. The people
of Alaska are hopeful for early Departmental action and Congressional
consideration leading to authorization of the project and appropriation
of construction funds in the current Fiscal Year.
Authoritl !2t ~ Report
2. This report is authorized to be made by virtue of the Interior
Department Appropriation Act, for the fiscal year 1949, which provided
$150,000 to be expended by the Bureau of Reclamation on Alaskan in-
vestigations "for engineering and economic investigations, as a basis
for legislation, and for reports thereon, relating to projects for
the development and utilization of the water power resources of Alaska ••• "
Cooperation ~ Acknowledgement
3. Federal, Territorial and local agencies, assisted in the in-
vestigation of the project, thereby making possible a. comprehensive
and coordinated report. Of especial value were data collected by the
Geological Survey and the City of Anchorage. Need for the project
and preliminary evaluated benefits that would result from authori-
zation and construction have been studied by the following agencies,
and the.tr reports included in the Substantiating Naterials: Alaska
Native Service, Alaska Railroad, Alaska Road Commission, Bureau of
Land Management, Bureau of Mines, Fish and Wildlife Service, Geological
Survey and National Park Service, all of the Department of the Interior;
Alaska Agricultural Experiment Stations, Rural Electrification Admin-
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Report of the Chief
istration of the Department of Agriculture; Civil Aeronautics Admin-
istration of the Department of Commerce; Commander-in-Chief of the
Alaska Command of the Department of National Defense; Federal Power
Commission; Territorial Government of Alaska, and the City of Anchor-
age.
Histoty ~ Settlement
4. Although the Eklutna Project area was first visited by traders
and trappers in the late 1700's and slight settlement commenced
following the purchase of Alaska in 1867, it wasn't until the United
States Government started construction of the Alaska Railroad in 1915
that settlement advanced to any degree. At that time the townsite
of Anchorage was laid out, and the city has since grown rapidly as
headquarters for the railroad and many other government agencies, as
well as the supply and trading center for large outlying areas. The
establishment of the military base at Fort Richardson, near Anchorage,
has had a tremendous influence upon the community in recent years.
Anchorage had a population of 3,495 in 1939, with current estimates
placing it between 19,000 and 35,000. Growth has been so rapid in
the past few years that an accurate estimate is impossible.
5. The other center of activity in the area is in the Matanuska
Valley, some 50 miles northeast of Anchorage. Its headquarters and
supply center is the town of Palmer. The area is essentially of
agricultural significance. Settlement began here in the early days
of the development of Alaska also, but not until the government settle-
ment program in 1935, under the Rural Rehabilitation Corporation, did
large scale development take place. Also in the Matanuska area are
the Matanuska coal fields at Jonesville, and the Willow Creek mining
district, where gold lode mining takes place.
6. It is also difficult to estimate the population of the
Matanuska Valley, but it is thought that there are about 400 farms,
with more than 4,500 people now residing in the valley. The town of
Palmer probably has about 1,000 residents.
Location and Major Project Features
7. The project is in the south-central sector of the main land
mass of Alaska. Eklutna take is nestled in the Chugach mountain
range, at an elevation of 868 feet, and at a point approximately mid-
way between the Mat8nuska Valley to the north and the City of Ancho~
age to the south. The lake is reached by a 10-mile access road from
the Anchorage-Palmer highway, at a point about 26 miles north of
Anchorage. The lake is roughly seven miles long by one mile wide, and
has a maximum depth of 200 feet.
8. The project would involve the construction of a dam as may
be seen in the illustration to raise the lake level two feet1 a tunnel
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Report of the Chief
four and one-half miles long leading from the lake through Goat Mount-
ain; a penstock 1,250 feet long to the power plant. The power plant
would be located at the base of the Chugach Mountains on a narrow
strip of land between the mountains and the sea. It would have an
installed capacity of 30,000 kilowatts. Transmission lines would be
constructed to conduct the energy to the population centers of the
City of Anchorage, Matanuska Valley, Fort Richardson ~ Base and
Elmendorf Airfield.
Climate
9. With a record high temperature of 92 degrees and a record
low of -37 degrees, the Eklutna area has a wide temperature range.
It, however, has never experienced the low temperatures that are
felt at such places as Fairbanks and elsewhere in north and central
Alaska. The annual precipitation varies between 14 and 16 inches,
classifying the section as semi-arid. The precipitation is heaviest
durirlg the late summer months. The growing season in the Matanuska
Valley averages lOB days a year.
Purposes ~ ~ Served
10. Eklutna Project would serve the multiple purposes of power
production, irrigation and recreation. -However, the primary purpose
of the project would be the production of electrical energy needed
now within the immediate area, or which it is known will be needed by
the time the project could be completed. A large amount of non-firm
power would also be produced which would be available for agricultural
and industrial use during six months of the year. Present local
power production facilities are not adequate to meet the demands and
production costs are excessive, hence additional hydroelectric power
at a reasonable rate would encourage further settlement and expand
the industrial development of the area.
~ Market Areas and ~
11. Careful study of load growth during recent years in the
area and review of known future construction programs leads to the
conclusion that military and civilian power requirements would ab-
sorb the full capacity and out~ut of the proposed Eklutna power plant
by 1954. If this hydroelectric development is rot constructed promptly,'
the only means of avoiding future power .shortages in the area will be
the provision of additional steam or diesel generating capacity, which
not only results in higher costs for power, but rapidly consumes and
dissipates irreplaceable mineral fuels.
Irrigation
12. It has been proven by scattered experiments in the vicinity of
the Eklutna Project that irrigation of crops is feasible and results in
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Report of the Chief
a substantial increase in crop production. Due to the semi-arid con-
dition of the area and to the fact that most of the precipitation
occurs in the late summer months, irrigation could be carried out
considerably more extensively than is now the case. Eklutna Lake
would not be diverted for this use due to its colloidial content and
distance from centers of agricultural development, but water in those
areas is generally plentiful. Lack of low-cost power for pumping
purposes has been the major stumbling block. No farmer can afford to
install a pumping system with power shortages imminent and under
present power costs. The Eklutna Project would help alleviate this
problem.
Recreation
13. Recreational facilities at present are limited, there being
a great need for further developmer.t. Development of Eklutna Lake as
a recreation center in conjunction with the hydroelectric project would
be highly desirable. If the area were to be maintained in itR primi-
tive state as far as possible, its abundant wildlife and scenic splendor
would provide a major attraction. Facilities for meals, lodging and
year-round sports, including boating, hiking, camping, skiing and skat-
ing, would give the residents of the entire area as well as tourist
recreational advanta~es which are now almost totally lacking.
14. Since Eklutna Lake is roughly halfway between the centers
of population at Anchorage and Palmer, any recreat10nal development
would be witbin easy reach of residents of the entire area. Thous~nds
of troops stationed at permanent military bases in the area would
welcome development of recreational potentialities of Eklutna Lake.
Industry !B£ Economic Conditions
15. Industry in the area includes agriculture, livestock raising,
gold mining in the Willow Creek district, coal mining in the Matanuska
district, several small lumber mills, fishing 1n Cook Inlet south of
Anchorage with canneries located both along the inlet and at Anchorage,
tra~ping and fur farming. Anchorage thrives as the trading, supply
and recreational center for the area, with all the trades, services,
stores and comforts to be found in a city Qf similar size in the
United States. The tourist business is of growing importance, as is
the guiding and outfitting of hunting and fishing parties. The air
transportation business is often referred to as the city's leading
industry, with planes arriving from and departing to the States and
the Orient, as well as the entire Territory.
16. Construction, with nearby Fort Richardson still expanding
and with a large backlog of civilian demand, is still booming. Pro-
jects now under way or scheduled for the near future will add to this
activity. They include: a three-year rehabilitation program for
the Alaska Railroad, the construction of the International Airport and
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Report of the Chief
a 400-bed hospital for the Alaska Native Service at Anchorage, the
construction of a road connecting Anchorage with the Kenai Penin-
sula, a resumption of large-scale construction at Fort Richardson
involving 28 million dollars, and the hard-surfacing of the Anchorage-
?alaer road.
17. In the past, the region has been largely dependent upon
government payrolls, supplemented by commercial establishments,
fishing, farming, mining and trapping. Government agencies which
have headquarters or offices at Anchorage include the Alaska Railroad,
the Civil Aeronautics Admintstration, the United states Weather
Bureau, Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wild-
life Service, the Alaska Road Commission, the Alaska Highway Patrol.
18. With WOrld War II came a boom in military construction and
a resulting increase in civilian population and activity in Anchorage.
It is estimated that for every job created in the construction busi-
ness another position was created among supporting businesses in
town. If government payrolls ceased overnight, Anchorage and vicinity
would experience a serious economic blow. There is a great need for
further development of privately-owned industries.
19. The deterrent to such development has heen high costs.
Nearly everything which Alaskans need must at present be shipped in
from the States. Freight rates are among the highest in the world
and contribute to an abnormally high cost of living. This high cost
of living, and hence production, discourages new industries, which
depresses further domestic expansion. The lack of a large population
, coupled with the lack of goods for export, in turn results in con-
tinued high freight rates. Alaskans on the whole have enjoyed pros-
perous times over the last eight years, and there are enough large
projects now on the agenda to assure a high level of employment for
the next three years, but the lack of a basic economy capable of sup-
porting a growing population will be a serious problem if not remedied.
To this end sufficient electric power at reasonable rates could be
a major catalyst.
20. The area is served by all four modes of transportation:
land, air, sea and rail. While ocean going boats dock at Seward and
at Whittier, south of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula, some can and
do come into Anchorage during the ice-free months. The Alaska i18il-
road travels through Anchorage and the t4atanuska Valley enroute to
Fairbanks in the Interior. Aside from numerous roads in and about
the centers of population, a highway extends from Anchorage through
the Matanuska Valley and on to the Interior road system, including
the Alaska Highway to the States. Bus service is available within
the towns and over the highway system. Both Anchorage and Palmer
have airports and air transportation is available to various points
in the States, the Orient and throughout the Territory. Alaskans are
among the most air-minded people in the world, and air transportation
is highly developed.
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Report of the Chief
Plan g! Development
21. The recommended plan for the development of Eklutna Project
calls for the construction of a concrete gravity type dam including
supporting buttress to replace an existing structure now owned by
the City of Anchorage. The dam would be constructed to elevation
879.5 which is four feet above the maximum lake level during floods.
The length of the dam would be 329 feet with concrete wing-walls ex-
tending out 48 feet on the left side and 50 feet on the right making
a total structural length of 427 feet. The spillway crest at eleva-
tion 870 would be 190 feet in length and without control gates. The
spillway is designed for a maximum discharge of 7,500 cubic feet per
second when the lake surface is at elevation 875.5.
22. The major portion of the water entering Eklutna Lake would
be diverted through a nine-foot diameter tunnel entering Goat Mountain
and extending for a distance of nearly four and one half miles to the
Knik River side of the mountain range. Nearing the tunnel outlet a
concrete surge tank would extend up through the mountain. At the
mouth of the tunnel a steel penstock 6! feet in diameter and 1,250
feet long would intercept the tunnel flow and convey the water down
the mountain side to the power plant. The average opersting head at
the power plant would be approximately 820 feet.
23. The power plant located at the base of Goat Mountain directly
below the tunnel outlet near mile 34 on the Anchorage-Palmer highway
would have an installed capacity of 30,000 Kw. It would be necessary
to construct a canal, and a short reinforced concrete bridge where the
canal would pass beneath the Anchorage-Palmer highway, to convey the
tailwater from the power plant to the Knik River approximating a dis-
tance of 2,000 feet. Military considerations may require that the
plant be a "protected type" installation.
24. The plan of operation purports to draw the lake level down
a maximum of 40 feet to elevation 8)0 feet. There is in the lake at
least 200,000 acre-feet of space below elevation 830 which is con-
sidered suff~cient dead storage space to provide for silt accumulation
and a useful life to the reservoir far in excess of 100 year~ The
capacity of tqe reservoir between elevations 830 and 870 would be
123,000 acre-feet and would facilitate the storage of sufficient water
to produce a firm output of 100 million kilowatt-hours. Secondary
energy would exceed 40 million kilowatt-hours during an average year
run-off, plus approximately 3.5 million kilowatt-hours to be generated
at the existing Eklutna plant from spills and inflow below the proposed
dam.
25. Geological investigations disclosed that the foundation
and abutment materials in the proposed damsite area are interbedded
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Report of the Chief
glacial, lake and stream deposits ranging from tight clay to permeable
gravel and boulders. Similar engineering-geologic.weaknesses have
been met and successfully corrected in many previous Bureau projects.
In this instance also, they can be successfully dealt nth by accepted
methods of foundation treatment. The construction of a low dam to
raise the existing lake level from elevation 868· to 870 is geologically
and economically feasible.
26. The canal gate and tunnel comprising the reservoir intake
will require excavation and construction operations in overburden
materials similar to those at the damsite. The major portion of these
operations would be carried on below groundwater table.
27. The four and one-half mile rock tunnel would be bored through
moderately fractured sandstone, andesi tic and similar rock types.
Some large flows of groundwater are anticipated and at least one major
and a large number of minor broken and crushed zones are present.
Soft, "squeezing" ground would be encountered locally and it is esti-
mated that 2,000 lineal teet of the total tunnel length would require
strong, continuous supports; moderate to very light supports would be
adequate· for the remainder of the tunnel length. No serious difficul-
ties are anticipated in the tuzmel operations, provided adequate geo-
logic investigations are concluded as a guide for design and construc-
tion procedures.
28. Ample quantities of the natural construction materials re-
quired for the Eklutna Project can be located within economic hauling
distances.
29. Transmission facilities would consist of two 115 to 161 kilovolt
wood pole lines; one extending !rom the Eklutna 30,000 Iva. substation,
a distance of 34 miles to the City of Anchorage; and the other line to
a point on the Palmar-Wasilla road about four miles west of Palmer,
a distance of 12 miles fro. the Eklutna power plant and substation.
Initially these lines will be operated at $7 kilovolts to facilitate
service to the four 1,500 Kva. recently constructed substations of the
City of Anchorage. Provision is made for a 5,000 Iva. substation to
supply Fort Richardson Army Base and Elmendorf Airfield electric
service and a 2,000 Kva. substation for the Alaska Railroad.
Costs
30. The estimated cost of construction of the project, taking
into consideration Alaskan differentials and present price levels, is
$20,36$,400. This includes the acquisition of the existing Eklutna
power generating facility or alternate arrangements that may be made
to provide for the most efficient coordinated operation of the two
plants. The purchase price paid by the City of Anchorage in October,
1943 for the existing Eklutna plant, the diesel plant and transmission
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system was $1,100,000. Bonds now outstanding total $865,000 as of
September 1, 1948. The project cost as shown does not include an
amount of $1,215,500, estimated by the National Park Service as the
cost of providing the recreational facilities at Eklutna Lake.
31. The estimated annual cost of operation and maintenance for
the project, exclusive of recreational facilities, is $158,300. The
estimated annual replacement costs total $72,600. Recreational re-
placement costs are not included in any of these operating costs.
32. There follows a progress chart showing tentatively a schedule
by calendar years for design am construction with estimates of funds
required from fiscal year 1949 and extending through to the completion
of the project in 1954.
Benefits
33. The direct benefits which are the revenues to be received
from the sale of power are estimated to be $1,015,200 annually during
the 50-year period of a.na.lysis. In addition, to these direct benefits
there would be indirect benefits in the form. of savings to power purchasers
and increased income to distributors and to consumers through the increased
use of electric power. The savings to power purchasers have been estimated
at $748,500 armually, and due to lack of data and the urgency of complet-
ing this study no est1lla.te has been made of the increased income to dis-
tributors and final consumers. '!'he direct benefits plus the measured
indirect benefit. total $1,763,700 annuall.7. The annual costs for amorti-
zation of the initial cost of the project at 3% in 50 years plus ~ and
replacement have been estimated at $1,022,400. The ratio between the
total measured benefits and costs for this power project is therefore
1.7 to 1. In addition to the power benefits that are measurable in mon&-
tary terms there are recreational benefits which the National Park Serv1ce
indicates are twice as much as the total annual costs for recreational
facilities.
Allocation of Estimated Costs
34. The estimated construction cost of the proposed facilities is
$2l,580,9~), of which $20,365,400 is for the dam, power plant and related
faCilities, and $1,215,500 is for provision of recreational facilities.
The ratio of benefits to costs for the power facilities is estimated to
be 1.7, while the National Park Service has advised the Bureau that the
benefits from recreational facilities may be considered as equal to twice
the estimated costs of the recreational faCilities, or a benefit-cost
ratio of 2.0. However, due to the fact that the lake already exists and
is at least as useful for recreation as it would be as a result of the
construction and operation of the dam, the only project costs which might
be allocated jOintly to recreation and power would be the cost of the road.
Since the estlaated co~t of the road which would serve both purposes is
only about one-half of one percent of the estimated cost of the project,
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Report of the Chief
it is clear that an allocation of cost materially exceeding the actual
cost of the recreational facilities does not appear warranted in this
case. The total cost of the power and related features of the project,
$20,365,400, is therefore tentatively allocated as reimbursable, and is
assumed to be all interest-bearing until investigations now in progress
disclose the exact amount of power facilities to be reserved for irriga-
tion pumping. The estimated costs of the recreational features recom-
mended herein, $1,215,500, are allocated to recreation and would be
non-reimbursable.
Repayment of Reimbursable Costs
35. Reimbursable project cost of $20,)65,400 would be returned
to the Government during a 52-year repa,ment period with interest
at three percent. Revenue source would be the sale of 96 million
kilowatt-hours ot tim. energy for 8.5 mils per kilowatt-hour and
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EKLUTNA PROJECT
SCHEDULE FOR DESIGN a CONSTRUCTI.ON
WITH ESTIMATES OF FUNDS REQUIRED
PR'ECONSTRUCTION CALENDAR YEAR
ACTIVITIES 48 1949 1950 1951 1952
FOUNDATION, EXPLORATION I
! ! I AND SURVEYS -
FINAL DESIGN PREPARATION i .!. I i -., (DAM. TUNNEL a PENSTOCK) i
CONTRACT SPECIFICATION i .!. J i I PREPARATION .i i
ADVERTISING FOR BIDS a I 'I I i AWARD OF CONTRACT I'
NOTICE TO PROCEED I i II t l
TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION
DRIVING I i ..!. ..!.
I -i CLEAN-UP ! II
I I
I I I LINING I I I
POWER PLANT
DESIGN I I I I I I
DELIVERY (F.O.I. FA-CTORY) I I I
SHIPPING I I III
I I j"
INSTALLATION I i I i ! i l
TESTING I I I I
i i I I
TRANSMISSION LINE a
SUBSTATIONS
STAGE I AND STAlE It
DESIGN
II I' i 1 t
DELIVERY (F,O,B, FACTORY)
I. J. J.
SHIPPING I I r
CONSTRUCTlON AND ! I I I
INSTALLATION I I
TESTING I 1 1 • I
i i 1
FISCAL YEAR
ESTIMATES OF ANNUAL
APPROPRIATIONS NECESSARY TO 1949 1950 1951 1952
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1953 ~54
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1953 1954
PERMIT EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTIOM $ 229,000 $2~00,000 $5,000,000 $5,500,000 $5,736,000 $1,500,400
Note: Only construction items requiring most time are shown.
147271
All other work can be done within time indicated UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Report of the Chief
41.5 million kilowatt-hours of secondary energy for 4.8 mills per kilo-
watt-hour each average year.
Conclusions
36. It is concluded that:
A. Construction of Eklutna Project as outlined herein is highly
desirable for the following reasons:
(1) The use of electric power in the power market area
is expanding so rapidly that new installations of hydroelectric
power plants are needed as quickly as possible to meet the
emergency requirements of existing loads and to permit the estab-
lishment of new industri~s to support increases in population and
economic development.
(2) The recommended plan of development has engineering
feasibility.
(3) All reimbursable costs would be repaid in full.
(4) The favorable benefit-cost ratio, 1.7 to 1, indicates
the economic desirability of the project from the national stand-
point.
B. In the event that a protected type power plant installation is
required for military security, the plant would be designed in accordance
with plans furnished by the Department of National Defense, and the
additional cost of such an installation should be non-reimbursable.
C. The cost of planning, construction, operation and maintenance
of the recreational facilities should be non-reimbursable.
Recommenda tions'
37. It is recommended:
A. That the Eklutna project, conSisting of the following principal
works:
Eklutna Dam, Reservoir, Tunnel, and Power Plant,
Transmission Facilities, and appurtenant works
be authorized for construction, operation, and maintenance by the Sec-
retary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation, in accordance
with the general plans set forth in this report, but subject to such
modifications, omissions, or additions as the Commissioner of Reclamation,
with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, may find necessary
or desirable from time to time to accomplish the objectives of the project;
and
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Report of the Chief
B. That the recreation facilities of the Eklutna Project
be authorized for construction, operation, and maintenance b.1 the
Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service, in addord-
ance with the general plan set forth in this report, but subject to
such .od1tications, omissions, or additions as the Director of the
. National Park Service, with the approval of the Secretary, may find
necessary or desirable trom time to time to accomplish the objectives
of the project: Provided, That prior to commencement of construction
of such facilities the Secretary shall secure satisfactory assurances
that an appropriate local or territorial agency will take over the
operation and maintenance of the recreational facilities wiihin a
reasonable period after completion of their construction.
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
JULIUS A. KRUG, Secretary
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
MICHAEL W. STRAUS, Commissioner
SUBSTANTIATING MATERIALS
EKLUTNA PROJECT
ALASKA
,
SUBS'l'UTIl'l'I1G MATERIALS
COITEII'l'S
CHlPtIa I LAID OF OPPORfOllti • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
P~sical Features • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Cli.aat. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • e· ••
SJ:l'TI.EII!2iT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Historr-• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Populatioa ••••••••••••••••••.•
ICOIOMIC DEVELOPMENT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Transportation •••• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Land Use. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Irrigation •••••••••••••••••••
~ Other Water
Undeveloped
Uses ...
Resources • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
ECOIIOMIC NEEDS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
CHAPTER II PIAl OF DEVEWPMDlT ••••••••••••••
Page
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7
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9
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CHAPTER III DESIGNS AND ESTIMA'l'ES • • • • • • • • • • •• 15
GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS ...-............... 15
General Geology-• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 15
Dusite • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 17
Intake Structure and Tunnel Geology-• • • • • •• 17
Power Plant Geology • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 19
Construction Materials ••••••••••••• 19
Summary -Conclusions • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 20
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROBLEIIS • • • • • • • • • •• 21
Accessibility • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 21
~ Rights-of-way • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 22
-Design Floods • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 22
Diversion During Construction • • • • • • • • •• 22
Construction Period • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 23
PROJECT WORKS •••••••••••••••••••• 23
COST ESTIMATES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 25
CHAPTER IV WATER POWER • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
WATER RESOURCES ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Precipitation ••••••••••••••••••
Stream Flow Records • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Determination of Runoff Eklutna Creek • • • • • •
Periods of Study ••••••••••••••••
Sedimentation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Reservoir Evaporation • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1
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26
26
27
29
31
32
32
Substantiating Materials
Contents
WATER RIGHTS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
POTENTIAL POWER PRODUCTION • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The Reservoir • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Reservoir Releases •••••••••••••••
Power Head ••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Installed Power Plant Capacity •••••••••
Reservoir Operation and Energy Output • • • • • •
CHAPTER V POWER SUPPLY AND MARKETS •••••••••••
PAST AND PRESENT POWER REQUIREMENTS •••••••••
Early Power Sources • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Rural Electric Distribution • • • • • • • • • • •
Isolated Power Facilities ••••••••••••
Area Power Production Capacity Versus Load
Requirements •••••••••••••••••
POWER. RATES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
FUTURE POWER REQUIREJ4ENTS ••••••••••••••
LOad Growth and Population Increase •••••••
Opportunities For Agricultural Load-Building .••
Power For Mining ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Suburban Development South and East of Anchorage.
Markets For Non-Firm Hydro Power ••••••••
Assured New Loads • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Other Load Possibilities ••••••••••••
Urgent Need For More Power •••••••••••
CHAPTER VI RECREATION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Page
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33
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35
35
37
37
37
39
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40
41
41
41
42
43
44
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4S
4S
49
CHAPTER VII FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND BENEFITS • • • • • •• 52
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 52
BENEFITS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 52
COMPARISON OF COSTS AND BENEFITS • • • • • • • • • •• 56
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CHAPTER VIII, POTENT!AL PROJECT EXTENS ION • • • • • • • • 57
COOPERATING INTERESTS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• Appended
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CHAPTER I
LAND OF OPPORTUNITY
In the northwest corner of the North American continent, at one
point only 56 miles distant from Russian Siberia, lies the Terri to17
of Alaska, America's last frontier. With an area of 586,400 square
miles and containing vast stores of untapped natural resources, it is
today's land of opportunity for thousands of Americans seeking new
horizons. Equally important is its position as back-door guardian
of the United States in the event of attack from the Far East or over
the polar regions.
At the gateway to the main land mass of Alaska stands Anchorage,
its largest and fastest growing city. Forty-eight miles northeast of
Anchorage is the latanuska Valley, Alaska's most productive agri-
cultural region. High up in the Chugach ibuntains, halfway between
these two ,eenters of activity, Eklutna Lake nestles amidst the spectac-
ular setting of nature at its best.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
The Eklutna Project area lies in the south-central portion of
the main body of Alaska and is usually referred to as Westward Alaska.
From north to south it includes the Willow Creek-mining district, the
Matanuska Valley J the lands bordering Knik Arm between Palmer and
Anchorage, and the Anchorage area south to Turnagain Arm. It is
bounded on the north and west by' the sea and the Alaska Range of
mountains and on the east by the Chugach and Talkeetna Ibuntains.
Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska and the supply center for this
area, lies 1400 airline miles northwest of Seattle.
The Indian village of Eklutna, from which the lake -and hence
the project -gets its name, lies 26 miles northeast of Anchorage
by' rail and highway. It is the location of a vocational school for
natives operated by' the Alaska Native Service.
Physical Features
Geologically, the district is a continuation of the continental
Pacific )fountain system, whose parallel ranges can be traced through·
British Columbia into Alaska. The particular sector under discussion
embodies two large flat areas, one a valley floor and the other a
coastal plain. Ikluntains and the sea almost isolate these two areas
from each other but they are connected by' a narrow strip of land
which is bordered on one side by Knik ira, and on the other b.Y rugged
mountains.
In the southern of the two areas is Anchorage, located on a bluff
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Land of Opportunity
overlooking Cook Inlet, which is an extension of the Gulf of Al&&ka.
Anchorage is bounded to the north, south and west by the sea. Back
of the city a low, flat plain extends to the Chugach Mountain Range,
which roughly covers a quarter-circle from northeast to southeast.
These mountains are, for the most part, steep and rugged, though free
of snow during the summer months. The area thus enclosed by the
mountains and the sea totals about 75 square miles and it is mostly
covered by a dense growth of small birch and spruce, interspersed
with many lakes and ponds.
Northeast of Anchorage, the mountains come down to meet the sea,
and from there almost to Palmer the highway and railroad cling to a
narrow strip of land. On this road at Mile 26 from Anchorage is
Eklutna Village, and branching off to the right is the side road
climbing up -to Eklutna Lake.
Fort~-eight miles by highway northeast of A.nchorage, at the head
of Kn1k A.nn, is the beginning of the Matanuska Valley. It is roughly
50 miles long by 16 miles wide, and almost cODlpletely sllrr01lDCi.:i b7
the Alaska, Talkeetna and Chugach mountain ranges. Through its noor
run the Matanuska and Knik Rivers. Wast of the Valley is cOTered by
a dense growth of birch and spruce, many of which are a foot or more
in diameter. It is estimated that roughly half the land in the Vallq
may be sui ted to faming, while portions of the foothills are considered
suitable for the grazing of livestock. In the northeastern sector are
the Ma:tanuska coal fields, while to the northwest is the Willow Creek
mining district.
Climate
The clilBate is fairly uniform and presents what might be called
the average in Alaska, being warmer than the Interior and cooler than
Southeast Alaska in winter. For those who think of Alaska as a fro-
zen land, it is well to note that Anchorage is sometimes warmer in
winter than many places in the United Statetu
Years lWd.mum Minimum
City Record Temperature Temperature
Anchorage, Alaska 29 92 -37
But te, Montana 40 100 -52
Salt Lake City, Utah 40 105 -20
Cheyenne) Wyoming 40 100 -38
st. Paul, ltinnesota 36 104 -41
Detroit, Michigan 40 105 -24
Chicago, Illinois 40 105 -23
Lake PlaCid, New York 30 94 -39
Hanover, New Hampshire 40 101 -37
The precipitation is about that of Salt Lake City, and &Terages be-
tween 14 and 16 inches annually, most of it falling during the late
2
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Land of Opportunity
IIUIIIler months. The Eklutna Project area is classified as semi-arid.
Winds are genertU,ly light, although during certain periods severe
winds are experienced, which damage buildings and erode unprotected
fields. The prevailing wind is from the southeast, and consequently
it is the high mountains to the south and east which get the heavy
precipitation. The humidity is relatively light. There is no perma-
frost (permanently frozen ground) except at higher elevations in the
surrounding lDO\.Ultains.
Due to the northern latitude, the days are short .in winter and
long in the summer, which accounts partially for the rapidity with
which produce grows during the warm months.
Summaries of climatic statistics follow in tabular form for
Ancho~ge and Palmer, headquarters of their respective districtsl
Anchorage Palmer
Temperature
Januar,y, average 11.2 12.6
July, average 57.0 57.7
Vax:!. mum rec orded 92 91
Minimum recorded -37 -36
Precipitation, average inches 14.56 15.45
Jt1.l ) 1 ng frost
Last in spring lIay 23 Kay 26
First in fall .sept. 13 Sept. 11
Growing season, days 113 loB
Hours possible sunshine, first
day each month, hours and Ilin. " Janual"1 5142 5121
Februa.ry 7145 7133
Karch 10122 10119
April 13119 1312'2
Kay 1610B 16119
June 1BI41 19103
July 19114 19140
August 17112 17127
September 14121 14125
OctQ" 11132 11130
November B.39 8129.
December 6rl5 5158
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Land of Opportunity-
SETTLEMENT
History
The waters of Cook Inlet were first explored by Russian traders
in the late 1700' s and by Captain James Cook, the Englishman, at
about the same time. In unsuccessfully seeking an elusive passage,
the latter gave Turnagain Arm its name. The tirst to travel the land
to any extent were fur seekers and later occasional prospectors.
After the United States purchased the Territo~ tram Russia in 1867,
commercial fishing in the Inlet commenced. Gold discovered in the
vicinity of Cook Inlet in 1880 attracted some people, but there was
no stampede.
Following the great gold strikes of the Yukon, Noae and Fairbank.
regions, permanent settlers began coming to Alaska, some of th_
settling along the shores of Cook Inlet or Knik Arm, others in what
is now called the 14a.tanuska Valley. Those interested in coal, which
had been discovered in commercial quantities in the Katanuska Vall~,
and in a short yeaI'-round route to the Interior, began planning a
railroad. The Alaska Central started construction north fram Seward
and in 1914 the Federal government took it over and continued build-
ing toward Fairbanks.
Anchorage began to nourish when it was made headquarters for the
railroad under construction and a planned townsite was laid out. Upon
completion of the road in 1923, otfices and maintenance shope were
permanently located in Anchorage, and Dl8.DI1 of the construction workers
stayed to settle the townsite. Anchorage has ever since been expanding,
with its growth closely associated with that of fanning, mining, fish-
ing, construction, transportation, and federal agencies.
Two events have combined in recent times to boost the growth of
the project area. In Kay, 1935, 200 families fro. the drought-stricken
Midwest were transported to Alaska by the government-d:1.rected Alaska
Rural Rehabilitation Corporation and settled on the land, giving the
Matanuska Valley its first large group of settlers. Some of these
settlers were incompetent for the hard work of farming in Alaska,
but their place has been taken by ne1WComers eager to succeed in the
new land. The Valley has enjoyed a steady" growth botll in population
and in agri~ul.tural developments which are DOW fimly estabUshed.
Prior to 1940, the only permanent military' establishment in
Alaska consisted of a small garrison at Chilcoot Barracks, near
Haines in southeastern Alaska. With the advent of World War II, the
United St!.tes was forced to hurriedly arm and defend the Territory',
and huge defense projects were undertaken. Thousands of workers
were rushed north to construct (aaong others) the large lIili tary
4
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Land of Opportunity
base, near Anchorage, which embodies Fort Richardson and Elmendorf
Field. It is estimated that every job at the Fort resulted in the
creation of another in town. Unlike other places which have similarly
boomed, Anchorage has managed to consolidate its rapid expansion. The
history of our western United States is filled with instances of mili-
tary and trading outposts growing to prosperous metropolitan centers.
Salt Lake City is adjacent to century-old Fort Douglas and Sacramento
is literally built around Sutter's Fort, now a museum. Anchorage is
now tending to parallel that same sequence of development and has
aIready reached the stage where it supports satellite agricultural
and suburban communities.
Thus the history of the area is one of steady and at times rapid
growth, based to a large extent upon government expenditures, but with
a healthy background of permanence and steady development of industry
and natural resources. Particularly as regards agriculture, it is
certain that an expanding population will provide greater local mar-
kets and a resulting added incentive to production.
Population
At the time of the 1939 census, Anchorage had a permanent popu-
lation of 3,495. In July, 1948, the Department of the Interior esti-
mated the present population at 19,000, a growth during the last eight
years amounting to an amazing 570%. Postmaster H.E. Brown estimates
the present population at 30,000 to 35,000. All these figures i~
clude the adjacent suburbs of Mountain View and Senard, but do not
include the mill tary population of Fort Richardson, which can be
considered as permanent, though subject to variation. It seems
certain that the population trend in the Anchorage area will continue
upward for a number of years, particularly after considering the
number of new large scale developments under way or scheduled for
the near future.
It is equally difficult to guess at the present population of
the Matanuska Valley, due to the many scattered farms and. absence of
any recent surveys. In 1939, Palmer, the largest town, had 150 resi-
dents, but now the figure is between 500 and 1000. Wasilla is esti-
mated at upwards of 200, and there are numerous smaller centers of
population. In 1943, the population of the Valley was estimated at
2,250. At that time, there were about 250 farms, 144 of which had
been established by the Rehabilitation Corporation at the tiae of the
colonization project. It is thought that there are about 400 farms
now, and while it is not known for certain, estimates for the popu-
lation of the entire valley run as high as 4,500. Farming has been
conclusively proven possible and profitable, where hard work, per-
severance and sufficient capital are applied; hence with additional
sui table lands available and an expanding market near~, further
population growth seems inevitable.
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ANCHORAGE CONTINUES TO GROW BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. PICTURED
ABOVE IS FOURTH AVENUE, IN 1934 (ABOVE) ANC 1947 (BELOW).
Land of Opportunity
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Anchorage serves as Territorial headquarters for Alaska Railroad,
Civil Aeronautic Administration, Weather Bureau, Alaska Communications
System, and many other government agencies. It is headquarters for
the Third Judicial Division. Many other Federal and Territorial bu-
reaus have offices here, such as Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau
of Land Management, Alaska Road Commission, Territorial Highway Patrol,
and others.
Fort Richardson is Command Headquarters for all armed forces in
Alaska, and it provides a major payroll for Anchorage. Present, and
future construction at the Fort will mean much to the community.
Anchorage is a hub· of transportation facilities of all types.
The air transportation industry in particular is fast becoming of
major importance.
It is the trading and supply center for such diverse activities
as hunting, trapping and fishing over a huge area, farming and coal
mining in the Matanuska Valley, gold mining in the Willow Creek Dis-
trict, farming and homesteading on the Kenai Peninsula, and commercial
fishing in Cook Inlet. Two fish canneries are located at Anchorage.
Projects already under way or scheduled for the near future will
do much to further develop this tbri~ing community, already the larg-
est in Alaska. The Alaska Railroad's $50 million rehabilitation pro-
gram is well under way. Originally scheduled for five years, it has
been stepped up so as to be completed by 1950.
Engineering has been started on the new International Airport,
for which Congress has appropriated $8 million, with completion
scheduled for 1950 or 1951.
Work is to be started next year on a $6 million 400-bed hospital
for the Alaska Native Service.
Construction has started on an all-important road which will at
long last give Anchorage a highway connection with the Kenai Penin-
sula, which is an unsurpassed hunters' paradise and contains farmlands
of growing importance. More than 160,000 acres in the vicinity of the
town of Kenai have been withdrawn recently in anticipation of e gov-
ernment-sponsored settlement program. The Interior Department was
appropriated $11,373,000 for the construction of this road, which
will probably be ready for use by the fall of 1949.
The Alaska Road Commission is to hardsurface the road connect-
ing Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley next summer, which will great-
ly expedite traffic between the two areas.
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THE CATCHING AND CANNING
OF SALMON IS A LOCAL
INDUSTRY OF CONSIDERABLE
IMPORTANCE.
Land of Opportuni ty
Not to be outdone, citizens of Anchorage at three separate elec-
tions recently authorized the issuance of $4,825,000 in bonds to fi-
nance civic improvements, including a new gravity water system, ne~
and additional sewers, a new and greatly enlarged dial telephone
system, street paving and more power lines.
To carry on the expansion of nearby Fort Richardson, Congress
has appropriated $28,192,375. Work has been at a virtual standstill
this year due to the lack of funds, but will be resumed ona large
scale in the spring of 1949. In and about Anchorage there is a large
backlog of civilian construction, and this can be expected to increase
as the population continues to e~nd. A proposed cement plant in
the vicinity of McKinley Park could greatly expedite construction of
all types.
In the Matanuska Valley are coal fields, served by a highway
and a branch line of the Alaska Railroad. In 1947, more than 362,000
tons of coal were mined in Alaska, a large part of which came tram the
llatanuska coal fields. The Army and the Alaska Railroad are big con-
sumers. The coal is of highquali ty, and studies are being made to'
determine the feasibility of establishing a briqueting plant, to ~
duce coal briquets, oil and by-products.
In the western section of the Valley ia the aportant W1l.l0 .. ·
Creek mining district, the scene of many gold lode operations. It
the price of gold is raised, or the cost of aiDing goes down, 1D-
creased activity in this area is expected. .
Transportation
Eklutna Project area is served by air, highway, railroad, and to
some extent, sea transportation. The 4S-mile Palmer Highway connect.
Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley, north of which the Glenn Highway
gives access to the Interior road ~stem and the Alaaka Highway. In
both areas there are access roads too numerous to mention, thougb
there is great need for further development. The Alaska Railroad
travels from the seaports of Whittier and Seward on the Kenai Penin-
sula, through Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley, and on north to
Fairbanks.
There are some 12 non-scheduled and 2 schedul~ airlines flying
between Anchorage and Seattle. Two lines fly directly between Anch-
orage and midwestern Un1 ted States. Anchorage is a stop on the great-
circle route to the Orient, utilized by Northwest Airlines, with sever-
al foreign countries planning to enter the trade. Planes from Anch-
orage travel to all corners of the Terri tory, serving the Aleutian
Islands, the Bristol Bay fishing area, the Interior, Kenai Peninsula,
various mining and trapping areas, as well as Palmer in the Matanuska
Valley, which has its own thriving airport. In a land where the
people are more air minded than any other place on earth arid where
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DURING BUSY MONTHS. ANCHORAGE'S MERRIL FIELD (ABOVE)
WITNESSES MORE LANDINGS AND T~KEOFFS THAN NEW YORK'S LA GUARDIA
ANCHORAGE'S EXPANDING RAILROAD DEPOT ( BELOW). WITH ALASKA
RAILROAD SHOPS AND LIVING QUARTERS IN THE BACKGROUND
(
Land of Opportunity
there is an average of more than one plane to every 40 persons, air
transportation is of major importance.
Anchorage has a harbor of sorts, although it freezes up during
the winter. l40st ships dock either at Seward or Whittier on the
Kenai Peninsula, although ArJJlf transports, oil tankers, some fishing
vessels and others come directly to Anchorage. A Port Commission
is studying possible further development.
The Anchorage Transit Systam operates 18 coaches on the city
streets. Busses also travel between communities on the highway
system. Connections can be made to the States OTer the Alaska High-
way.
Anchorage and Palmer have telephone systems, although both lo-
calities are finding it hard to keep up with demand.
Land Uses --
In general, land use is confined to agriculture in ttB }Aatanuska
Valley and mining in the Watanuska Coal fields and the Willow Creek
gold mining district. The]a tter have been discussed Jl" eviously.
Farming on a large scale is as yet unknown in Alaska, due to the
great difficulty and high cost of clearing the land, erecting the
necessary buildings and obtaining supplies and. help. In the l4atanuska
Valley it is estiJaated that there are about 9,000 acres of farmland
cleared. and a bout twice that much more available. The only crops
which do not do well are hot-weather crops, such as corn, squash,
cucumbers, tomatoes and melons, (although Man7 of these are being
grown successfully in greenhouses) and tree fruits. Potatoes are
successfully produced, as well as cabbages, cauliflower, parsnips,
celery, rutabagas, turn1PSI carrots, beets, chard, peas, radishes,
lettuce, string beans, rhubarb, onions and spinach. Oats, barley
and wheat are grown, and bush fruits produce abundantly. Extensive
trials and experimental work have not yet developed perennia~ lagoons
adapted to the area, and this has handicapped livestock production
so~what.
Hogs, beef cattle and sheep, as well as goats, poultry and rabbits
all do well in the Valley, although winter feeding is expensive.
Dairying is becoming increasingly popular due to the high prices of
flUid milk relative to production costs and. relative to the prices
from alternative farm enterprises.
Use of the land is definitely on the increase and much expansion
is possible before the available markets will be satisfied. Although
costs are tremendously high, thus making it impossible for farmers to
expand rapidly, their produce does enjoy a sort of protective tariff
due to the high shipping costs from the United States.
In addition to that done in the Matanuska Valley, there is some
farming in the vicinity of Anchorage, although general conditions
are not quite so favorable and less land is available. In most in-
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POTATOES ARE RAISED EXTENSIVELY NEAR ANCHORAGE (ABOVE) AND THE MATANUSKA VALLEY.
LIVESTOCK RAISING IS OF INCREASING I~PORTANCE (BELOW)
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Land of Opportunity
stances this consists of truck or general farming on a small scale,
usually in conjunction with livestock raising or dairying.
Irrigation
Since there is a deficiency of precipitation in the Eklutna Project
area during the growing season, irrigation on the farms in the lIatanuska
Valley and the Spenard agricultural area would be beneficial. A case in
point is the Spring of 1948 during which the most severe drought conditions
since 1931 were recorded in the Eklutna Project area. The drought figured
in the loss of a considerable portion of the garden crops of the Matanuska
Valley. The average yield could be greatly increased by adequate
irrigation. Irrigation by electric pumps is now being used only experi-
mentally at several of the l4a.tanuska Valley farms; both sprinkler am
row irrigation are being tried, primarily on vegetable crops, and although
pasture irrigation has not been tried, it may have some value in dairying.
Other Water U§es
The only use of water for hydroelectric power production in the
proj ect area is the existing small plant near the village of Eklutna,
owned and operated by the Anchorage Public Utilities. The plant has
an installed capacity of 2-1000 kw generators which operate under a
static head of 232 feet. Water released from Eklutna Lake flows dow
Eklutna Creek about 8 miles to the power plant forebay at the diversion
dam, where it is diverted through an 1800 foot tunnel at elevation
258.6 feet to the penstocks and powerhouse.
The Anchorage municipal water supply is Ship Creek, which flows
from the Chugach Mountains, along the edge of the city am. empties
into Cook Inlet. The present supply is inadequate, but:, it is planned
to pipe water from an ~-constructed dam located further up.tream
through a larger main than now ensts. Due to the lack of water
lines in some sections of the city and outlying areas many people
have their own wells.
The danger of floods in the region is not great, wi. th the excep-
tion of unique Lake George at the headwaters of Knik River in the
Matanuska Valley. The lake is formed each year from melting glaciers
all around it, the lower end being dammed by the side of Knik Glacier.
When the water reaches a depth of 300 to 400 feet the dam gives way
an~ the lake thunders down into Knik River, raising its level from
six to eight feet. A recent innovation is the dynamiting of the ice
jam as water piles up, so as to avoid the sudden emptying procedure.
Ugpeveloped Resource.
Alaska abounds in un:ieveloped natural resources, and the area
under consideration is no exception, although it is already the moat
populated section of Alaska. The difficulty in such development at
present is that in most instances present labor costs would be so
high as to make the venture unprofitable.
Considerable expansion in the Matanuska coal fields is possible
9
Land of Opportunity
with known deposits. An increase in coal demand for industrial and
home use, which will undoubtedly accompany the present rapid growth
in population, could bring this about.
Gold mining is limited b.1 the cost of extracting the ore. There
are known additional deposits which cannot be mined at present due
to this factor.
Many metallic and non-metallic ores are known to exist in the
Territory, but sufficient prospecting has never been done due to the
age-old attraction of placer and lode gold mining. As prospecting
is increased and production costs reduced, it is certain that many
minarals will be mined commercially in the Eklutna Project area.
Al though the trees in this part of Alaska are un sui ted to lumber
or pulp production for the most part, large stands of birch and other
woods could be utilized for specialty products. The Talkeetna Birch
Products Company has recently been formed to enter this field.
Little further increase in the catching and canning of salmon in
this area is possible without seriously endangering the supply. How-
ever, other types of fish, shell-fish or other ocean dwellers could
be caught and processed. The establishment of cold storage plants,
in particular, is encouraging further endeavors in this field.
The wildlife and scenery of the area offers prolific opportunities
for development of the tourist trade. With the recent opening of the
Alaska Highway to tourists and the increase in air and sea transporta-
tion facilities, it is expected that thousands annually will want to
see the magnificent panorama in Alaska. Many more will want to enjoy
its unsurpassed hunting and fishing. There is much which can be done
to develop facilities, while at the same time conserving wildlife and
preserving the natural beauty of the land. Entertainment-starved resi-
dents of Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley, as well as tourists, would
welcome recreational development at Eklutna Lake.
:;EC~O;,::,NO,;;,;M::o::I:.:.C ~
Alaska, the Eklutna Project area in particular, is growing rapid-
ly and on a firm basis but its needs are still great if it is to be-
come the substantially populated land it could be. In brief, the
problem is this: At present, Alaska must import from the United States
nearly everything it consumes. Because of the relatively small and
scattered centers of population and the absence of backhaul, steamship
companies charge freight rates which are among the highest in the
world. These transportation costs make for high prices in Alaska,
the resulting high cost of living discourages local industry, and the
two combined discourage further settlement.
10
"
Land of Opportunity
Alaska badly needs anything which will lower the cost of local
production, hence stimulating home industry and further settlement.
Tied in with this is the need for industries providing year-round
employment. At present, nearly all the large Alaskan industries, be-
ing of an "out-of-doors" nature, are seasonal. Construction, fishing
and canning, mining, lumbering and agriculture all flourish only dur-
ing the summer months. Trapping takes place only during the winter,
but does not give employment to many.
Adequate low-cost power is high on the list of necessities. Under
present conditions no large consumer of electrical power could possibly
locate in the area and hope to have his finished goods coml~te in
either the Alaskan or United States markets. Farmers could better
supply local markets with 10wer-90st produce in larger quantities
through the benefits of a developed irrigation program as soon as
power is available. in sufficient quantities at lower rates than those
in effect. The benefits to be derived from more and lower-cost power,
both to individual and industrial consumers, are inestimable. .
Present power facilities in the project area are insufficient
to supply every day needs. More than 3,000 people just outside the
city limits of Anchorage are without electric service for their newly
constructed homes. In the city the demand is so great that circuit
breakers are alternately opened on various sections of the power
Syst~2, thereby plunging entire areas into darkness. When there are
no lights, no hot water, no way to prepare hot meals and electrically
operated heating systems fail there is human suffering in 4laska.. The
Ey~utna Project is an economic solution.
n~VESTIGATIONS ~ REPORTS
Eklutna power potentialities have long been recognized. The site
has been investigated by individuals, consulting engineering firms
and the City of Anchorage. In January, 1947 the Geological Survey
began the collection of basic data and in February, 1948 three reports
were issued, namely: "Preliminary Report on Water Power Resources of
Eklutna Creek, Alaska"; "Reconnaissance Report on Geology of Eklutna
Lake Dam Site and Conduit Route Near Anchorage, Alaska"; and "Prelim-
inary Report on the Geology Along the Route of a Proposed Tunnel To
Develop Power from Eklutna Lake, Alaska". These basic data collected
by Geological Survey have been utiliZed extensively by the Bur_eau of
Reclamation.
The City ~f Anchorage and the Rural Electrification Administration
collaborated with the Bureau of Reclamation in the investigation-o~
the Eklutna Project. Field surveys were started by the Bureau in July,
1948 and the work has been executed at a very rapid pace because of
the urgency for the project.
11
Land of l._~rtunit~
The task would have been impossible to accomplish in the short
period of time allotted except that all Federal, Territorial ~~d
local agencies gave splendid cooperation. Of especial value were
data supplied by Geological Survey, Alaska Railroad, Alaska Road
Commission, Office of Indian AffairS, Bureau of Land Management,
Bureau of Mines, Fish and Wildlife Service, all of the Department
of the Interior; Alaska Agricultural Experiment Stations and Rural
Electrification Administration of the Department of Agriculture;
Civil Aeronautics Administration of the Department of Commerce; Alaskan
Command of the Department of National Defense; Federal Power CommiSSion;
Territorial Government; and the City of Anchorage.
12
"
CHAPTER II
P LAN o F D EVE LOP MEN T
The project would serve the multiple purpose of power production,
irrigation and recreation. It all revolves around the development
of Eklutna Creek, geographically located about midway between Anchorage
and Palmer.
Nature was kind. A glacier retreating up Eklutna Valley left
behind a natural dam across the creek. Eklutna Lake, a body of water
seven miles long and 200 feet deep, was thus created. Fortunately,
the lake lies 868 feet above the sea with only a narrow mountain
intervening. Power could be produced by the simple plan of a tunnel
through the mountain, a penstock dovffi the mountain side and a power
plant at tidewater level. To protect nature's dam against any flood that
might over-top, cut or scour it, a concrete spillway is planned.
In winter time when inflow of water to the lake almost ceases,
of during drought years, power-water would be drawn from lake storage.
Placement of the tunnel inlet below the natural lake surface would
make this possible. Excessive flows during summer months or during
years of heavy runoff would replenish the supply of stored water. A
tunnel would be driven through Goat Mountain to the Knik Arm side,
a distance slightly less than four and one-half miles. From the
tunnel outlet, the water would be conveyed downnard through a steel
pipe six and one-half feet in diameter to the power plant. Tentative
location of the plant is on the Anchorage-Palmer highway near mile-
post 34. The installed capacity of the plant would be 30,000 kilowatts.
Transmission lines, one north to Matanuska Valley and another south
to Anchorage would be necessary together with substation facilities.
Although the lines would be designed for ultimate operation at a higher
voltage, initial operation would be at only 57,000 volts.
Firm energy available for normal use would total 100 million
kilowatt-hours annually. Secondary energy, available only during
certain hours, and increasing and decreasing during seasons of high
and low lake levels, would total more than 40 million kilowatt-hours
in the average year. In addition, secondary energy would be produced
at the existing plant when water is available from spills from the lake
and run-off from the 20 square miles of drainage area below the new dam.
Irrigation is a requisite to any over-all plan of development in
this semi-arid region. Experimental irrigation conducted in the
area has demonstrated the amazing yields possible on irrigated truck
farms. One such experiment on a relatively large acreage of potatoes
in the Anchorage area resulted in an increased yield of three and one-
half tons per acre as compared with an adjoining non-irrigated field.
The increase in gross crop benefit exceeded $250 per acre.
13
/
.,,,,~,...-...
'" -,_, : :~~"',. ~ -,' ;'~i~~ '"
__ ",_,,:,,_ .. ~_,,_~ .. -oi.
TYPICAL HOMESTEAD IN THE MATANUSKA VALLEY.
"SECTIOt-J OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY,WITHTHE TOWN OF PALMER INTHE BACKGROUND. (BELOW)
\.
T A
CANADA
LOCATION MAP
100 1.00 ~ 4QQ SOOMI
5TATUT'E ¥ll£.5
'00'
EEr:N~
.----Scale in ~fnes
(W
···--20'
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTER10~
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA lNVESTIGATIONS
EKLUTN.J.\' PROJEC T
LOCATION MAP
PRO,JEer WORKS
.,,-
C.'·
Plan of Development
Irrigation has a definite place in the Eklutna Project plan by utiliza-
tion of the low-cost power which will be available for pumping. The extent
of potential irrigation benefits cannot be determined until studies now
under way by several governmental agencies are concluded. Eklutna Proj act
secondary energy would be used to pump irrigation water each spring during
the usual dry season and to continue pumping throughout the growing season
in those years when summer rains fail to materialize.
Recreational facilities would be provided at Eklutna Lake. Plan-
ning and, after prior agreement with a territorial or local agency for
permanent management, development and interim administration of such
facilities would be under the National Park Service.
This is the plan of development that has finally evolved. Former
plans have been investigated and discarded for various reasons. As
an example, the construction of a series of dams down the canyon to
develop Eklutna Creek below the lake would be economically infeasible
because of the distance to impervious material in the stream-bed and
abutments. Another plan previously investigated would have involved
a conduit from the lake to a point down the creek near the diversion
works of the existing plant. The corxiuit route is on unconsolidated
material with steep slopes and cut by deep side ravines. Further,
climatic corxiitions would most likely preclude winter operation unless
the conduit was buried deeply, which would involve construction in
highly unfavorable ground and through suspected underground pockets
of perma-frost. All such plans stem from a natural desire to salvage
and continue operation of the small existing power plant. HOW'ever,
rehabilitation and enlargement of this plant to take the full regu-
lated flow of Eklutna Creek would be almost as costl1 as new construc-
tion and would only develop 27 percent of the power potentiality be-
tween the lake and the sea. It is contemplated that this existing plant
will be utilized in coordination with the proposed new plant whenever
water is available.
Another plan inYestigated for comparison and discarded was the
conatruction of a steam plant. The cost of production of power in
a new steam plant, of capacities which would be considered a8 alternative
to the Eklutna plant, is conservatively estimated at approximately 12.0
mills per kilowatt hour plus transmission costs.
For the evaluation of iMirect benefits in thi s report, an approximate
figure of 13.5 mills per kilowatt hour was used as the alternate cost of
producing energy frOll steam in this area of Alaska.
Development of the ~utna Project is only a stepping-stone toward
realization of a full grown regional econom;y. The project is the first
stage of a much larger plan for development of water resourCes in the
fast growing and promising railbelt, extending from Seward on Kenai
Peninsula through Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley over the Alaska
range and on to Fairbanks in the Interior. The capacity of Eklutna
Project would be fully utilized as soon as it is completed, and stUdies
14
/
are not under way to augment the proposed system with development of the
water resources of Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska, Susitna and Nenana
Rivers. This is the reason for including in the Eklutna Project a
transmission line constructed for ultimate operation of 115,000 to
161,000 volts, whereas initially only 57,000 volt operation is required.
The ultimate operating voltage gradient has not been definitely established.
There are many small communities to be served along the route of the
proposed transmission line, necessitating tapping the line at many points.
It is assumed that the REA Cooperatives now serving rural areas will
provide electric services to these communities in which case the adoption
of the higher voltage for the line is decidedly preferable from &1 operat-
ing standpoint. Eklutna Project is definitely an integrated part of a
coordinated and comprehensive plan for conservation and development
of the abundant natural resources of the railbelt area.
l4a
CHAPTER III
DES I G N SAN DES TIM ATE S
Design of project features entails no unusual engineering pro-
blem of major proportions. Many factors peculiar to Alaska influ-
ence estimated project costs. Climatic conditions likely to be ex-
perienced during construction, length of time t~ receive overseas
shipments, shipping costs, availability of Alaskan materials, labor
supply, wages and many other factors have been taken into considera-
tion.
GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS
Yost of the basic geological data was secured from two excellent
geologic field studies and reports prepared by personnel of the
Geological Survey. The subject reports are: WReconnaissance Re-
port on Geology of Eklutna Lake Dam Site and Conduit Route near
Anchorage, Alaska" By A.F. Bateman, Jr., (Field work during May,
June and July, 1947 -unpublished report dated August, 1947, Great
Falls, Montana); "Preliminary Report of the Geology Along the Route
of a Proposed Tunnel to Develop H1droelectric Power from Eklutna
Lake, Alaska" by F.F. Barnes, (Field examination made in June, 1947 -
unpublished report bound with the Bateman report).
The studies conducted by engineers and geologists of the Geo-
logical Survey during May, June, and July, 1947 were supplemented
by preliminary drill hole and test pit exploration carried out by
the Anchorage Public Utilities during the same period. The coop-
erative investigation included:
A. The preparation of geologic maps and sections illus-
trating the data and interpreted geologic relationShips in
the Eklutna Valley and the damsite area, as well as along the
tentative routes of the conduit and tunnel lines.
B. Two drill boles, six test pits and five side-hill
trenches, including geologic logs.
c. Twenty-two .aasured and described geologic sections
along the course of Eklutna Creek.
Reconnaisance field examinations, including a careful review
of all available data, were made by Bureau of Reclamation personnel
during July and August, 1948. During this period two addi tiona!
drill boles were completed by the Anchorage Public Utilities.
General Geology
Eklutna Valley is a steep-aided, trough-l1ke, glaciated valley
EKlUTNA BAS I N
Designs and Estimates
about 23 miles long, trending northwesterly on the west flank of the
Chugach Mountains. The upper levels of the valley present extensive
exposures of bedrock covered with a discontinuous veneer of rock
debris and cut by many sub-parallel ravines tributary to the main
valley. The topographic expression is the result of weathering and
erosion by running water in an area of severe, cold climatic condi-
tions; accordingly, the upper portion of the valley transverse cross
section is typically "V-shaped". In contrast, at lower elevations
the bedrock slopes have been smoothed and steepened, the lower ends
of ridges cut off and the lower portion of the valley cross-section
rounded out to a "U-shaped", trough-like section. Such topographic
modifications are the typical result of valley glaciation. In this
instance they were caused by the powerful abrasive action of the
Eklutna Glacier, which formerly extended down the full length of the
valley to its junction with the main valley of the Knik River.
The bedrock floor of the valley is completely hidden by Eklutna
Glacier, Eklutna Lake, and thick deposits of silt, sand and gravel
released as the glacier front melted back up the valley to its present
position. The remnants of Eklutna Glacier are now restricted to the
upper seven miles of the valley. Eklutna Creek, supplied by melt-
water from the glacier, flows down the valley for about four and three-
fourths miles to the head of Eklutna Lake. Through this distance, the
creek flows in a mesh of braided channels over a wide deposit of
material released by melting ice and carried down-valley by the creek.
Eklutna Lake extends for about seven miles down the valley and
is flanked on both sides by glacial deposits, alluvial fans, talus
and the steep rock slopes of the valley. The actual shores of the
lake consist of rock debris released by the glacier and in part
transported by former side-glacial streams. The bulk of such deposits,
locally terraced, exist chiefly on the northeast side of the lake.
Alluvial fans and extensive talus slopes, representing the material
derived by the normal weathering and erosion of bedrock at higher
elevations, have been built out over the surface of the glacial
deposits. Bedrock is actually exposed at lake level at only one
point on the left, or southwest, shore near the bend in the lake.
Soundings reveal that the lake has a relatively flat bottom, with a
maximum depth of about two hundred feet below the maximum (controlled)
level of the lake surface, at elevation 868.
From the lower end of the lake down the valley to its junction
with the main valley of the Knik River, the bedrock trough gouged
out by the glacier is filled with glacial debris to a general eleva-
tion of about 900 feet to 1000 feet. The upper end of this uncon-
solidated glacial fill forms the natural dam which creates Eklutna
Lake. Since the retreat of the glacier, Eklutna Creek has excavated
a narrow, inner gorge through the fill of glacial debris. The gorge
ranges from a depth of about fifty feet or less adjacent to the lake
16
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BUR. Of RECLAIIATION TILL
PROPOSED IIAX. RESERVOIR
SURfACE -ELEV. 870 (PROJECTED';
FIRST STAGE DEVELOP"ENT.
ESTlIIATED DEPTH TO BEDROCK OVER 300 FEET
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ALLUVIAL fAN SAND AND 'RAVEL
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UNITED STATES
DEPART"ENT 0' THE INTERIOR
BUREAU Of RECLAIIATION
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ALASKA INVESTIGATION OFFICE
NOTE', Ii EKLUTNA PROJECT ET
GEOL.OGIC SECTION HEAR L.AKE OUTL GEOLOGIC SECTION AOf· PTED fRO" A. f. BATE .. AN, JR.,
• RECONNAISSANCE REP liT ON GEOLOGY Of EKLUTNA DRAWN: AE.J. SUB"'TTED:
LAKE DA .. SITE AND CONDUIT ROUTE NEAR TRACED: _L.x. RECO .... ENDED:
ANCHORAGE, A LASKA: U. S. eEOL. SURVEY I UNPUBUSHED I ~C:!!H~E!::C~K~E!!D.i..: .!.A~.[~.~J.;;-;:-::::A~P~PBR~O;:;V!:lE~D~:';:;;...-;;-:-;;::;-;r ____ -1
REPORT) GREAT fALtie, 1147, "GURE 7. .. ANCHORAGE ,ALASKA '-3"41 I
(
Designs and Estimates
to over five hundred feet about five miles downstream. About six and
tnree-quarters miles below the lake outlet the creek has cut through
the unconsolidated, glacial overburden into bedrock. A short dis-
tance further downstream, in the vicinity of the concrete diversion
dam constructed by the Anchorage Public Utilities, the creek has cut
a narrow gorge into bedrock to a depth of approximately four hundred
feet.
Damsite
The axis for the damsite is through the existing low earth dike,
concrete outlet works and spillway constructed by the Anchorage Pub-
lic Utilities. In general, the foundation in the damsite area con-
sists of an intermixed clay and sand strata. This material is a
glacial deposit and -semi-impermeable.
Intake Structure and Tunnel GeologY
According to the present plans, the tunnel intake structure
would be situated a moderate distance north of the shore line at the
northeast corner of the lake; reservoir water would reach the gate
structure via an open canal and a tunnel section. The construction
of the canal and an initial section of the tunnel required to reach
bedrock would involve excavation of unconsolidated deposits. They
consist of alluvial fan and talus debris underlain b.1 inter strati-
fied beds ranging from silt, sand and gravel to till and possibly
lake clays.
In this connection, an exploration churn drill hole was com-
pleted 494 feet northeasterly from the lake shore on the tentative
intake line. The hole penetrated: silt, sand, gravel and boulders
-depth 0' to 44'; silty sand and fine gravel -44' to 113'. Water
losses determined by a few open-end casing tests were very low. On
the basis of this data it is presumed that tunnel construction diffl-
cul ties in overburden would not be unduly serious. However, a major
portion of the excavation and construction operations wotud be carried
out below the level of the groundwater table in relatively unconsoli-.
dated materials which might exhibit a wide range in physical make~
up, permeability and stability~ Consequently, large flows of water
and potentially unstable excavations may be encountered; more defi-
nite statements on such problems can be based only on the results ot
detailed subsurface exploration.
In the general area of the intake structure, the bedrock pro-
file on the north side of the valley slopes steeply down beneath the
glacial fill and slopewash; at the edge of the lake, bedrock is be-
lieved to be in excess of 150 feet below the ground surface. Thus,
the foundation of the intake structure would consist of overburden
rather than bedrock; the location considered most suitable would de-
17
I
r t< t< N
+
EXPLANATION: .2 = ORI LL HOLE
.6 = TeST PIT
/9 = MEAsuREOSECTIOIol
LOCATION OF EXPLORATIONS
=9
EXPLANATION .......
----......", --.... --....", -
OONTACT BETWEEN
ROCK TYPES
FAULT
SHEAR ZONE
STRIKE AND DIP Of
FOLIATION AND BEDDING
SCALE OF MILES
NOTE:-GEOLOGY ADAPTED FROM MAP BY
F. F. BARNE;:PRELIMINARY REPORT
OF THE G~OL06Y ALONG THE ROUTE
OF A PROPOSED TUNNEL TO DEVELDP
HYDROE'I EeTRIC POWER FROM EKLUTNA
LAIC-::, ALASKA,-U.S.GEOL. SURVEY.
194~ UNPUBLISHED).
BASE, EKLUTNA QUADRANGLE. U.5.ARMY.
STATES
THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA INVESTIGATION OFFICE EKLUTNA PROJECT
TOPOGRAPHY AND RECONNAISSANCE
GEOLOGY OF PROPOSED TUNNEL LOCATION
DRAWN: A. E. J. SUBMITTED:
TRACED: W.L.K. RECOMMENDED:
(
Designs and Estimates
pend upon determination of the subsurface bedrock profile, the sequence,
permeability and quality of the overburden strata as well as upoa equal-
ly important nongeologic factors.
From the intake structure, water would pass through ~ tunnel
running northeasterly for a distance of about four and one-half miles,
through the high rock ridge approximately under the east peak of Goat
Mountain, which separates the Eklutna Valley from the deeper .ain
valley of the Knik River. The tunnel would consist of a short section
(estimated length 1300 feet) in overburden and the remainder in rock
of the following general types:
A. Sedimentary strata belonging to the shale and sand-
stone (graywacke) groups, some of which have been metamor-
phosed sufficiently to develop the characteristics of slate
and argillite. These materials would be encountered chiefly
at the i~take end of the tunnel.
B. Igneous rocks, akin to andesite in composition, in
the middle section of the tunnel.
C. Basic igneous rocks similar to gabbro and pyroxe-
nite, and altered rocks such as serpentine at the power-
house end of the·· tunnel. The rocks are t-1ne-to-mediwa-
grained, dark-colored and tough, except where sottened or
otherwise modified b,y alteration.
Reconnaissance examinations have revealed that allot the rocks
which would be encountered in the tunnel are moderately to severely
fractured. Several faults, shear zones and numerous areas ot close-
spaced fractures and softened, altered rock are visible in the slopes
of the mountain along the tentative tunnel line. Similar conditions
are ,anticipated at tunnel level.
In general, the tunnel would be wet, and large flows of ground-
water would be encountered locally, as the tunnel heading crosses
severely jointed or faulted zones. Such conditions might seriously
impede the planned progress of construction operations unless ad-
vance precautions are taken.
The total length of the tunnel is about 22,000 feet. Of this distance,
present evidence indicates that about 5% of the tunnel would require
liner plates, 75% would require steel rib support, and 20% .would stand
18
(
Designs and Estt.ates
unsupported. In making the estimates it has been aSBUJled that coa-
pletion of the tunnel would include continuous concrete lining.
In its central portion the proposed tunnel would approach depths
of 4000 to 4500 reet beneath the mountain top. In view of this, and
since the area must be described as seismically active, it is in8Y1-
table that severe pressures would be encountered at these depths.
"Heaving", "squeezing " or "swelling" rock would undoubtedly be ex-
perienced where the tunnel excavation cross faults, severely crushed
and broken areas, or zones in which the rock has been softened by
alteration. "Rock bursts" might occur in the slightly to moderately-
jointed sections. In the more troublesome portions of such sections,
close-spaced, heavy steel sets or continuous liner plates, which
would ultimately become a part of the concrete lining, may be required
in order to maintain the designed tunnel cross section.
On the basis of the reconnaissance geologic examinations, no
especially serious difficulties in the tunnel boring operations are
anticipated. Existing techniques of design and construction, applied
by engineers experienced in tunnel problems, would be adequate. It is
assumed, of course, that detailed engineering geologic investiga-
tions along the tunnel line and in the powerhouse and intake areas
would serve to define the approximate magnitude, character and lo-
cation of troublesome conditions and areas which the design and con-
struction engineers must prepare to meet. Such investigations would
be an essential prerequisite to the design studies and to the success-
ful completion of the tunnel ri th a minimum cost and delay. TlRt .
investigations should include detailed surface geologic .lI8pping along
the tunnel line and, where the depth of oover rill permit, suppleaienta!"J
subsurface exploration by test shafts, drifts and dia.ond drilling.
~~ Geology
On the Knik River or power plant side of the ridge to be pierced
by the tunnel, the rock slopes' plunge steeply to the level ot the brOad,
flat s~face created by the silt, sand and gravel deposits ot the
Knik River. These deposits consist of interbedded strata ranging
from silty clay to sand and gravel and could be developed to serve as
a suitable foundation tor the power plant structure and switcbJard
facHi ties. Borings and related field· and laboratory tests would be
required to reveal the structure and stability of these deposits and per-
mit the design ot the most suitable pile, spread footing or mat-type ot
foundation. The penstock, power plant and switc~rd should be given ade-
quate protection from damage by snow and rock slides orig1~ating on the
steep mountain slope. In this connection additional subsurfaceinvesti-
gations to supply more detailed information on the foundation geology rill
be essential to the preparation of specification designs.
Construction Materials
An unlimited supply of sand and gravel can be found in the terraces.
and lowlands lying at the base of the mountain slopes on the south
19
(
\
Designs and Estimates
shore of Knik Arm and Knik River. The deposits could be opened at a
large number of points along the main highway from Eklutna Village to
and beyond the proposed power plant area. The sand and gravel con-
sists predominately of physically sound, subangular fragments of rock
types ~imi1ar to those described for the proposed tunnel line. Judg-
ing from field examinations of the gravel deposits and of concrete
made from comparable material, the sand and gravel would be suitable
for the concrete required in the Eklutna development.
Thick strata of Band and gravel are exposed at a number of points
along Eklutna Creek below the damsite, but in many instances the
depth of stripping required to remove the overlying. unsuitable material
would preclude economic operation. Detailed field examiniations may
reveal areas where such cover is thin, or locate deposits on the sur-
face of the glacial fill now obscured from view by dense vegetation.
The material in the alluvial fan lying on the right side of the
valley northeast of the existing dam is highly angular in shape and
contains a large proportion of flat fraements of slate and graywacke.
For the same reasons the terraced glacial deposits which extend east-
ward between the lake and the north wall of the valley are considered
objectionable as sources of concrete aggregate. Small amounts of
good qualitt concrete have been made from unscreened, pit-run glacial
gravel found in the Eklutna Valley. The possible content of ande-
sitic, pbyllitic and argillitlc rock types in both the Eklutna Valley
and Knik River deposits will necessitate a careful petrographic ex-
amination to determine whether or not low-alkali cement is essential.
Summary -Conclusions
Geologic data bearing on the proposed EklutnaaydroelectricDev-
elopment was assembled by the Geological Survey in cooperation with
the Anchorage Public Utilities. This data has been studied and
supplemented in field reviews made by Bureau of Reclamation personnel
and the following conclusions have been reached:
A. The proposed Eklutna Project, involvtog the construction
of a low dam at the outlet of Eklutna Lake to raise then8tural
lake surface 10 feet, a tunnel four and one-half ailes long,
a surge tank, penstock and power plant, is geologically f'easible.
B. The reconstruction of the existing low daa and raising
the reservoir surface frail elevation 868 to eleTatioD 870 1s gao-'
logically, and economically f'easible,proYided the natural weaknesse.
of the existing foundation are corrected°b,y ainor repairs and appro-
pria te dam design. In this connection, additional subsurface inve8tl-
gations to supply more detailed information on th~ f'oundatioR geology
will be essential to the preparation of' specificatioD designs. .
C. The construction of' the reservoir intake, tunnel and
power plant is geologically f'easible.
20
. ~ .. ~ ... .... -;.
. "-\!
. '-,-...... :.:,.
.~~~ 1"'· .
(
\
Designs aDd !stt.tea
D. The resenoir intake, including the approach canal aDd
about 1)00 teet ot tunnel, ri.l.l require excaTBtion operations in
glacial and streu deposits sillilar to those at the dalUi te. n.
major portion ot the excaTBtion w11l be below the groundwater
surtace in materials of IIIOderate perMabili t,., but some strata
of high permeab11it,. are anticipated and additional borings and
tests will be required to define these conditions more accuratel1.
E. The four and one-halt aile rock portion of the tunnel would
be excavated in moderately fractured sandstone, (graywacke),
andesitic and basic rocks (with the latter locally serpentinized)
and would cross at least one major and a large number of .!nor
broken, crushed, or severely altered zones or fauats. Soft,
"squeezing" ground as well as large groundwater flows would be
encountered locally since the central portion of the tunnel would
approach depths -of 4000 to 4500 feet beneath the .auntain top.
No especially serious difficulties in the tunnel boring
operations are anticipated, provided detailed geologic inTestl-
gation;and interpretation of subsurface conditions would be
accomplished in advance ot construction. Existing techniques
ot design and construction applied by engineers experienced in
tunneling problems would be adequate.
F. In the area of the power plant, the foundatioD of the
power plant structure and appurtenant fac11i ties would consist
of stream deposits ot sUt, sand and gravel. The power house
penstock, and appurtenant structures must be protected. against
damage by snow and rock slides •
G. Ample quantities of the concrete aggregate, riprap
rock and earth materials required for the Eklutna development
could be located wi thin an economic hauling distance ot the
areas of use •
DESIGN ~ CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS
Accessibility
Palmer Highway, an improved gravel road froll Anchorage north, is
adjacent to'the power plant Site, but Eklutna Lake is eight miles off
the highway. The present unimproved road from the Palmer Highway to
the lake is steep, narrow and a hazard to travel. This road would
require improvements and some new construction. A new road to the
tunnel's outlet portal above the power plant would be required fdr
construction purposes. Although the portal is close to the Palmer
High.ay, the difference in elevation is about 800 feet.
The Alaska Railroad parallels the Palmer Highway to within three
and one-half miles of the power plant site where it suddenly veers
across Knik Arm. At this point there is ample room for a railroad
21
,. ...
~
(
SPILL~AY CROSSING
SPILLftAY OOftNSJREAM (BELOW)
(
Designs and Estimates
siding thus making rail transportation ver,y convenient tor construction
requirements.
A permanent government camp at the power plant and accommodations
for construction workers at both the dam and the tunnel outlet would
be needed. Housing constructed at the power plant site would become
the permanent town for power plant operation and maintenance personnel.
Rights-of-way
Project works would be located on land now owned by the City at
Anchorag. or on Public Domain, with the exception at transmission
lines that would require easements across privately owned property
in suburban Anchorage.
Design Floods
Eklutna Creek is not subject to floods in the usual sense at
rain tloods. The runoff during November .to April is relatively
small, depending on tellperatures~ Flows usually increase frQm May
through August, the peak now coming either in July or August. The
runoff is mostly a snow melt, which is accelerated b.Y either ab-
normally high temperatures or in rare . instances . bY the occurrence
of warm rains on the snow. The maXimum now at the diversion dam as
estimated by the Anchorage Public Utilities for the period 1930 to
1947 was 3,100 c.f.s., and this occurred in 1944. An analysis of
peak flows for record years by the "Oalifornia method" indicates
that the peak discharge of ),100 second;;feet in 1944 had a frequency
of once in forty years and ihat a peak of 4,000 second-teet might
be expected about once in one hundred years. However, there are in-
sufficient points in the curve on which to adequately draw conclusions.
The spillway would be designed to pass 7,500 cubic teet per second.
Diversion During Construction
Diversion of Eklutna Creek would be required during the construction
of the dam. The diversion would be made after completion of the tunnel
and power plant.
The municipal power plant for the City of Anchorage generates its
power frail Eklutna Creek. This plant woUld be operated at full capacity
until it was replaced by the new plant, and subsequently operated for the
generation of secondary power.
The flow wQuld be diverted into the tunnel by excavating the remain-
ing open cut section of the intake structure; this section being left in
place to serve as a coffer dam during the excavation of the tunnel.
Two separate upstream coffer dams would be required for dam
(
~ .":
'. ~ .:.
Designs and Estimates
construction. The spillway unit would be constructed before inter-
rupting flow through the present dam gates. This would allow passage
of excess water over and above tunnel diversion capacity and lake
storage ~equirements.
ConstruotioD Period
A minimum of four years would be required for the construction of
this project. The rate of construction -ould be dependent upon the rate
at which appropriations of funds were made by Congress, and upon the con-
ditions in the labor and materials markets at the time of construction.
If construction funds are made available for the last three months of the
current fiscal year, $229,000 could be expended. An economical rate of
construction during fiscal year 1950 would require an appropriation of at
least $2,400,000. Succeeding appropriations should be geared to a con-
struction schedule set up following final design of the structures.
PROJECT WORKS
Preliminary study indicates that a concrete gravity type dam with
supporting buttress to replace the existing structure would be best
suited for the Eklutna Lake Site. However, further data on foundation
conditions, flood flow records and other investigational stUdies may re-
quire modifications of the preliminary plans for this structure.
The dam would be constructed to elevation 879.5, four feet above
the maximum lake water surface during floods. Height of the dam above
stream bed would be 20 feet; and the length of the dam with spillway
would be 329 feet. Concrete wing walls would extend out from the main
structure an additional 48 feet on the left side and 50 feet on the right
side making a total structural length of 427 feet.
The spillway would be designed to discharge 7,500 cubic feet per
second at maximum water surface elevation 875.5. The crest of the spill-
way would be at elevation 870. It would be 190 feet wide with no con-
trol gates.
Construction of the dam and spillway would involve 2,200 cu~ic yards
of concrete, 1,000 cubic yards of excavation and 2,000 cubic yards of
compacted fill.
The major portion of water entering Eklutna Lake would be diverted
through a nine-foot diameter circular lined tunnel for power development.
The invert elevation of this tunnel would be 830 feet. A trash
rack structure for the tunnel would be located in an open cut
400 feet from the present lake shore line. The cut would be ex-
23
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PLAN VIEW
Scale: I"" 20'
EI-. 879.5 --z
Max. Norm. W S.
Em., 868.07
Existing Dam Secfion
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SECTION A-A
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ESTIMATED QUANTITIES
Conc,."fe 2200Cu.Yds.
Sfet!1 Zoo. 000 Ibs.
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ALASKA INYC$TMATION$
EKLIITNA PROJECT
PRELIMINARY DESIGN
DAM 8 SPILLWAY
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PROFILE AT TUNNEL OUTLET
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ALASKA rflVESrlfJATIONS
EKLUTNA PROJECT
DIVERSION TUNNEL
AND POWER HOUSE
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LtlUTEO STATES
D€PllRTWNT OfF THE IIITERIOIt
WR!AU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS
EKLUTNA PROJECT
TYPICAL TRANSMISSION LI NES
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TRANSVERSE SECTION
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17
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S~ALE OF FEET
i
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UN/TCO STATC.
OC"A"T""~HT Of' THC IHT~"'O"
.u"lrAU 0" "~C;I..A""ATIOH
EKLUTNA PROJECT-ALASKA
TYPICAL POWER PLANT SECTION
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Job No, 8-~8~ -/8 -00-9004
LOCATION MAP
100 IDO ~ 4GD ,.;JOM'
STATUTE. MILtS
\
LEGEND
'>--F¥opo:;ed Transmissiqn Line
~ Proposed Power Plant br Substation
-I
Scale in .Mlles i
o 5 : 10
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOII.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS
EKLUTNA PROJECT
LOCATiON MAP
TRANSMISSION LINES
/
Designs and Estimates
tended into the lake for 500 teet to elevation 830. A reintoroed con-
crete gate house, provided with a slide gate, would control the fiow
of water into the tunnel at the inlet. The tunnel would be concrete
lined, 22,000 feet in length, and would have a slope of 0.00125.
On the opposi t. side of ~e lIOuntain and .... r the discharge end
of this tunnel would be a concrete surge tank. This aurge tank would ..
extend up through the JIOuntain.
At the tunnel's mouth, a 78 8 steel penstock, 1,250 feet long, lIIOuld
intercept the tunnel fiow and convey it dollD. the JIOuntain side to a .
power plant. The average. head at the power plant would be about 82Q
feet. The _xi •• static head would be 858 feet.
!be power plant would be. located at the base of the mountain and
direotl7 below the tunnel outlet. The installed capacity would cOn-
sist of three 10,000 Iw. generators.
A canal would be constructed to convey the tail_ter from the po ...
plant to the Knik River. It would be necessary to construct a rein-
forced concrete bridge at the point where the canal would cross the
Palmer Highn.7.
Transmission facilities would consist of two wood-pole lines, one
extending southwest fro. the plant Ai tchy'ard to Anchorage and the other
extending north to a point on the PalMr-lJasUla road about four mUes
west of Palmer. Both lines would be designed for ul tiEte operation at
115,000 to 161,000 volts, with a view to incorporating the. into a future .
Seward-Fairbanks backbone transmission line.
The 34-lI1le Eklutna-Anchorage line would be in! tial17 operated to
deliver energy at 57,000 volts, to permit utilization of four recentl7
installed 1500 Iva. unit-type substations in the City of Anchorage, wbich
are designed to ~eceive energy at 33,000 or 57,000 volts. The 12-~.
Eklutna-Palmer line would likewise be initially operated at 57,000 volts,
with a transtoraer installation at Palaer Substation which would reduce
the Voltage to 12,000 volts for supplJ'ing the llatanuaka Electric AS80Ciatlol1
Allowance bas ~en made in the cost estimate for a 30,000 IYa.,
161,000 volt substation to supply the City of Ancborage, a 5,000 ITa.
substation for Fort Richardson and 2,000 1ft. substation to sene the ,_
Alaska Railroad. Design details of these substations w111 depend upoa ~, ...
results of future negotiations with the respective agenci ...
The Rational Park Service proposes development of therecreatioDal
potentialities of the Eklutna Lake area. The development would include
two ail.. of road be;rond the tunnel intake portal, caapground with a
minillUll or 50 individual campsite, plimic areas along the lake shore,
comfort stations for picnic and campground areas, a boat pier, airplane
24
Designs and Estimates
landing float and finger-floats for boats, a minor sports area, and
parking areas at scenic points, a lodge, centrally located on the lake-
shore would be equipped with a minimum of ten guest rooms, a lounge,
coffee shop, related facilities and help's quarters. Trails would be
constructed along the lakeshore; a ski area would be developed with a
hut having a warming room, snack bar and lockers, and a rope tow for the
ski slope; a toboggan slide would be provided as would a skating hut
equipped with heating facilities. An administrative-area would have an
office and employees' residences, equipment storage building, shop and
utility structures, utility system for all needs, including water system,
sewerage disposal system and power distribution lines, walks, terraces
and landscaping. Detail description of the development is in the National
Park Service section of the Appendices to this report.
QQ2I ESTIMATES
The total estimated reimbursable cost of this project, including
investigations, surveys, cost or construction, operation and maintenan~e
during construction, acquisition or alternate arrangements for the exist-
ing Eklutna plan~, rights-of-way, easements and the purchase of any
needed operating equipment is $20,365,400.
The estimated annual cost of operation and maintenance for all
project works except recreational facilities is $158,300. This includes
the dam, tunnel and appurtenant works, penstocks, power plant, switchyard,
substations, transmission lines, roads, operators' colony and all inci-
~ental works necessary to project operation. The estimated annual re-
placement cost of all project works except recreational facilities is
$72,600.
The total estimated non-reimbursable cost of recreational facilities
as planned by the National Park Service is $1,215,000.
25
At'-
I
I
2
3
..,.
5
6
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B
9
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UNlrED STArES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMA7ION
EKLUTNA PROJECT, ALASKA'
PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE
ITEM UN'T WAN TITlES UN'T COST
OAM
r. Cy llJOO 11.00
DilltlrSion 01 creelc LS. L.S.
DiM IiII c.y. 2.000 2.00
Conc,.~/~ c.Y. i.zOO 90.00
Rtlinfo,.dno ~I 11M. 200.000 ./8
rlJNN~, INLET
n; ._,.~: ", c~/t LS IS.
Common uCfJvt/lirKL CY. F.1;/'JrY> gO
Tros/1,.qc/( slrlLcl(J~ LS. LS
GATE STRUCTURE
~. .~, c.Y. 300 SQOO
~. Coy. 75 90.00
601~ fH1tI oUI'tks Ibs. 2.t::.nnn .sQ
ilt!!n7S L.S. L5.
TUNNEL
aCOVtIliDn c.y ~.400 42.00 ,... II!t lininn c.y 3071;0 BtJOO
Lio6r Dlh/~ Ibs. t:.:A.:; nnrJ .22b
Steel rib rlJ,.",.,.ts Ibs. 2475000 Z25
Tim~ M.lJ.m. 1.250 .'9nnnn
Reinlercint:t slt!!e/ Ibs. /.98QOOO ./8
DroinoDt! LF. 22.000 7..00
~NOI!:~ TANK
~. lion c.y. 7.360 50.00 ,.. Cy. 1..35.0 90.00
inn $1_1 Ibs. 280.nI'YJ .lB
c.Y. 2.400 ~50
laNM:rllltl ond sft!t!Jl LS. LS.
Rt!!infordnd sleel Ibs. Z1.000 .IS
78 inch D;J}t! Ih.s. B70.EOO .35
YUYVt:.K ITUUo:JL:.
AId' ... _h. oN'U/~ t1, . loS L.s.
DI"JW~1i' TRANSMI:;.:o:.. :.IN
TrDnSM sw. utis.. c"h-J" Ilintfs L.s. .L.S.
TAIL RACE
EJtcoII'ol;on c.y Iit'Jl'X) Z.OO
Brit:lof! L.S. L.S.
ROADS
·Nr'J'O/I tJtr6.! rtf ·EJIvIM L L.S. /Om,: IO.()()('J
North Dorlo/ rood L.S.... 1.5m,: LS.
.J)PERATlN6 -COLONY ,
Housina LS L5.
SUB TOTAL
CfJntinol!ncit!!s.l?IW 4 other casts
IllYestulollons.. ond surveus
Desian and sDeclfication$ -
SUDervis;on 01 conslr chon L
Admin, tina' flffnero/ eJ(~nSf!
TOTAL ESTIMA TEO COST
COST COST TOTAL
ILOOO
5.000
4.000
198000
.~(){)IJ ,
'124.4ntYJ
2.000
97.600
."tll'Yln
129.6oo
11;t;(XJ
6.8{)0
12bO/'J
LaatJ
3.r;Rt1n
3..628.800
i4uJ.OOO
154.000
557.000
375.O(K) .. -
356:400
154.000
7685.20tJ
.'~Annn
121.500
&;1~t'Jn
I;.JnSVYJ
IE.~nn
12.600
3.800
."/'J.t::. IYJn
337.000
J. 9. .r,..
1 • .905.000
3.303t?0f'J
3.303.000
171)(.\1)
1240()
~..t..4.nn
100.000
&>n fJt?n
1£0,000
ZOO.OOO
200.000
I4.SS4:.800
2..901.600
17.4-56.400
6..37.000
727.000
1273. 000
272 000
$20, 365,400
\t7d'
, . .
\.
CHAPTER IV
WATER-POWER
Eklutna Creek heads. in the Chugach JIountainsand nows gene-
rally north and west to empty into lnikArm of' Cook Inlet. The,
basin ranges from sea level to 8000 feet in elevation. \ One main
glacier, several smaller ones and hanging ice fields still remain
in the drainage area. The total area of active ice fields is six
and two-tenths square IIliles. The basin encompasses 172 square
miles of which 119 square miles are tributary to Eklutna Lake.
WATER RESOURCES
PreCipitation
Records of.precipitation and temperatUres are available at the
following stations in the vicinity. These stations are on the west
side of the Chugach IIoWltains.
Station
Anchorage
Matanuska
Eklutna Power Plant
Eklutna Lake
Elevation
(feet)
40
166
27
882
Period of Record
1916 to date
1916 to date'
May 1941 to date
June ~946 to date
The prevailing wind direction in Southeastern Alaska is from
the southeast and moisture laden air is brought in from that direc-
tion. The Chugach Mountains, with elevations running as high as
18,000 feet at Mt. St. Elias, deflect these winds to the southwest.
The ch~in of mountains forming the backbone of the Kenai Peninsula
shelter the stations at Anchorage and Eklutna, as th~ are on th~
lee side of the mountains. The mean annual precipitation on the
Anchorage si.de pi the Kenai Peninsu1a, at Anchorage and Eklut.na, i.s
approximately 15 inches. Stations at Whittier, Cordova, and Valdez,
which lie east of the lenai Peninsula an,cl on the south slope of the
main Chugach IIolDltains, record annual precipitations as high as 180
inches with the mean annual. at Cordova approximately 145 inches aDd
a t Valdez 60 inches.
There are no weather stations above 882 feet in elevation in'
the Eklutna Creek basin or vicinity. However, it appears that the
moisture laden air masses coming in fro. the southeast rise on
striking the mnuntains, and condense with precipitation resulting.
The Eklutna Basin catches that portion carried over the top of the
mOWltains before condensation ceases. The situation is analogous
to that prevailing on the east slope of the Rocky IIolDltains.
26
\
water-power
StreamFlow Records
Geological Survey establif'hed a staff gage on Eklutna Creek at
the outlet of Lake Eklutna in November, 1946. Readings are taken
twice daily qy the gate tender for Anchorage Public utilities. A
provisional record of flows for the water year ending September 30,
1947 has been prepared by Geological Survey. Records of gage
heights as reported.b,y the gate tender were taken from records at
the existing Eklutna power plant and applied against the provisional
rating curve used for 1947, to thus extend the record of actual
flows at the lake to the present date. The runoff given 10 Table 1
reflects water passing out of the lake and shows-effect of regu-
lation in the lake. The record of flows thus obtained is as
follows:
TABLE 1
RECORDED DISCHARGE EKLUTNA CREE(
AT EKLUTNA LAKE OUTLET
1947 1948
Month Runoff Flow Runoff Flow
1,000 A.F. Average cfs. 1,000 A.F. Average cfs.
Oct. 17.6 286
Bov. 8.6 145 8.1 136
Dec. 8.9 145 8.6 139
Jan. 6.2 101 7.8 126
Feb. 4.9 88 8.6 149
liar. 5.5 90 8.0 130
Apr. 5.1 86 7.4 124
May 4.7 76 8.9 145
June 26.9 452 29.3 481
July 67.9 1101 58.5 950
Aug. 53.6 886
Sept. 22.5 377
"
The existing Eklutna power plant was first placed in operation
in 1929 and need for winter storage was early recognized. Accord-
ing to a report written in 1940 qy Anton Anderson, Consulting
Engineer, the original dam was made on top of the glacial muck with
brush, clay, IIOSS, logs, lumber and rocks. When water in the lake
.raised tour or five feet, it was found that the slightest leaks
under or around the dam dissolved the glacial muck and soon allowed
the lake now to escape. Later, interlocking wood piling, fabri-
cated on tne job, was driven across the mouth of the overfiow
channel to a depth of twelve to sixteen feet below water level.
The. upper ends of the piles were allowed to protrude three to four
fe~t above the original level of the lake. Excess water spilled
over the tops of the piles. To remove stored water in the winter
27
-
water-power
and spring, sections of the piling were progressively reaoved unti~
all stored water had been drawn from the lake.
In the fall of 1939, the present outlet structure was built.
It consists of 15 open bays, each 10 feet wide, which raay be tlash-
boarded to ele'Yation 871, and 19 gates, each six feet six,inches
high by five feet wide, to control the discliarge. The method of
operation has been to pass all sUlDlller nows as long 'as believed
possible and yet fill the lake storage on' the tailor the summer
flood. '!'his is done to avoid having water standing &g8.1n~ the ~
any longer than is necessary and to avoid as nearly as posst!)le
having any water actually spillover the overflow section or the
dam. Records of use of chan6e of storage in the reservoir are
shown on curves on file in Anchorage Public utilities office for
the period fro. November, 1942 to present. No record of storage
used or quantity accumulated is available for the period prior to '
that time. ' ,
Estimates of EklutDa Creek now downstreSJI at the con-
crete arch dSJI, 'which diverts water to the present power plant,
have been made since 19.29 by Anchorage Public Util1ties.Three
elements of flow enter into the estimate of total nOw passing the
diversion dam as made by the Utilities.' The flrst is a record of
po'.er generation converted into average second-fe·et of flow through
, use of a f~ctor, which is "one acre foot nul, through the plant will
develop 18.2 KWH of power." The second element in the estimate is
leakage through the sluice gate. Sediments accUllulate behind the
diversion dSJI and are periodically sluiced. It is estimated that
approxilllate~ 300,000 cubic,yards of sediment are removed annually.
The gate is not in first class working condition and on occasion,
after the sluicing operation, trees have been stuck in the gate
which later have had to be shot out. The leakage has varied from
year to year based on gate condition, but has been estimated'by the
utilities as averaging between 5 and .20 cubic feet per second. The
third element in the estimate is the aaount ot water spilling over
the crest of the diversiOD daa. The basis tor the estimate is a
theoretical rating-curve for discharge over the crest, based on
weir formula. The number of bays through which water is being
spilled must also be taken into account.
For the period from Oetober 1929 to November, 1945, dally re-
cords of po~er generation were made. Estimates of gate leakage and
spill over the crest were made every three days when a plant opera-
tor visited the di"ersion dam. The records are such that it is
difficult to check the past estimates, primarily as to spills, and
it can only be hoped that proper corrections were applied to con-
vert gage heights to discharges considering the' number of bays
through which water was spilling.
In November, 1945, a Bristol type long distance recorder was
.28
DAM CONTRCL GATES
GATE STRUCTURE (BELOW)
\.
water-power
installed in Eklutna Power House. The pressure cell is mounted in
the t~e1 about 1500 feet below the diversion dam. Through ex-
perience, the pressure at this point in the tunnel has been corre-·
1ated with head on crest of the dam. To convert the head as so de-
duced to discharge, it is still necessary to make proper corrections
to compensate for the number of bays through which water is spilling.
Daily estimates of disch~~ge are on file in Anchorage Public Utili-
ties office for the period from November, 1945, to-date.
Determination of Runoff Eklutna Creek
"The discharge of Eklutna Creek at the outlet of the lake as it
would have occured without storage regulation for the years 1939 to
date is shown in Table 2. The actual flows as determined by the
Geological Survey and corrected fo~ change of storage, are used for
the period of record. The balance is estimated from the flow esti-
mates made by Anchorage Public Utilities. '
To make the estlmates,the average daily discharge for each
month as reported by Anchorage Public Utilities was converted to
acre-feet for the month. For those years in which any record ofuee
of storage was available, a correction was made to convert the flow
as reported into a natural flow, or flow that would ha~e been ex-
perienced had there been no regulation by storage. For those years
when only a record of storage use was available, and no record of
tillle or rate ot accUJlUlation was available, the a.-ount of stonge in
the fall was arbitrarily assumed to have been accu.nlated in one or
more months during the season when high flows were being experienced. ~
Flows as estimated at the power plant and those obtained by the
record at Eklutna Lake outlet for the period of concurrent record
were 'examined. The period of such concurrent record was too short
for any definite conclusions on relationship between the two records.
However, as 20 square miles of drainage are tributary to the diver-
sion dam below Eklutna Lake, it is reasonable to expect that the
flows at the diversion dam should always be greater than at the lake.
The differences between recorded flows at the lake and estimated
flows at the diversion dam r~r the period of concurrent record were
used as a guide for arbitraril1 decreasing the past estimates of
nows made for the diversion dam. The amount of decrease applied
v84"ied froll IIOnth to month, depending'on the size of the flow·esti-
.. ted at the diversion dQ, but ranged froll 200 to 10,000 acre-feet
in 8D7 -.mth.
It was recognized that the above method was quite arbitrarY, but
it was used as being the best available. Geological Survey did Eke
a few miscellaneous stream flow measurements in 1912 and 1913 in this
area of Alaska. Bo further stream gaging was done until 1946 when '
the gage was established on ~utna Creek. Consequently, there are
DO long-term stream runoff records available which IIlight logically
29
\
TABLE 2
RUN-OFF OF EKLUTNA CREEK AT EKLUTNA LAKE OUTLET !I
(Drain~ge Area 119 Square Miles)
Unit 1.000 A.F.
Water :Oct. : Nov. · Dec. : Jan. : Feb. Mar. Apr. ~ May June July =. Aug Sept. : • Total Year . : · · · · · . . • · · • • • · I ; :& • • • • • 1939 :20.6 : 12.1 • 5.5 : 2.1 2.4 2.6 · 1.2 : 19.6 34.7 : 75.5 75.1 34.0 285.4 · · 1940 :32.2 : 12.8 2.8 : 2.1 1.1 • 2.9 : 2.9 4.5 33.2 75.6 89.0 70.6 329.7 •
\,,\J 1941 :28.3 · 4.7 · 3.1 : 2.2 • 1.8 • 1.4 1.3 • 1.9 52.6 · 64.0 64.0 26.8 252.1 0 · · • • · · 1942 : 8.1 • 3.3 4.1 : 4.0 • 2.0 : 1.8 1.1 24.8 37.7 46.4 50.0 41.7 225.0 · · 1943 :21.0 · 3.0 .: 2.0 2.9 2.0 ·1.5 : 1.9 2.7 12.2 · 14.1 69.4 : 13.1 · 145.8 • · · 1944 :10.3 : 7.9 4.2 · 2.4 • 1.2 · 1.5 2.2 9.6 • 53.3 77.0 :100.0 41.4 311.0 • · • · 1945 :17.0 · 3.5 • 1.2 2.0 2.7 : 0.9 1.9 · 5.4 • 36.0 66.5 84.0 18.3 239.4 • · · · 1946 :12.2 2.2 1.3 0.9 ; 1.8 .. 1.2 : 2.1 • 8.2 · 48.6 · 80.2 · 50.4 30.8 239.9 · · · · · 1947 y: 8.5 5.3 3.0 0.2 : 1.6 : 2.8 • 2.6 7.1 31.5 77.8 55.4 34.2 230.0 •
1948 :15.8 11.4 I 5.5 : 4.3 : 2.7 2.1 2.1 8.5 33.9 58.5 · •
!I Data are tor natural run-ott that would have occurred
had there been no regulation b.Y storage.
2J Data are estimated October, 1939 to and including October, 1947.
. :: -..
, "
~ ...
~ 40 ...
II: :z:
~
.... ... ... ... ...
II:
U ...
.. 401--+---
·0
o
~
I I
-+----+-1 -I--+--l40 i !!~ FREEZING
',,:: -,-
I I:
MONTHLY RAINFALL AT EKLUTNA
-----··--------------~I
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
EKLUTNA PROJECT
ALASKA
RELATIONSHIP OF RAINFALL
TO ESTIMATED RUNOFF
EKLUTNA CREEK
i
I I;
i,
11
11
,
'I
I
', ,
,
'-
water-power
De used for correlation. An attempt was made to use longer precipi-
'tatioo and temperature records as a basis for verifying the flows
estimated b.r the utilities. There is no apparent relationship be-
tween flows as recorded or estimated and. either Anchorage tempera-
. t~eor precipitation. Other precipitation records were inspected,
such as those for Valdez and Cordova, for possible relationships
with Eklutna Creek flows, but either such records have too much
discontinuity to be of value or no relationship could be discovered.
In the one complet~ year of record at Eklutna, the flow totaled
230,000 acre feet~ This i-8 equivalent to a runoff of 1,930 acre-'
feet per square mile or a runoff depth of three feet. It is pro-
bable that the runoff depth results from a total precipitation in
the basin of at least five feet.
A further factor which no doubt influences runoff to at l~ast
the same extent as rainfall is the mean temperature. Eklutna Creek
has six and two-tenths square miles of active glacier area and it
is possible that even with above normal rainfall, the runoff ma7 be .
low if mean temperatures through the summer are subnormal, so that
a less than average amount of snow storage is melted in the runoff
season. It is also thought-that tre rate of melting is probably
more closely related to m~an daily temperature than maximum tem-
perature. If the minimum temperature drops below freezing, melting
ceases and flows st~ed in the warm part of the day freeze. There
is also a lag the following day in the start of the melting. If
the mean tellJP8rature remains relatively high and above freezing,
melting once started may continue. Records of precipitation and
temperature at high elevations would be of great value in further
studies of water supply for Eklutna Creek .and other Alaskan streams.
Periods of study
The following comparison is offered as indicative of trends as
to maximum and minimum rlmoffs which JIlight be expected and to show
how the period of study compares with a long-term average of pre-
cipitatlonrecords.
LEngth of Record
(Minor gaps included)
Yeen rainfall for length of record
Mean rainfall for 1939-1947
Lowest on Record 1938
Lowest on Record 1919
Highest on Fecord 1939
Highest on Record 1929
31
Anchorage Valdez
1916-1947
14.56
15.50
10.46
18.89
1910-1947
60.25
60.6
39.12
83.39
LAKE STORAGE
RIVER CHANNEL BtLUW GATES (BELOW)
---'
I
•
Water-power
There is no apparent direct relationship betHe. raiDtall at··
Anchorage or Valdez and runoff at EklutnaLake. The period of study
used is 19.39-1947. However, from these prec.ipitation records, this
period of study appears to be slightly above the long-term .aean.
Estimates ot runotf as made by Anchorage Public utilities show the
years 1942 and 194.3 to be the lowest in. the period since 1929. These
critical years fall within the period of study; reservoir capacity re-
quired for firm power generation is estimated from the requirements tor
those years.
Sedimentation
It is recognized that g]~~iers contribute great amounts of sedi-
ments to the streams, and glacier-ted streams are easily recognized
by their milky color. In the case of Eklutna Creek, the snout of the
main glacier is approximately feur and one-half miles upstream trom the
uppe~ end of the lake. The channel fro. the glacier to the lake is
aggrading, and the evidence indicates that the bulk of the coarse _terial
is being deposited in the form of a delta at the head ot the lake. Sua-
pended sediments are carried into the lake and a small portion are de-
posi ted on the lake noor. A very large portion of the suspended sedi-
ments is carried on through and out of the lake, as evidenced b.Y the
milky color of the water below the da ••
The plan of development for Eklutna Lake would not allow the lake
to be drawn down below elevation 8.30. There is at least 200,000 acre-
feet of space in the lake below elevation 8.30 which is considered as
dead storage and would be available for silt accumulation. Inasmuch
as the bed load is being largely depositied on the alluvial nats
above ·the lake and in the delta, and a high percentage of the suspended
matter is carried on through the lake, the 200,000 acre-teet of ayai1able
dead storage should provide ample capacity to allow a useful reserYoir
life far in excess of 100 years, without encroac~nt on the active
storage space.
Reservoir Evaporation
Inasmuch as the lake is now an open water surface subject to
evaporation, and the records of inflow as used in the study are based on
flows at the outlet of the lake which renect past evaporation from the
lake surface, no further correction was made for evaporat~on from the
lake in this study.
WATER RIGHTS
The land surrounding the Eklutna Lake is wholly public domain.
Riparian rights for the use of the waters of Eklutna Creek were
acquired by the construction of the original power plant in 1929,
.32
W.ter-po1lV
when the plant •• firat placed into coIIMrcia1 aenice. There baa beeD
DO oae iD the pastor at preaeat asking use of anT atreaas, glaciera,or
inflows to Late Eklutna or ~ portion ot the outflow tro. the Lake except
the existing Eklutna power plant which i8 owned and operated brthe Ci tT
of Anchorage.
The Anchora;' Public Utili ties bas Federal Powr Oo81s*'o.n lic.n ••
BWlber .350 cO'Yering the use ot the present power plant aDd storage in
Eklutna Lake. The present daa prorldes storage in the lake trom elefttion
860 to 868 or a wluae of 25,000 acre-teet. Water is released rrom the
lake and allowed to flow -eight miles down Eklutna Creek to a du where the
_ter is di'Yerted into an 1800 foot tunnel leading to a penstock. The
power plant is located at the end ot the penstock, with. static head of 2.35
feet available. The plant uses a marlllUll of appronaatelyl4O secom-feet •.
---
The Eklutna Project plan coatellpl.ates diversion ot _ter from lklutDa
Creek Basin to the lnik!ra. Except for spills .. which would be utUised
.at the existing -plaat, DO _tel' would be released tro. the lan-to !!IdutDa
Creek. rus plan would greatlT roduce the generation capabUit1 of the
existing plant, and in -117 IIIDIlths ot the Jear, whe there is a 'Yer'T 1i ttle
inflow below the lake, the preaent plant would not be able to generate
any power.
Bo other uses are _de of Eklutna Creek _ter. Maintenance of a
live stream for fiah lite is not necessary. There i8 so IlUch· .. ,..wed
Idtter in the water~ that tew it &n7 tish inhabit the I!Itre... "
POTENTIAl. PO!!ER PRODUCTION
IS! Resenair
In order to generate tira power on the EklutDa Project, l!ltorage i.
el!lsential. The bulk ot the 8trefllll runoff OCCur8 duriDg the montha of
JUDe, JulT, Augul!lt and September, which period coincidel!l with the period
ot least demand t~r power. Storage _ter would "normally be used tor power
generatioll during the balance ot the Tear. Adequate l!ltorage would be
available in the lake without materially raising the present high water
line. The outlet tunnel would be placed 80 that the invC!lrt would be at
ele'Yation 8.30.0, and the present dam and outlet work& rehabilitited to
make the high water line at elevation 870.0, al!l contral!lted to a prel!lent
high water line of 868.0. Capacity ot the reservoir between elevationl!l
of 8.30 feet and 870 teet would be 12.3,000 acre-teet.
Rel!ler'Yoir Release8
The Eklutna Project _ter releal!lel!l would be made only tor the pur-
pose of power generation. The load CUrTe for future average conditionl!l
has been estimated b1 tlllDDttdoC the historical load curYe experienced in
the years 19.39 and 1947. The derivation il!l a. tollows:
.3.3
,/
2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 490C
50 ,
V AORES
./
V ."
EKLUTNA LAKE ABOVE ELEVATION 830 yIL/'/
AREA-CA PACITY CURVE
V ","/,'
I I' ,.., ,.,.,.
~
40
VL ... '"
j....-'"1
20
10 . A/ ELEV. AREA CUMULATIVE
ACRES CAPACITY
~, ... -'" 830 2903 0 LM/~-' z Z ........ 840 2972 29,380
0 .,...
I--/-I/' . 850 3049 59,480
r-~
au 1/ T 860 3143 90,440
...J AREA ACRES ~ au I 1/ CUMULATIVE CAPACITY 868 3256 116,040
>-117'1 I I 1 1 880 3562 156,950 47l/t_-'-~PR~SENT ~IGH WAr 890 3810 193,810 Y v7j I I LPR~SENT ~OW WATER 900 4038 233,050
910 4211 274,250 V ~-------.------------
920 4388 317,290 /. I. Y
tlv~/ 930 4569 362,070
940 4754 408,690
b/l 950 4937 457,150
I-----"/
/, l// I
900
90
80
70
60
50
40
830 o 20 40 60 80 ,100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400
1000·5 OF ACRE FEET UNITED STATES ,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR I
RIIR~6" OF RFr.1 UUTII')N
Month l2~2 l2!t.7 Smoothed
KWH Percent KWH Percent Curve
Percellt
Jan. 456,100 9.9 2,368,100 9.0 9.5
Feb. 378,200 8.2 2,035,000 7.8 8.0
liar. 368,100 8.0 2,073,200 7.8 8.0
Apr. 338,800 7.3 1,993,200 7.5 8.0
IIq 331,200 7.2 2,005,500 7.5 7.5
June 316,900 6.9 2,017,900 7.6 7.5
July 352,200 7.5 1.949,400 7.4 7.5
Aug. 386,400 8.1 2,095,600 7.9 8.0
Sept. 370,700 7.9 2,133,400 8.0 8.0
Oct. 415,300 9.0 2,466,600 9.3 8.5
Nov. 440,500 9.5 2,574,800 9.7 9.5
Dec. J.,85.800 10.5 2.803,200 10.5 10.0
Total 4,638,200 . 100.0 26,515,900 100.0 100.0
Reservoir releases required each month were computed as the
amount of water required to meet the portion of the annual load
curve for that month after considering the average net power head
available for that month.
Power H!!!:!! ..
The average generation of firm power would require discharges
between 200 and 300 second-feet, with disch~rges of over 300 second-
feet used only for a few hours at peak demands. An average head
loss for the intake, tunnel and1penstock has been calculated to be
2.0 feet. .
Tailwater would enter Knik Arm at a point very close to where
the Knik River enters Knik Arm of the sea and at approximately the
highest point reached by high tides. The tidal range at Anchorage
is approximately 30 feet. The elevation of the point at tailwater
discharge 10 relation to mean sea level has not been firmly estab-
lished, but it would be at an elevation from 18 to 25 feet above
mean sea level. Tentatively the elev~tion has been taken to be 20
feet. Ho tidal interference is expected at.that elevation. Tail-
water would be conveyed from the power plant to Knik Arm by a canal
2,000 feet long. The invert of the small after-bay immediately be-
10. the turbines would be at an elevation of 27 feet.
The net power head for various flows with reservoir full would
be as follows:
34
Di.charge Ra.erft)ir Tail water Head LoIIII Ret
.ellecoM-EleTatioD Elevation iDSyllte. Head
teet). ' (teet) (feet) , (te.t) (feet)
200 870.0 31.0 9.6 829.4
300 870.0 32.2 21.9 815.9
400 870.0 33.5 37.1 799.4
500 870.0 34.8 57.7 m.5
All the average operatioD would require re1eallell ot 200 to 300
lIecoM-teet, the average net head tor full rellervoir conditioDllhall
been taken all 820 teet tor purpollell ot cOllpUting power generation.
InIlta11edPower Plant ,Capacity
The po .. r plant ebucture would be delligned tor three unit II ot
10,000 kilowatts each.
Rtllemir OperatioD !IS EnergY OutPUt
AlltudJ ot brPothetica1 reller.oir operation wall made reeulting iD
an annual tirm generation ot 100,000,000 kilowatt-hours, distributed
according to a load curve all to110wlI:
loath
October.
Bov_ber
Dece.ber
Januar;r
Febru&r7
March
April
*7
June
July
Augullt
Septeaber
Load Curve
'Percent ot
Annual Load
8.5
9.5
10.0
9.5
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.5
7.5
1,.5
8.0
~
100.0
. Firm EDergy
Output
(Kilowatt-hourll )
8,500,000
9,500,000
10,000,000
9,500,000
8,000,000 .
8,000,000
8,000,000
7,500,000
7,500,000
7,500,000
8,000,000
8.000.000
100,000,000
Table 3 ill a IlUJllllary by water-year ot operation 61 the 123,000
acre-foot rellervoir to produce 100,000,000 kilontt-bours of tirm
energy dilltributed by months acqording to the 1~ curve. The table
a1110 IlhowlI the quantity or lIecor..~ary energy that would be produced b;r
the proposed plaut.
r'ater-power
TABLE 3
SUMIt:ARY RESERVOld. OPEHATION
• Year Inflow Release Minimum Spill Annual Energy Output
r~ding (1,000 (1,000 Reservoir: (1,000 (k11owa t:t-hours )
Sept.30: A.F. ) A.F. ) Content A.F. )
(1,000 ~ Firm : Secondary
A .F.)
1939 285.4 254.0 35.9 31.4 :100,000,000 :67,800,000
1940 329.7 239.0 38.6 90.7 :100,000,000 :58,000,000
1941 252.1 239.1 25.8 13 .. 0 :100,000,000 :54,600,000
1942 225.0 224.9 32.4 0.1 :100,000,000 :47,800,000
1943 145.8 145.8 32.2 0.0 :100,000,000 :15,600,000
1944 311.0 234.8 27.9 76.2 :100,000,000 :35,500,000
1945 239.4 195.1 45.9 44.3 :100,000,000 :35,700,000
1946 239.9 212.2 42.6 27.7 :100,000,000 :39,700 t OOO
1947 230.0 212.9 41.6 17.1 :100,000,000 :40,400,000
:
N.EAN ~~Q.~ 212.5 J5.6 JJ.~ :100.000.000 :t.:~.QOOIOOQl
* In addition 3,500,000 kilowatt-hours of secondary energy will be
generated at the existing Ek1utna plant from spills and inflow below
the proposed dam.
During the period prior to completion of the project, additional
data will be collected, and more refined studies of reservoir operation
will be carried out to permit a more accurate analysis of power production.
36
\,
CHAP'tER V
POWER SUPPLY AND MARKETS
Power is precioUs in the project area. Black-outs are fre-
quent, the price is high and many homes have no electric service.
Some consumers have emergency stand-by units. nle market far ex-
ceeds '~e supply.
PAsT AND PRESENT POWER REQUIREMENTS
Electricity has been a critical commodity in the project area
since 1941. The principal producer of power for civilian use is
the Anchorage Public utilities, operated ~ the City of Anchorage.
The city not only supplies itself but also delivers power at whole-
sale to the Alaska Railroad and the Matanuska Electric Association.
The latter is a rural electric cooperative with approximately 112
JDiles of distribution lines in agricultural areas of the Ma tanusk8.
Valley and in the community of Palmer.
Power product~on of the Anchorage Public utilities system in-
creased five h'undred and seventy percent from 1939 to 1947. Its
. only economical power source is the existing Eklutna hydroelectric
plant, whioh in 1947 was able to supply just over half of the sys-
temls annual k1lo~att-hour production. Most of the remaining pro-
duction came from a steam-electric source, at which costs of opera-
tion per kilowatt-hour of generation were in excess of the average
revenue per kilowatt-hour.
Early Power Sources
During the early years of its existence, when Anchorage was
pr1u.rily a construction headquarters for the Alaska Railroad',
electricity for domestic and commercial uses was provided ~rom a
900-k1lowatt steam-driven generating plant located adjacent to the
railroad shops and operated by the railroad. That plant is still in
existence, but is so obsolAte and expensive to operate that it has
not been run for about 10 years except for occasional intermittent
operation d.uring peak-load periods in 1945 and 1946.
Atter the city became incorporated, responsibility for dis-
tribution of electricity to consumers within its boundaries was
a~suaed by the municipal government. In 1927 the city entered into
a contract tor wholesale purchase cf electricity from the Anchorage
Light and Power Company. The company then proceeded with construc-
tion ot the present Eklutna hydroelectric plant with initial instal-
lation ot a single 1,000 kilowatt generatoz. The Eklutna plant was
tirst placed in service in 1929, and a second 1,000 kilowatt gen-
erator was added in 1935. This power is being transmitted to
Anchorage over a single-circuit, wood-pole 33,000 volt line.
37
Power Supply And Markets
In 19'5l the Anchorage Light and Power Company installed a 700
kilowatt diesel-driven generating unit at the Anchorage end of its
33,000 volt line, and at about the same time the Alaska Railroad
shut down its steam-electric generating plant and began purchasing
power from the Anchorage Light-and Power Company.
Shortly thereafter, large-scale expansion at nearby military
establishments brought about rapid increases in population and
e1ectric31 load. At the outbr~ak of war in 1941, the Anchorage
Lig.i.t and POwer Company was attempting to finance expansion of its
facilities to serve the ~ncreasing loads. The company apparently
failed in those efforts, with the result that it-s properties were
purchased by the City of Anchorage in 1943 and are now operated
under the name of The Anchorage Public utilities, as an agency of
the municipal government engaged in producing and transmitting
electricity. Power distribution ttithin and adjacent to t.he city is
still a municipal function, but operations and accounting of the
distribution organization are kept entirely separate from those of
The Anchorage Public utilities.
Military authorities, being unable to secure an adequate
supply of power from Anchorage Light and Power Company to serve
rapidly expanding activities on the Fort Richardson reservation,
were forced to provide power generation at the Fort sufficient for
its entire requirements. This generation now consists of several
steam and diesel units, at dispersed -locations but all connected to
one distribution system, which in turn is now interconnected with
Anchorage Pu~lic Utilities 5,Ystem at a substation on the Eklutna-
Anchorage 33,000 volt line. An interchange pooling arrangement is
already in effect between Anchorage Public utilities 5,Ystem end
Fort Richardson, but is utilized only in emergencies.
In 1945 the electric load in Anchorage increased to the point
where demand exceeded supply. A second diese1-driven generator of
600 kilowatt capacity was hastily installed by Anchorage Public
utilities in February, 1946, and attempts were made to operate the
Alaska Railroad's steam plant during peak load periods. Because of
deteriorated condition of boilers, the steam plant provedundepend-
able. It became necessary to "dump load" occasionally on distri-
bution circuits when system demand exceeded the aggregate of safe
overload capacity of Anchorage Public Uti1ities'own plants, plus
the relatively small additional generation which could be contri-
buted by the Alaska Railroad and by Fort Richardson.
As the power supply situation grew progressively worse,
Anchorage Public utilities in 1947 leased -and the next year pur-
chased -the stern half of a wrecked ocean-going tanker, the
"Sackett's Harbor", and has since been utilizing its boilers and
generating eauipment as a power plant. Operating personnel have
found that the dependable c.'lpacity of this installation is
38
THE 'SACKETT'S HAABOR'. THE BEACHED STERN HALF OF A
TANKER IS A TEMPORARY SOURCE OF PO*ER FOR ANCHORAGE.
\.
Power Supply And Markets
ap~rox1mately 3,000 kilowatts under present conditions ot operation.
Improvements to its cooling-water system are contemplated, by which
it is hoped to increase its tira capacity to 3500 kUowatts, and its
capacity for short-t1ae daUy peak loads to about 4,000 kilowatts.
Such additional pe~ capacity wUl be of material value during the
winter of 1948-1949, but will most assuredl7 be a costly expedient.
In August, 1948, the power supp-ly situation in Anchorage again
became so critical that a bond issue to purch~se another 1,000
kilowatt diesel-driven generator was approved by the voters as a
"stop-gap" expedient.
Rural Electric Distribution
On October 14, 1941, Anchorage Light and Power Company entered
into a contract with the llatanuska Electric Association, a coopera-
tive tinanced by the Rural ElectrificatioD Administration, to
furnish power up to a demand of 250 kilowatts, making dellveryat
the Eklutna plant. Early in 1942, the cooperative placed in service
a line from the Eklutna plant to the community of Palmer, with dis-
tribution circuits to farllls and homes 'throughout nearby areas ot
the llatanuska Valley. As of April, 1948, the Association was opera-
ting 112 lIiles of pole lines, all well-built and well-maintained.
In addition to the rapidly-growing unincorporated community of
Palaer and Dearby faras, the Association now serves the small co~
ni ty of Wasilla about 12 lIliles west of Palmer. Service is also being
furnished to several resorts and recreational enterprises.
The llatanuska Electric Association is solely dependent for its
power supply on Anchorage Public Utilities. Its monthly aax1mua
deaaand had increased to 370 kilowatts in January, 1948, and is ex-
pected to reach a~ least 450 kilowatts in the winter of 1948-1949.
In the 'last 18 months (January -31, 1947 to July 31, 1948) the number
of customers served' by the Association increased iro. )96 to 514.
Complete details of load and revenue growth on the Association's
system since its original formation are not available, as nearlJ' all
its records were destroyed by tire in ~, 1948.. However, sufficient
information is available to show that its present power requiPeaents
average about 100,000 kilowatt-hours per month, or 1,200,000 kUo-
watt-hours per year.
Isolated Power Facilities
Approximately 14 miles from Palmer is the Jonesville coal mine,
which operates a 3QO-kilowatt stea.-electric generating unit and
three 75-kilowatt "Caterpillar" diesel-electric generators. In
addition, the mine has one or two sizeable steam-driven air co.-
pressors. Because of high labor costs, coal is IlUch more T&l.uab1e
39
Power Supply And Markets
at mouth-of-mL~e here than in the continental United States. The
mine burns its own coal in firing the steam boilers, but uses diesel
fuel which probably comes from California refineries in operating
its diesel-electric generators.
In suburban Anchorage are two small utility properties, namely
the Inlet Power and Light Company and the Mountain View Power
Company. Both companies have several portable or semi-portable
diesel generating units in sizes of 100 kilowatts or smaller. Addi-
tional units are being added at intervals of a few months as the
load increases.
Area Power Production Capacity ~rsus Load Requirements
Generating capacity presently available for civilian uses in
the area within a 4O-mile radius of Eklutna (excluding small porta-
ble generators operated solely for the needs of their owners) may
be summarized as follows:
a. Interconnected system of Anchorage Public Utilities:
Eklutna Hydro Plant 2,000 Kw.
Anchorage Diesel Plant 1,300 Kw.
Sackett's Harbor (Steam) 3,500 Kw.
Alaska Railroad (Steam) 200 Kw.
7,700 Kw.
b. Not Interconnected:
Jonesville Coal Mine 525 Kw.
Inlet Power and Light Co. and
other small diesel plants 800 Kw. (estimated)
Since the Alaska Railroad's steam plant is' shut down and is of
doubtful capability, the maximum capacity now available on the
interconnected system, exclusive of Fort Richardson generation,
probably does not exceed 0,800 'w.
Anchorage Public Utilities does not have metering facilities
by which its coincidental system demand can be accurately deter-
mined. Mr. C. A. Wilson, Superintendent, has estimated the 1947
demand at approximately 5300 kilowatts and that the 1948 peak will
be "at least 6300 kilowatts." Other estimates have ranged as high
as 8300 kilowatts for the 1948 December peak. It is obvious that
the peak demand will very closely approach, and is likely to exceed,
the system capacity. Temporary assistance might come from Fort
Richardson or the Alaska Railroad's old steam plant, but neither
source can be relied upon. The city voters have just approved
purchase of additional diesel generating equipment in an effort to
avoid power outages during the coming winter. This is the same
sort of crisis that was faced in 1945, only three years ago, and
40
Find Water 1n
Power Vessel
Shutdown Needed To
Repair Bulkhead
Power SUpply Andlarkets
such crises will continually recur until a substantial source of
hydroelectric power is developed in the _area.
POWER RATES
, domestic consuaer in Anchorage pays a high price for eiec-
. trlc1ty, as shown by the tollowing tal)ulation:
Ionthly (llowatt-hours
Purchased
50
100
250
1,000
Average Cost per
Kilowatt-hour
7.9¢
6.93¢
5.73¢
3.94¢*
*Includes 300 kilowatt-hours at controlled water
heating rate.
Power for doaestic use in Anchorage is ~ far more costly than
in coaparable cities in the western United States. Commercial elec-
tric rates are al'SO contrastingly high. Revenue tro. sales to the
Alaska Railroad averaged 2.8 cents per kUowatt-hour ill 1947. There
are no published rates for large industrial loads, but power is sold
at wholesale to the latanuska Electric Association at 2 cents per
kilowatt-hour.
Palaer and surromding areas are supplied with· power by the
Matanuska Electric Association at rates in general oaly a little
higher than those in Anchorage. For farm and home consumers using
1,000 kilowatt-hours or more per month, the latanuska ,rate is about
the same as the Anchorage rate •.
FUTURE POWER REQUIREMENTS
Load Growth ~ Population Increase
A significant fact is that electric load growth in .Anchorage is
increasing at alJIost exactly the same rate as population. Fro. 1939
to the present the increase has been about 570 percent.
Although there are DlBDy modern homes and apartments in Anchor-
age, the construction ot h~using has failed to keep pace with the
demand. Consequently there are people scattered throughout the city
who are living in partially-completed houses, old frame houses which
showarked evidence of depreciation, or in furnished roo.s where
uo cooking 1s peraitted. Despite high costs ot ceaant, lumber and
other materials and scarcity of skilled labor, construction ot perma-
nenthoaes is boolling.
41
COMPARATIVE COSTS OF ELECTRICITY
ON DOMESTiC RATES .
8~----------~----------~~----------~----------~
7
a:: :;) 6 o
%
I
i-
i-
~ o 5 -'
~
a:::
UJ
~
(/) 4
i-
Z
~
(,)
i-'3 (/)
0
(,)
lLJ
(!) « a:: 2 ~ > «
o
LEGEND
• Anchorage, Alaska
---------+---------m Eureka, California ------I
Klamath Falls, Ore .
• Reno, Nevada
50 KW.HR.
PER MONTH
100 KW.HR.
PER MONTH
• includes 300 KWH R at
controlled water heating rate
250 K W.HR.
PER MONTH
1000 KW.HR.
PER MONTH
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIC
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
\
Power Supply And Markets
Each tille a family moves from a' substandard house into aodem
quarters, and each time a business or industrial enterprise moves
into a new or renovated build~g, an increment of electric load is
added. Permanent-type-buildings and improvements in Alaska are very·
seldom abandoned. Their usage may change and their ownership may .
pass froll Government to private, or vice versa, but it is not the
nature of Alaskans to let such things remain unused. Completionof
new large-scille construction is usually followed by a short and
temporary lull as construction workers depart) but the people who
operate and occupy the improved facilities al.liYS arrive in the
community soon afterward •. It can be regarded as a certainty that
if the military agencies in future years should vacate some of the
permanent-type buildings at Fort Richardson, some other government
or private agency would be quick to appropriate the space for other
uses.
Where rapid population growth occurs, electric load increases
teadto occur first in commercial and domestic loads. However, the
mere prese~ce of more people and lar~er trading centers in an area
provides a greater market for agricultural produce, encourages
dairying and truck-gardening, and gradually tends to balance and
stabilize the local econo~.
Opportunities For Agticultural Load-Building
In the opinion of the local representative of tb~ Rural Electri-
fication Administration, development of the proposed Eklutna Project
could provide power at sufficiently lower cost to permit rates on
the Matanuska Electric system to be cut 1n half, which wouldimlledia-
tely encourage the purchase of such high-use equipment as electric .
ranges and water heaters, as well as encourage the use of power for
irrigation pumping.
Irrigation by electric pumps 1s already being used experi-
mentally at several farms in the Anchorage-Matanuska area. Both
sprinkler and ro. irrigation are being tried, priJlarily on vege-
table crops. Pasture. irrigation has not been tried, but may have
some value in dairying .. There appears to be a definite opportunity
for' sale of irrigation pumping equipllle11t as SoOll as Power is avail-
able in sufficient quantities at lower rates than those now in
efrect.
Electr1c water heaters are already in use at several dairies,
but there is no record of electric sterilizers of the type used in
the West Coast States. The water heaters . now U1 use are small,
some of only 10-gallon capacity_ Lower power rates would be a
quick incentive to more water heater load.
One Significant item in the Palmer area is that practically
every home has a small greenhouse in which are grown tomatoes and
42
/
Power Supply And Markets
other vegetables which will not mature outdoors before the first
autumn frost. Flowers are also similarly grown. The extent to
which electricity is already used for greenhouse .heating is not
known, but it seems likely that soil heating cable or incandesent
lamps are being used in numerous instances. This 18 a ,load which
would tend to peak in the early morning hours and offers possibili-
ties for improving system load factor. Electric space heating,
ather than greenhouses, may have some possibilities in Palmer, but
must compete in cost.with coal available nearb,y.
Matanuska Electric Association load requirements have been in-
creasing at the rate of at ~east 20% annually. How long this pres-
ent growth rate will continue is difficult to prophesy, but a demand
of 2,000 kilowatts with annual sales of 10 to 12 million kilowatt-
hours by 1958, exclusive of potential mining loads, appears entirely
poss,ible.
Power !Q!. Mining
It hydroelectric power could be made available, at a cost
which would justify extension of a three-phase line from Palmer to
the Jonesville coal mine and still permit the sale price per kilowatt-
hour to be competitive with the mine's cost of generation, here is-
a 500 kilowatt load to be had for the asking. Comparative cost fig-
ures are not available at this writing, but there .appears a definite
probability that the coal mine operators are prospective purchasers
of power from ~he Eklutna Project.
It is likely that lower-cost power may revive other smaller'oT
more costly mining operations in the coal-bearing areas immediately
surrounding llatanuska Valley and in the Willow Creek mining district,
where hard-rock gold mining on a large scale was once quite profit-
able but in recent years has been practically dormant because of
high labor costs. Several traces of tungsten have been found in the
Willow Creek District, and availability of low-cost power would un-
doubtedly encourage further development and exploration for min-
erals in that area.
Extension of its lines into the mining areas is under con-
sideration by the Matanuska Electric Association, which anticipates
that a possible additional demand of at least 1500 kilowatts could
be acquired thereby. This figure includes the Jonesville coal mine
and is sufficiently high to allow for serving various small mining
operations and a possible custom mill in the Willow Creek area.
Representatives of the Bureau of Mines have pointed out that
a marked saving to small producers would result from milling their
ores locally and shipping out concentrates, as against the expen-
sive practice of shipping out sacked ore to Seattle or elsewhere
for treatment. The speculative element in establishment of a
43
180
170
160
150
140
!J)
0:
~
0 130
:I:
l-
f-120 ct
~
0
...J -~ ,110
LL..
0
!J)
2 100
0
:J
...J 90 -~
!J) 80 1-
Z
W
.~
w 70 0:
~
0 w 60 0:
-I
ct
~ 50 2
Z
ct
40
30
20
10
0
I
ESTIMATES FOR 1949 ·'9~ INCLUSIVE, BASED
ON STUDY OF ALL AVAI LABLE RECORDS
AUG .. ENTED BY PERSONAL I NSPECTION OF
TH~ ;'REAS INVOLVED.
1948 VALUES ESTIMATED FROM RECORDS
OF ANCHORAGE PUBLIC UnLITIES FOR
,FIRST 7 MONTHS, PLUS INFORMATION
OBTAINED FROM R.E.A. REPRESENTATrvE / AND OTHER LOCAL SOURCES.
-,.-r Zd:
VALUES FOR 1944·1947 INCLUS IVE ~ TAKEN FROM RECORDS OF ANCHORAGE ~ PUBLIC UTILITIES.
~ V" ~
V ~ r:::::-.~ .~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ e-------
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~.
~ ~ ~ ~
-
I ,
I
\.
I /
7
V
A
/ i
i
i
[7 i ~
/ V
./ ~
/ J~ ~
~ ~ ,~
V ~~
:~
~ .~
~ -------r---~ -----------. ~ ~ ~-----,
~
/
'.'
';-
/
V
~
~
----~
-----------------
[ILiTARY ESTABLISHM ENTS M
E
P
STIMATED NEEDS OVER AND ABOVE ENERGY
RODUCED INCIDENTAL TO HEATING PLANT
PERATION -SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION
Y MILITARY AUTHORITIES.
0
8
~
M ~ OAL MINES ~
C
UBURBAN ~REA !Q BE SERVED BY
HUGACH ELECTR I C ASSOCIATION
CLUDING NEW c.AA.INTERNATlONAL AIRPORT.
REA ESTIMATED TO CONTAIN 100 UNSERVED
IN
(A
DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL LOADS AS OF 1948
LUS 500 DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL LOADSi
RVED BY INLET LIGHT 8 POWER COMPANY.) ~ .
TATION USE .~TRANSMISSION LOSSES ~ t=
ATANUSKA ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION
XCLUDING MINING LOADS)
,M
f t LASKA RAILROAD
0 OMESTlC, COMMERCIAL a INDUSTRIAL
ADS SERVED BY CITY Qf ANCHORAGE. I LO
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
EKLUTNA PROJECT
ALASKA
LOAD GROWTH
ANCHORAGE-PALM ER
AREA
1949 -1958 INCLUSIVE
944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 I ~ 56 1957 1958
CALENDAR YEARS
/
, • Pawer Supply And Markets
custom mill would be materially reduced by availability of coamer-
cial power, avoiding investment in a steam or diesel-driven power
plant.
Annual kilowatt-hour requirelIent s for metal mining loads are
subjp,ct to wide fluctuations. It is estimated that 14,000,000 kilo-
watt-hours annually' will be required for existing am potential mining
and milling operations if low-cost power is made a.vailable.
Suburban Development South and East of Anchorage
South and east of Anchorage there are approximately 40 square
miles of suburban a.rea which are undergoing rapid development. Sub-
urban expansion beyond this area is balked by boundaries of the
Chugach National Forest and by military reservations. Within this
area is to be constructed the new C.A.A. International Airport with
an estimated 1952 power requirement of 1,000,000 kilowatt-hours
annually and ultimate requirements of perhaps twice· that amount.
As of midsummer 1948, electricity was being served to approxi-
matelySOO consumers in the area and estimates prepared by a local
consulting engineer for the Rural Electrification Administration
indicated approximately 700 potential customers awaiting electric
service. Of the 800 consUllers now being served, approximately' 300
receive service from the Anchorage City distribution system or frQlll
the Mountain View Power Company, ~ich is arranging to purchase
po~r wholesale from the Anchorage system as a replacelll8nt for
present generation by two small portable-type diesel units.
Most of the remaining 500 consumers are served by the Inlet
Power and Light Company, which operates several small diesel gen-
erating unit s •
The Chugach Electric Association, a rural electric cooperative,
has been formed, with the intent of taking over the Ilountain View
Power Company, the Inlet Power and Light Compa.ny, and one or two
other generating installations serving small neighborhood loads,
thereafter interconnecting them am extending lines to the new
C.A.A. Airport and throughout. the presently unserved suburban areas.
Some negotiations have been conducted relative to the Chugach
Cooperative purchasing power at wholesale from Anchorage Public
Utilities. ~s this is written (August, 1948), consideration is be-
ing given to installation of a 3,000 kilowatt diesel plant as an
alternative. Engineers familiar with local conditions have pre-
dicted that the load in this area might grow by 1953 to a total
demand of about 4,000 kilowatts and total annual sale of about 25
million kilowatt-hours.
44
/
\.
Power Supply and Markets
If the airport load is excluded, this optimistic forecast would
still indicate a load growtli approaching one thousand percent in five
years. It seems doubtful whether capital, materials and labor will
~)e forthcoming to achieve such a rapid growth in an area which is
primarily suburban residential and where no large housing projects
are planned. However, mere continuance of present growth rate would
result in a load increase of approximately the magnitude suggested
(including the Airport load) over a 10-year period.
~:arkets !Q!. N2.!l-il!:m HYdro Power
Considerable quantities of energy will be available at times from
the proposed Eklutna power plant, in excess of the firm production of
100 million kilowatt-hours annually. There appears to be considerable
market for non-firm energy in the Anchorage area as "fuel replacement".
The City of Anchorage has been serving approximately 700 domestic
water heaters, with time-clock control, at an "off-peak" rate. However,
it is understood that consideration is being given to raiSing that rate,
or possihly suspending it entirely, until the power supply situation
hecomes less critical. Marketing of non-firm power has received little
consideration in the Anchorage area in recent years because there has
been practically none to sell.
An inquiry has already been received as to availability of non-
firm power from the proposed Eklutna Project for electro-ch~mical
manufacturing.
Assured ~ Loads
That there will be substantial load growth in the immediate future
is a certainty. Entirely aside from a rapid population growth the follow-
inr. projects are under consideration for construction in the near future:
A. New shop building, extensions to general office build-
ing and other improvements now under construction by the
Alaska Railroad, which will double the railroad's present annual
power requirements of 3,000,000 kilowatt-hours.
B. New office building under construction by the Alaska
lioad Commission.
C. New International Airport, estimated to cost 8 million
dollars, for which funds have been appropriated and construction
to start shortly.
D. New 400-bed Alaska Native Service Hospital, scheduled
for construction in the near future in Anchorage.
45
,-
Power Supply And Markets
E. Bew hotel at Palmer, expected to open in the autumn
of 1948.
F. A newly completed 94-room addition to the Westward
Hotel in Anchorage.
G. An electric furnace installation, privately owned,
for reclaiming scrap. metal from railroad and military instal-
lations, with initial power requirement of 1,000 kilowatts and
service already applied for.
Recognizing that such load growth is inevitable and that
Anchorage Public utilities may be unable to cope with it, the
Alaska Railroad is considering the protection of its· own operations
by installing new generating facilities, with a total nameplate
capacity of 3200 kilowatts (1500 kilowatts steam-driven and 1700
kilowatts diesel-driven). The railroad's consulting engineer, in a
letter dated June 28, 1348, estimated this new equipment would per-
mit the railroad to serve its own power needs through 1950, with
sufficient 8.dditional capacity to supply the proposed .Alaska Native
Service Hospital and "8 small surplus 'of energy, even at peaks,
which might be available to the City of Anchorage." In Gubsequent
discussions, railroad engineers have indicated that less investment
in such fuel-consuming generating facilities would be necessary if
development of. additional hy~oelectric power is expedited.
The railroad's purchases from Anchorage Public utilities for
the year ending March 31, 1948 amounted to 3,217,960 kilowatt-hours.
Removal of t~isload from Anchorage Public utilities ~stem, even
though it might be accomplished, would not even begin to offset the
present costly "Sackett's Harbor" generation. By the time installa-
tion of such generating facilities by the railroad could be accomp-
lished, or shortly thereafter, known new loads will more than ab-
sorb the "small surplus available to the City of Anchorage". It is
plainly evident that even if the railroad does install all the
generators included in its tentative plans, there exists a need for
hydroelectric development.
Even thought it be assumed that the Alaska Railroad becolle8.
self-surficient with respect to power supply in 1950 and thereafter,
and that Fort Richardson continues to be self-sufficient in that
respect, Anchorage Public utilities will still be the sole, and
probably inadequate, source of supply for all other power users in
the Anchorage-Palmer-Matanuska area. Rate reductions on the Anchor-
age system and the Matanuska Electric system will be out of the
question and rate increases may become necessary.
The stem half of "Sackett's Harbor" tanker has proven to be a.
very expensive power source and is presently operating at a deficit.
Accounting audit of Anchorage Public utilities for the fiscal year
Power SupplT And Markets
I
ended .. arh 31, 1948 showed the "Sackett's Harbor" produced in that
period 10,906,600 kilowatt-hours, or 42.72$ of total system power
production, at an operating and maintenance cost of 282,062.66 or
more than 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. Fuel 011 costs alone amount-
ed to 1.42 cents per kilowatt-hour, and the price of fuel oil has
subsequently undergone further increa8e.
After allowing for adII:l.nistrative expense', depreciation and
amortization, the accountant's report showed a net loss of
$130,687.79 on the "Sackett's Harbor" operations, or mpre than 1
cent loss at per kilowatt-hour generated, based on an average s,ys-'
tem revenue of approximately 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour of pro-
duction. Recent increases in fuel oil prices and contemplated in-
creases in production capacity will coabine to further increase this
deficit.
In contrast r the present Ek1~tna hydroelectric plant produced
l3,34~,8l9 kilowatt-hours, or 52.25% of the total system production,
with a net income, after depreciatiQn and $96,000 allowance for
bond redemption, of ,128,512.73. It is thus obvious that there
exists urgent need for a hydroelectric power source to replace the
makeshift steam plant, to the extent of at least 11 million kilo-
watt-hours annually, irrespective of any future load growth what-
ever.
In addition to future civilian power requirements, planning for
development of hydroelectric resources in Alaska JIlust incl.ude some .
allowance for power use at military establishments, at least to the
extent that their needs ~annot be economic~l1y met b.r power genera-
tion incidental to operation of central steam heating plants. De-
tails of military power requirements are not public information for
obvious reasons. However, based on discussions with informed per-
sonnel of the armed services, it appears advisable to tentatively
e~rmark approximately twenty percent of the potential firm power
output of Eklutna for use at military establishments. A statement
by the Commander-in-Chief for Alaska is reproduced, in the Appendices
of this report.
Adding together the anticipated civilian power requirements
and the assumed requirements for military agenCies, in the area
within a 40-mile radius of Eklutna, results in a minimum total pro-
duction requirement of 120 million kilowatt-hours annually by 1955.
If the Alaska Railroad proceeds with installe.tion of its steam-
electric generating capacity as indicated, or some other agency in-
stalls an equivalent amount, and construction of the proposed
Eklutna Froject is promptly authorized, it may be possible to meet
increased power demands as they occur. Delay in any of these pro-
posed installations may bring about an extended period of power
rationing in the Eklutna Project area.
47
PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICITY
IN THE ANCHORAGE" PALMER AREA OF ,ALASKA
1939 TO 1958
200r---~--~--~----~--~--~--~--~~--~--~--~--~~--~--~--~--~----~--~--~
180r-~~--~--~----r---4---~---+--~~--+---~---+--~----+---~---r--~--~~--+---~
160 -! -b-/~/'
,---~ ANNUAL FIRM ENERGY CAPABILITY . _,,/.+--__ -+-__ ~
140 OF EKLUTNA PROJECT I . I ,
120 ~~ \ )1_1_1--------1f--------t
100 --~ ESTIMATED FUTURE PRODUCTION f\. 'Y/---. ........ -.... -~---e
80 ~ ~ REQUIREMENTS i i ~/x_/-/-· +--+--+--.---+----t
60 r-5 --ACTUA L PR 00 UCTION BY ANC~OR AGE. t ,,"""'"-+----1-----+----+-,---.-+-----1,------1
~ PUBLIGUTILITIES,1939-1947 \1 -,,"
Q. i\",/ 40r-~ -, ~~4----r--~----r----+----r---+--~~~ ~ -~---20r-~+----+----+----1-----+--=~~--~+---;-~-+---;----~--;----r---;----~--~---r---+--~ ---O~~--~--_~I~--~--~--~--~~--~--~--~--~~--~--~--~--~'~
1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951
CALENDAR YEARS
1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
(/)
~
/' 'x.,
ESTIMATED ANNUAL MAXIMUM DEMANDS ON
30 OOO-------.---ANCHORAGE PUBLIC UTILITIES SYSTEM AS COMPARED---,,.-.-------r-----,
TO AVAILABLE GENERATING CAPACITY I I I I
ALASKA RAILROAD PROPOSED STEAM
25000~-------+--------~--------+---------~-------+----
ANCHOR AG E 01 ESE L ------:---------:,--------J~
I
PROPOSED EKLUTNA
20000~-------4--------~--------+---------~~--~'+----r_~_
LEGEND
• Est mated annual maximum de nd
~ 15000 CJ Block outlines indicate rated capacity ~ o
.J
of genera ting pia nits I
ALASKA RAI
~ IOOOOr--------T--------~------~--------_r------~~~~~
SACKETT'S HARBOR ST
, I
ALASKA R. R. STEAM
5000~------r-~/--r--\r-------~-----,~~I~~
CALENDAR YEARS UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
................ I ""r-,... ... ,... " ..... 'TI ,...",
Power Supply and Markets
other ~ Possibilities
The forecast of load growth does not take into account the
possibility of any large industrial power load such as an electro-
chemical plant, a smelter or some other large power-using enterprise
materializing in the project area •. It does not allow for any load
which might be added by extending transmission lines toward ~ittier,
Seward or points on the Kenai Peninsula. It completely ignores the
possible use of e1ectricit~. for early summer irrigation pumping in
the Matanuska and Spenard areas, which is already being tried exp~ri
mentally.
After a careful appraisal of all known factors, based upon a
series of personal interviews and inspections throughout the area,
the following conclusions regarding the precarious power supply
situation in the project area are inescapable:
A. Present power production capacity on Anchorage Public
Utilities system will probably be inadequate for the winter of 1948-
1949. Even after allowing for occasional assistance from \the Fort
Richardson generating facilities, and assuming that every effort will
be made to expedite installation of the new diese1-driven generator,
it is quite likely that demand at times will exceed supply.
B. A power market will be ready and waiting to absorb the
firm output from the proposed Eklutna Project in 1953, or just as
soon as the power plant and transmission lines can be built.
c. ~f the Ek1utna Project is not constructed promptly, re-
curring power shortages in the area are inevitable, unless electric
rates are raised sufficiently to permit construction and sustained
operation of steam or diese1-driven generating facilities without
financial loss. Either-rationine of power or increasing the al-
ready high electric rates will be detrimental to future business
prosperity and will tend to place a "ceiling" on further improve-
ment ot living and health standards in the area.
D. In addition to immediate construction of the proposed
Eklutna Project, rapid growth of power loads in the area makes im-
perative a systematic lon?-term plan for further hydroelectric
power developments to meet the demand growth after 1955.
48
CHAPTER VI
.RECREJ.TIOI
It 1. telt that recreational tacil1ties should be deyeloped at
EklutDa Lake in cODDection with the Iklutna Project. h editorial
in the Anchorage Dail,. Tws ot Septa.bar 2, 1948 clem-l,. indicate.
the need tor such d8V'elopaent I
-ODe ot the tascinating b.r-products of the proposed Federal deyelop-
.ent ot ~lectric tacilities at EklutDa is that of recreational
facili ti'8s •
-It is ent1re1,. possible aDd teasible to .ue the magnificent
yalle,. cradling the lake a 1mb of weekend outings, family and group
picnic., au..er boating and fishing, a tourist attraction and a
winter sports area.
-It is possibie because the p~sical environment has ever:ything
necessary for such an enjoyable spot.
"It is feasible because similar projects have been carried for-
ward in connection with power developments in the States. No new
precedent is involved and Federal officials should encounter little
difficult,. in getting approval of governmental agencies.
WOevelopment of Eklutna Lake as a recreational area has been the
subject of conversations in Anchorage for many years. When the power
si te was owned privately, the officers of the company saw the potential-
ities and planned for eventual development.
"In the early 1930's, before there was a road to the Lake, the
1.te Frank Reed, whose foresight and vision led to the establishment
of the power project, brought back glowing tales of the beautiful
scenery and picturesque lake. He made many trips ·to the lake before
there was even a trail, packing his camp equipment on his back.
"~en the power company completed the present road that runs nine
miles from the power plant to the upper dam, the Eklutna Lake area
attracted many motorists. Picnics became common and the splendor of
the area was widely known locally.
"Today, although the road is still a one-way track most of the
way and the grades are more than are considered desirable, the lake
is attracting more and more Alaskans who enjoy the beauty of rugged
mountains, colorful vegetation, sparkling water and all the thrills
that come with a visit into this comely area.
"Fishermen work the mouths of the streams on the lake shore.
49
r
Recreation
Boaters take their small craft to Eklutna and buzz its length beneath
the rugged peaks and in view of glaciers. Often mountain sheep and
bears can be spotted from the shores or boats.
"Under Federal development it is likely that the Bureau of Reclama-
tion could obtain the cooperation of the National Park Service in a
modest investment that would make the area a great asset to the Terri-
tory.
"The 36-mile drive froll Anchorage would be a pleasant Sunday
afternoon venture for families, visitors and sportsmen.
"A small lodge would furnish overnight accomodations for those
who don't have their own camping equipment. Concessionaires could
operate a fleet of small boats for rent, and the pri vUeges of this
wonderland would be opened to all cOllers. .
"Improvements to the road froll the .. in highway would be _de in
connection with the power development. Watchmen are already stationed
at Eklutna in connection with ·the municipal power facUi ties. The
recreational development would require only a small investment and the
operating costs would be self-liquidating f!om the fees paid for the
use of the facUities.
"Anchorage residents have never been able to finance the project.
But it becomes a simple operation in connection with the Federal
development.-
With the Eklutna Project area roughly half way between the centers
of population of Anchorage and the Matanusk& Valley, and with existing
facUities at a minimum, one can be certain that any recreational
development at Eklutna would serve residents of the entire area to a
high degree.
The present population of the Matanuska Valley is about 4,500 and
that of Anchorage between 19,000 and 35,000. The change has been so
swift since the time of the last census that the Census Bureau has
declined to make an estimate.
Recreational facilities at Eklutna Lake could most likely be
.justified if for no other purpose than for the use of the thousands
of military personnel stationed in the area.
The lack of recreational facilities is of great concern locally.
When attempts have been made to promote events such as fairs, fire-
works displays and athletic contests the attendance has been remarkable .•
People are eager for entertainment of any kind and will drive many
miles over rough roads to attend a function they know in advance will
be mediocre.
50
\.
MUCH'CAN BE DONE IN ALASKA TO CONSERVE AND DEVELOP
NATURAL RESOURCES FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES
(' /
/
/
Recreation
Existing facilities consist almost entirely of movie theaters,
bowling alleys or baseball diamonds in the centers of population.
Anchorage bas a small development at a nearby lake for summer use, but
it i8 neither adequate nor bas it the available area or natural beauty
ot Eklutna Lake. The general absence of playground facilities in a
healthy environment for children is a serious matter, but the necessary
funds to remedy the situation are not available.
Previous experience has shown that such development in conjunction
with a hydroelectric program. can be highly successful. Shasta Reservoir
in Callfornia, where construction is even now scarcely complete, is
rapidly becoming a year-round recreation center. Strict control has
been exercised by the National Park Service and the Forest Service
to insure that no unsightly shacks are constructed and that recreational
tacilities are operated in a sate and sanitary manner.
It is recollllllended tha. t the Eklutna Lake area be maintained as
tar.as possible in its primitive state, as a sanctuary for wildlife
am to preserve its natural beauty. While there are few, if any,
tish in the lake, game known to abide in the area include mountain
sheep, goats, numerous black bear, a tew grizzly bear, lIOose, lynx,
rabbits and squirrels. These an1mal.s could provide a major attrac-
tion it lett UIUIOlested. The cutting ot wood should be strictly
regulated" and an effort made to prevent unsightly const.ruction,
signs or rubbish disposal.
The problem of the oorustruot ion and maintenance of a suit.able
access road, would be automatical.l7 solved bl' developDent of the
Eklutna Project.
National Park Service has surve;red the area ani planned· the
tacilities that should be provided. A detailed statement has been
prep!Lred b;r the National Park SerYice, and is included in the Appendices
to this report. In brief, the principal features would. be provision
ot camping and picnic grounds, roads, trails, parking areas, ski tOll,
and a lodge equipped with guest rooms, a lounge and coffee shop.
51
CHAPTER VII
FIN A N C I A LAN A L Y SIS AND BEN E FIT S
The estimated cost of Eklutna Project is $20,365,400 which
represents the reimbursable cost of the power features. In
addition, $1,215,500 is the non-reimbursable cost of recreational
facilities.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The reimbursable investment is assumed to be all interest bear-
ing until investigations now in progress disclose the exact amount
of power facilities to be reserved for irrigation pumping. At that
time a reallocation can be made between interest bearing and non-
interest bearing reimbursable investment. Present financial studies
are predicated on the assumption that during a 52-year period all
the original reimbursable investment would be repaid in full to the
Federal government with interest at three percent.
Energy deliveries in each average year would total 96 million
kilowatt-hours of firm energy and 41.5 million kilowatt-hours of
secondary energy. The market would absorb all the firm energy as
soon as the project is completed at a delivered wholesale rate of
8.5 mills per kilowatt-hour. Likewise all secondary energy would
be absorbed by the market at a rate of 4.8 m.ills per kilowatt-hour.
PJmual power revenues would avera~e $1,015,200; operation, mainten-
ance and overhead would average $158,300 and provision for replace-
ment $72,600, resulting in an annual net operating revenue of
$784,300. At the conclusion of the 52-year repayment period,
there would be a cash surplus of '$729,?17.
Another financial study reveale(~ that if ~elivered 1Ifholesale
price of firm energy is lowered to 7 .. 0 mills and secondary energy
to 3.75 mills, and the interest rate on unpaid balance is lowered
to 2.5 percent, the repayment perIod would be about 78 years.
52
Year
ot
st~
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
II
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26 iL
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
I' ,
Fiscal
Il;ui,r
1954
55
5b
57
58
59
1960
61
62
63
64
65
~
68
69
1970 n
72
73
~;
76
77
78
79
:000
81
82
83
84
85
~~ 87
88
89
1990
91
92
9J
94
95
96
97
98
99
2000
01
02
03
04
05
sale of Ilectrical Eneru
l(ill1ona of KWH
Firm Non-Firm Total
96 41.5 137.5
96 41.5 137.i
4,992 2,158 7,150
BILUtliA PROJICT -ALASKA
PallER SfS'r1lll -AVIRAGE R4'1'1i: AHJ) REl'Al'IIlim' srlllY
Revenue Dec1w:tiona
Operating Bovenue.
sale of Ilectrical Energy Operation ProV:lS10n
F1"", lIon-l'irIIl I(aint .. ance tor
J8-i1t111.1 ~.8 l(1lla Total &j)Verhead Repl""~ ... nt. Total
I 816,000 I 199,200 11,015,200 158,300 I 72,I>m ~ 230,900
~'
816 000 192:200 1 015 200 158 300 72600 230.900
142,432,000 110,358,400 152,790,400 $8,231,60;) $3,775,200 11.(,006, 800
Incolle Deductiollll
Repa;rmllltt:4 Unpaid
Not Power Invest .... nt ao.lance larned
Operat1.Gg Intereot Princlp&l ot Inveat..,t Surplua
Revenues P8¥JD8nta P8fIIIIIl to at Enc1 C\IIIIU-
Pow.r-3S Power ot year lative
I I 610,962
zu,~~5,~ 0
784.300 173,338 2),192,062
605~7(,2 178:538 20 013:524
600,40~ 183,894 19,829,6)0
594,889 189,4U 19,640,219
589,207 195,093 19,445,126
~~~:~~; 200,946 19,244,180
206.975 19.0)7: 205
Sn,1l6 213,184 18,824,021
564,721 219,579 18,604,442
558,133 226,167 18,378,275
551,348 ~~:~f< 18,145,323
544:360 23 90 17 905:383
537 ,161 247,139 17,658,244
529,747 254,553 17,403,691
522,111 262,189 17,141,502
~~'ill 270,055
278 157
16,871,447
16.593 290
497,799 286,501 Ib,30b,789
489,204 295,096 16,Oll,69J
48:>,351 303,949 15,707,744
~,2J2 313,068 15,394,676
1 840 322.460 15~216
452,106 332,134 14,740,082
442,202 342,098 14,397,984
431,940 352,360 14,045,624
421,369 362,931 13,682,693
410:481 373 819 13 308 874
399,206 385,034 12,923,840
387,715 396,585 12,527,255
375,818 408,482 12,U8,m
~~:~~ ~~~~~ U,698,036
11 264: 677
337,940 446,360 10,818,317
324,550 459,750 10,358,567
310,757 473,543 9,885,024
296,551 487,749 9,'397,275
281;918 502382 8 894 893
266,847 517,453 8,377,440
251,323 532,977 7,844,463
235,334 548,966 7,295,467
218,865
201:9Oi ~~l:~J 6,730,0)1
6 i1.7: 632
184,430 599,870 5,547,761
166,434 617,866 4,929,894
147,898 636,402 4,293,491
128,806 655,494 3,637,996
109141 675 159 2 962 836
88,886 b95,414 2,2b7,421
68,024 716,276 1,551,144
46 ,535 737,765 813,378
24,403 759,897 53,479 0
784,300 1 606 53 521 729 173
140,783,600 $19,689,027 $20,365,400 $729,173
Financial Analysis and Benefits
BENEFITS
The tangible power ben~f~ts attributable to the project would
amount to an average of $1,763,700 annually over·a 50-year period.
The total power beneftts are made up or those which would accrue
by virtue of the production of usable electrical energy at the new
Eklutna power site 8nd those resulting from partial operation of the present
plant. For the purpose of this report, the benefits readily susceptible
to monetary evaluation will be discussed as (1) direct benefits resulting
from the sale of all power attributable to the old and new Eklutna power
plants with a coordinated plan of operation and (2) indirect benefits
that would result from savings in··cost to wholesale consumers such as
REA Cooperatives, Government agencies, and municipal utilities. Other
indirect benefits such as savings to ultimate consumers, from use of
electrical energy in the production of goods, and from project ex-
penditures have not been evaluated due to the urgency for preparing
this report in a very short time.
Direct Power Benefits
The revenues that would be received from the sale of electrical
energy constitute the direct power benefits attributable to the
Eklutna Project.
The averr.ge amount of power produced over a 50-year period would
be 100,000,000 kilowatt-hours of firm energy and in excess of 43.5
million kilowatt hours of secondary energy. After allowing for
transmission losses the average annual salable firm power would be
96,000,000 kilowatt-hours at 8.5 mills per kilowatt-hour and 41.5
million kilowatt-hours of secondary energy at 4.85 mills per kilowatt-
hour. The annual revenues from the sale of power would amount to
$1,015,200 which represents the direct power benefits.
Indirect Power Benefits
The indirect power benefits from the Eklutna Project, are esti-
mated to amount to an average of $748, 500 annually over a 50-year
period. For the reason noted previously in this chapter, the only
indirect benefit evaluated is the savings to wholesale consumers.
These benefits would result from the sources indicated in the fol-
lowing paragraphs.
Future military power needs in the project area are being
8valuatett by Alaskan Command Headquarters and the Anchorage District
Engineer's office. Based on discussions with personnel of the mili-
tary services, it is believed that theit operations could advanta-
geously use at least 20 million kilowatt-hours annually of Eklutna
power, and that in so doing a cost saving of at least 5 mills per
53
Financial Analysis and Benefits
kilowatt-hour (as against a minimum cost of production in steam plants)
would be achieved. This would amount to an annual saving of $100,000
or $5,000,000 in a 50-year period.
Non-military Federal agencies would also benefit substantial17
by construction of this project. Perhaps the greatest benefits .
accruing to such agencies would be those received b7 the Civil
Aeronautics Administration and the Alaska Railroad, both of which
are substantial power users and both of which attach considerable
importance to reliability and continuity of power supply. Availa-
bility of power at 8.5 mills per kilowatt-hour would have saved the
Alaska Railroad approximately $60,000 on its three million kilowatt-
hour purchases in the calendar year 1947. This disregards the ex-
pected doubling of power consumption b7 the railroad wi thin the next ..
five years which would increase the railroad's annual saving from $60,000
to about $110,000 or a total saving in 50 years of $5,500,000.
Upon comfletion of the new International Airport, Civil Aeronautics
Administration power requirements in the Anchorage area will also be
about :3 million kilowatt-hours a year. It is safe to assume that if the
Eklutna Project is built, annual power costs borne by C.A.A. in the
Anchorage area would be decreased b7 at least $50,000, as against what
they will be if power must be obtained from steam or diesel plants.
Other Federal agencies would benefit direct17 ~ lower costs of
electricity. The Alaska Native Service, the Post Office Depart-
ment, the Weather Bureau and numerous other Federal agencies require
substantial amounts of electricity for operating their offices and
establishments in the Anchorage area. It is estimated that total savinga
to these other Federal agencies, on their costs of purchased power, would
be at least $10,000 annually or $500,000 in 50 years.
The community of Anchorage, in addition to the Federal Treasury
would be tremendously benefited by lower-cost power. In the fiscal
year ending March 31, 1948, Anchorage Public Utilities produced
10,906,600 kilowatt-hours in its Sackett's Harbor steam plant, at an
average cost of approximate17 37.0 mills per kilowatt-hour. When
power from the proposed Eklutna plant becomes available, the City of
Anchorage would be able to increase its available supply of electricity
by about 37 million kilowatt-hours annually at ~ additional expense .
Whatever. This net increase of 37 million kilowatt-hours annual production
amounts to nearly 150% of total energy produced by all plants on Anchorage
Public Utilities system in the year ending March 31, 1948. Benefits to
the community of Anchorage would consist of:
54
Financial !Dalysis .and Benetit.
A. Increasing its annual power supply to nearl,. 250 percent.
of present value at no increase in annual cost.
B. Over and beyond that increase, _king a.liable substantial
additional amounts of power at 8.5 mills, -approximatel,. half the
cost of power production in the present sll&l.l EklutDa h;ydro plant.
EYen though present production costs on Anchorage Public Utilities
system be disregarded (as perhaps being abnormall,. high) it appears
reasonable to assume that Eklutna power delivere~ to the cit,., in
quantities up to 75 million kilowatt-hours annually. at a price of 8.5
mills per kilowatt-hour. would result in a net saving to the city of at
least 5 mills per kilowatt-hour as against production from any other
available source. This would mean a total saving of $375,000 annuall,.,
or $18,750,000 oyer a 50-year period.
Substantial savings would also accrue to residents of the .tauuska
Valle,., served by the llatanuska Electric Association. At a power cost ot
8.5 mills per kilowatt-hour, as against the actual present price of 2
cents per kilowatt-hour, a direct cash saYing of almost $13,000 would
have accrued to the Matanuska Electric Association in 1947 and potential
savings in future years will be much greater. A 50% reduction in electric
rates in the MatanuskaValley could occur when the new Eklutna plant i.
placed in service. Assuming avera~ purchases of 5 million kilowatt-
hours annually for the first 10 years, and 10 Ilil.lion kilowatt-hours an-
nually for the next 40 years, at a saving of 1.15¢ per kilowatt-hour,
(8.5 mills versus present 2-cent) results in • total saving of $103,500
each year or $5,175,000 in 50 years.
Estimated measurable annual benefits resulting trom the re-
imbursable portion of the investment are sumaarized as follows:
PO\\'ER BENEFITS (average annual)
Direct ••••••••••••••••••••• , •••••••••••••••••
Indirect
Federal military establishments ••••••••••• $100,000
Alaska Railroad ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 110,000
Civil Aeronautics Administration.......... 50,000
Alaska Native Service and
Miscellaneoua Federal Agencies ••••••••••••
Savings to City of Anchorage ••••••••••••••
Savings to Matanuska Electric Assoc ••••••
Total annual monetary benefits evaluated •••••
55
10,000
375,000
103,500
$1,015,200
748,500
$1,7~3,7oo
:'
\.
Financial Analysis and Benefits
Aside from the benefits which may be easily evaluated in dol-
lars and cents, there are other benefits, of which perhaps the most
important is improved service continuity on the interconnected
power system of the Project area. Sizable industries cannot be
expected to locate in Anchorage as long as power is served on an "if,
as and when" basis, with unscheduled interruptions likely to occur
at any ti.m!. Private capital simply will not take the risk.
COMPAHISeJi OF COOTS AND BENEFITS
Total Estimated Project Cost
Annual Cost of Amortization in 50 years at 3%
Annual Operation and Maintenance
Annual Replacement
Total Annual qosts
Total Annual Benefits
$20,365,400
791,500
158,300
72,600
$ 1,022,400
$ 1,763,700
The benefits would eXceed the cost of the project to the nation
in the ratio ot 1.7 to 1.0.
In addition to the power benefit s that are measurable in mone-
tary terms there are recreational benefits which the National Park
Service indicates are twice as much as the total annual costs for
recreational facilities.
56
,-
<
CHAPTER VIII
POTENTIAL PROJECT EXTENSIONS
. There are potential project extensions to the basic plan of
development. However, any major additions ~o the project that may be
found feasible in subsequent investigations will be submitted as a
separate project extension report. Two such extensions are now under
investigation, namely, the construction of a dam at the lake outlet to
raise the lake surface about 50 feet and the potential diversion of
Thunder Bird Creek into Eklutna Lake.
The feasibility of a dam to materially raise the level of the
Ek1utna Lake is doubtful. Interbedded glacial lake and stream deposits
constitute the foundation materials in the proposed damsite areas. Per-
meability, bearing capacity, and perma-frost conditions are the chief
geologic weaknesses influencing the suitability of these materials as the
foundation for a dAm appreciably higher than that now proposed. Detailed
field explorations and laboratory testing, with special attention to the
investigation of perma-frost and related conditions and their influence
on design and construction problems, must be accomplished before an
adequate and reliable evaluation of the foundation's engineering geo-
logic characteristics can be obtained. Dependent upon the availability
of funds and drilling equipment, this investigation work will be accomplished
be~inning in th~ spring of 1949. At present, judging from the surface
geologic investigations and the reconnaissance drilling which has been
completed, the site is highly questionable. If the investigation program
discloses unexpectedly favorable conditions and it is determined by co-
ordinated engineerinp studies that the construction of a higher dam is
economica11y.feasible, the cost of such a dam would necessarily be borne
b.Y increased revenues resulting from increased head of water on the power
plant and from increased lake storage.
Thunder Bird Creek, a tributary of Eklutna Creek, joins the main
stem at a low elevation near Knik Arm. Upstream where it runs parallel
to ElUutna Lake, the runoff could be made tributary to the lake by con-
struction of a tunnel approximately 1.3 miles long and a canal or 0.4
miles. The economics of such a diversion and the.actua1 amounts of
water which might be diverted will be further investigated.
It is assumed that, unless the Department of National Defense wishes
otherwise, an ordinary commerical-type power plant would be built at
Eklutna. If military authorities wish the plant to be of a protected
type it is assumed that non-reimbursable funds would be available. The
Bureau of Reclamation has given careful study to a deSign plan involving
a complete underground installation of surge tank, penstock, generating
equipment, switchyard and all appurtenant facilites.
57
, '.
Potential Project Extensions
Subsurface development of the power plant would involv~ the ex-
cavation of rooms and galleries in bedrock. Generally speaking, bed-
rock is at or close to the surface of the entire mountain slope o.n the
Knik River side; bedrock is exposed at numerous points along the base
of the slope immediately adjacent to the south side of the Anchorage-
Palmer highway frOm Mile 33.95 to Mile 34.45. Geologic conditions of
jointinr, faulting and groundwater, as well as design and construction
problems, would be the same as for the tunnel line except that no
"squeezing" ground would be expected. The rooms would be lined, with
adequate provision for grouting and draining back of the lining. Since
the rock mass is assumed to be at least moderately fractured, the width
of roof span would be held to a minimum to avo'1 excessive cost in pro-
viding adequate roof support. The choice of the exact location for the
subsurface power plant development which presents the best balance of
geologic, engineering, defen~~ :~d cost factors could be accomplished by
the same investigation meL11J(-:'" applied t" the tunnel line.
58
A P PI 11 D I C .1 S
COOPERATING INTERESTS
Federal·. Territorial .• Local
,
r
COOPERATING INTERESTS
CONTENTS
CIft OF AHCII>RAGB • • • • ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
TERRITORIAL GOVERNlmrr OF ALASKA • • • • • • • • • • • • •
DlPAJmQ}f't OF THE INTERIOR
Page
1
2
Alaska Railroad • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2
Alaska Road Commission • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 4
Bureau of Land ~gement • • • • • • • • • • • • 5
Bureau of Mines •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 7
Fish and Wildlife Service ••• • • • • • • • • • •• 8
Geological Survey -• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9
National Park Service •• • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 12
Office of Indian Affairs • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 19
DEPARTDft OF AGRICULTURE
Need for Electric Power • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Irrigation of Crops in Alaska • • • • • • • • • • • •
Rural Electrification in Alaska •• • • • • • • • • •
Power Problems in the Anchorage Area • • • • • • • • •
Future Development Possibilities in the
An.chorage Area • • • • /e • • • .' • • • • • • • • •
DEPAR'l'KDrr OF COlOlEHCE
Civil Aeronautics Administration •• . . . . . . .
FEDERAL POWER COIlKISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DIPARl'lDBT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
Alaskan Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
21
22
23
24
26
29
31
\
RESOLUTION NO. 507
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE. CITY·QF ANCHORAGE:
That the City of Anchorage will wbenrequested. by the Bureau of
Reclamation, Department of the Interior, call a special election
pursuant to the provisions of Sub-paragraph "Twentieth" of Section
2383, Compiled Laws of Alaska, 1933, to determine whether or not
the City of Anchorage shall sell to said Bureau as agent for the
thited States Government, the existing Eklutna power generating
facility, at Eklutna,Alaska, at a price to be mutually agreed
upon bY' the City of Anchorage and said Bureau and to be stated on
the ballot at said election. This resolution is made because the .
City has been advised that it· will take an expenditure of more than
fifteen million dollars to develop the Eklutna generating plant to
its ultimate capacity; that the sum is beyond the ability of the
City to raise; that the future of the City of Anchorage and its
vicinity demands a source of low cost power in order to assist in
the development and growth of the City and a,djacent areas.
Introduced September 1, 1948 and passed under suspension of
the rules September 1, 194B.
ATTEST:-
SEAL
~
B. IV. Boeke, City Clerk
City of Anchorage.
z.~
Mayor, City of Anchorage.
\
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA
Office Of The Governor
A letter to the Bureau of Reclamation from the office of the
Governor of Alaska, dated September 8, 1948, stated: " ••• we are
most anxious that additional power be produced to take care of the
existing and anticipated requirements in the Anchorage area."
DEPARTMENT OF ~ INTERIOR
Alaska Railroad.
The Alaska .Railroad has grown up hand-in-hand with the city of
Anchorage and has shared in the discomfort caused by inadequate ~wer.
The railroad depends entirely on the city for electrical energy
and hence is earnestly concerned with the development of Eklutna and
the subsequent availability of low-cost power. Anchorage is disrupted
by a war-time and post-war boom, and cannot possibly hope to develop
the Eklutna wa~ershed by itself.
The railroad is in the midst of a $50,000,000 rehabilitation pro-
gram which relies, to a considerable extent on sufficient electrical
power. For 1948 in the Anchorage area alone, the railroad will use
well over three and one half million kilowatt-hours of power. This
figure is based on the present rate of consumption. The 1948 power
bill will cost the railroad about $100,000.
A short summing up of the history of Anchorage and the power
business is useful here. The railroad "fathered" the city. In 1915,
the town started as a railroad construction tent town. It was natural,
therefore, that the railroad in 1916 owned the first electrical gen-
erating and distribution system in Anchorage. Energy was at firs~
purchased from the railroad which operated. a steam power plant to
generate electricity for the railroad shops and buildings.
The Anchorage Light and Power Company was set up in 1923 when
the city was incorporated. The Eklutna watershed was immediately in-
vestigated. Construction on a hydroelectric plant was started in
1928 and was finished in 1929.
The original ARR generating' plant of 750 kilowatts supplied both
the city and the railroad up until 1929. Then the Anchorage Light and
Power Company built the 1,000-kilowatt plant at Eklutna and the ARR's
steam generating system was discontinued.
2
•
In 1932, the Anchorage Light and Power Company installed another
1,000-kilowatt generator at Eklutna. Subsequently it installed a
450-ki10watt diesel generator. In 1942, the City of Anchorage bought
the power utilities for $1,100,000 and installed another 450-ki10watt
diesel generator the next year to take care of the growing power load.
In 1947, the city bought the "Sackett's Harbor", the after-half of a
tanker, with generating capacity of 3,300 kilowatts.
The total generating capacity in Anchorage at present is 6,500 0
kilowatts, six times the amount of power furnished in 1929 and still
grossly insufficient for the burden.
The railroad's consumption of power clearly points out its interest
in a substantial power system •
In 1934, the ARR used three-quarters of a million kiloW8tt-~ours,
which cost some $20,000. From 1934 to 1943, the power consumed jumped
about 30% in dollar value, and over 100% in quantity. This is so be-
cause the railroad pays the city on a sliding scale. l~tes are as
follows:
The first 50,000 kilowatt-hours cost three and two tenths cents
per kilowatt-hour; the next 20,000 cost three and one tenth cents;
the next 20,000 three cents; the next 20,000 two and nine tenths
cents; the next 20,000 two and eight tenths cents; anything over this
amount costs two and seven tenths cents per kilowatt-hour. The rail-
road is allowed 12,500 kilowatts for heatin?, at one cent per kilowatt-
hour.
In 1944, the ARR used 2,200,583 kilowatt-hours, costing $46,692.36.
In 1947, the railroad consumed 3,091,300 costing $86,455.95.
Energy consumption so far this year is 19 to 20 percent higher
than consumption of power in the same period for 1947.
Confronted by these figures, the railroad is naturally anxious
to obtain };Ower that is low-cost and plentiful. This is why the ARR
strongly supports the Bureau of Reclamation plan to develop .Eklutna
to the maximum.
Low-cost power means new industries can grow up in Alaska. The
growth of'industry -so far slow to develop in RailOelt Alaska -will,
in turn, benefit the railroad because it will bring with it an increase
in business for the railroad. t"ith a rehabilitated right-of-way and
new rollin~ stock, the ARR will be in a position to handle promptly
more business.
Reliance on the Anchorap'e electrical~enerat1ng and distributing
system is risky. The city frequently suffers "brownouts". In past
winters, power has been cut off in the railroad shops and in employees'
3
\
THE ALASKA RAILRQlD IS UNDERGOING A .,0 MILLION RE .. SILITATION
PROGRAM. SHOIN ABOVE ARE SHOPS UNDER CONSTRUCT ION AT ANCHORAGE.
THE ALASKA RAllROo\D'S NEI STRE .... INER. THE AuRoRA. (IILOW)
PART OF A PR~ TO WODERNIZE THE LINE AND IMPROVE SERVICE.
A.. ,.a •••
homes. This disruption is costly and often a hazard, particularly
when the weather is below zero. The small ARR stand-by plant, eon-"
sisting of two 50-kilowatt generators, is grossly inadequate to fur-
nish"the power load required.
Brownouts shake the morale of employees. Warnings have issued
regularly from the Anchorage City Council that power rationing can
be eXpected again this winter as consumption of energy steadily
climbs, and the amount available remains the same.
To overcome the power problem, the railroad management bas con-
templated bringing a surplus "packaged" power plant from Carlsbad,
New Mexico. A two-way proposal is now being considered. The plan
envisions putting up a J,900-kilowatt steam power plant, if the
Eklutna Project isn't realized. If the Eklutna development moves
abead, the railroad then plans only to install a 1,700-kilowatt
standby plant. This alternate generating plant can take over in cas.
of emergency as an excellent standb,y fa~ility.
Erecting the 1,700-kilowatt plant instead of the J,~ki1o~tt
steam plant would save the railroad roughly $500,000, Alaska Railroad
engineers estimate. Thus the railroad has a direct immediate concern
with Eklutna's development.
For these cogent reasons, the railroad management, therefore,
supports the ?ureau of Reclamation power project since it will assure
the area plentiful low-cost power. Low-cost energy will, in turn,
encourage new industries which will use the railroad's facilities.
The time factor is vital. Delay in providing adequate low-cost"
pow~r means delay in the development of the Railbelt. This 108s will
be felt by the ARR.
Similarly, the proposal to develop new power sites in the Kenai
area and the upper Susitna Valley are encouraging to the ARR. Both
regions are served by the railroad.
DEPARTMENT OF m INTERIOR
Alaska ~ Commission
The Alaska Road Commission, which has maintained the present '
access road to Eklutna Lake, has informed the Bureau of Reclamation
that it "has no objection to the proposed relocation or reconstruction
of this road It. The construction referred to would be a. necessary
part of the proposed Eklutna Project, and its costs have been included
in the overall· project estimate. The Road Commission bas further
.4
stat.ed that it "will be responsible for the maintenance of the re-'
su1 tant road n •
DEPARTMENT Ql I!m :IN~T=ER::.:IO=R
Bureau 2! ~ Management
Unified land, water, and power resources development is as appli-
cable to the Anchorage area as any other habitable land. The basic .
thtDgs people live by here are much the same as elsewhere, the soil
and water, the forests and grass lands, the fish and game, and minerals
in the earth. The benefits of a balanced development of resources
might be even more significant in this raw north area than in most
other regions. Greater industrial utilization could certainly be
made of the minerals, forests, fish, and other natural resources or
the region if more 8nd lower-cost power; were developed. It is ~
lieved that small scale agriculture would become more productive &Del
dependable if economical supPlementary irrigation could be more gen-
erally practiced. Addi tiona! farm lands on the public doain might
well be brought into production .1f low-cost power'owere available to
aid its development and utilizat1qn. With extension of power lines,
development of new home lands wo~d undoubtedly be racilitated on the
outskirts of Anchorage. Public and community sern.ces could be more
easily modernized and expanded and the milit&r7 security of the area
strengthened. All this and the less tangible social benefits would
surely heighten the settlement opportunities on public lands about
Anchorage.
In the hinterlands of Anchorage approx!aately 60,800 acre~ have
been classified as to their Jlui tabili ty for agricultural use. Such
area classification was made to provide a guide to·settlement and
public land administration. The land has been classifi~ into three
types, namely: (1) Suitable for Alaskan general farming with local
limitations, (2) Principally suitable for grazing or limited forage
crop production, and (3) Unsuitable for agricultural use at present.
The land types were mapped as accurately as the existing fleld in-
formation permitted. Withi~ some type boundaries were included areas
too small to map separately that actually belonged in another land
class.
ApprOXimately 16,314 acres were classified as suitable for Alaskan
general. farming with local limitations. Lands in this class mainly
occuP.1 glacial outwash material and hence are predominantly smooth
to gently rollihg. The soils range for the most part from very fine
sandy loam to silt loam and with good management including application
of farm manure, fertilizer, and lime are well adapted to the production
of potatoes, small grains, forage crops, and the vegetables and berries
-.roa to the 'u-.; .',~te17 19,630 acres "'r. Cluldtl.a as' -'
priDe1J1&ll.T;hl"bl~ tor paS1ac or 11Id.\ed t~g. crop prodUct.iaD.
Ltil4 ia Vd.. ~.' ...,ri ... 'widDq lit!'Clllll7' ~1a" claclalllQrain ••
1Iid" .s8od.ated 'all1lY1al ridges _cthU-Oclul,. '__ ot this lad 11 ...
'toward th.' .. t. &1-.,' '\be' DOrth ... te~ .lopes or the Chugach lIo\IDtaiDs
.. t .1 ... ,laD. or 'SOC> to -'uarq l~OOO t •• t.. ' SOU. in this laDd tne
.,. pneral.q, .'ail .. to thoH-"d •• cr1bed abo .... except. ~t depth to
_ ~s. sand aDd cra ... el ls ieenl17 12 1D~.8 or le.s.Becaus. ~f
8c ••• l .... alopes, hlp .1efttlC1l, orabaUow eol1s tla. ,laad is, cOl1-
aid~ to be pr1Aol~' ftluabl. tor 11"&&1111 although the ftJ.ue ot
tJae _ci tar ncb •• m It. preS.t state i. low' aiDe. lt supporta
11tt1. 'IN". s.IIn ad .cattered traoW within th ... ana. wit.h ,', deeper '.u._ ,le"t'elv 1t1optts, aDd lower el.eftt.lc:a. are sui table tor
forap aa4 ~.r er.op producUca. Clue to, 24,8S6 aena -were cla.s1-
_ fled .. wuRiU.alU. tor &p'1cult.ural u. at pr ... t. •• the,. are toc?
',: ftupt ar:zioqb aa4 b~_ tor cult.lftt.1qa or gral1DC Use. ' .' -'
, ttl ....... uu-lrl,SQO ure. at' ... t __ aPJii.,...1aW pabl.1c
laDd a"t'&ilable tor set.tleMDt.in t.he Anchorage .... cm Sept""r 1,
,1948. PractlcaUJ--all ot WI laDd, howe .... r, hils bMD claasitiedas
1msuit.able for agrlaalt.ural ... at. present. It reat.oNtloa ot the ai1i-
t.aI7 res.natl.. ~d.. l71DI eaat' Uld southeast. ot Anchorap' proceeds
accori1Dg to preaat.--plaaa there rill be ,about 16,OOOacr.s ot&dcU-"
tlOD&l land Ed. a"t'&1l.able ,t.o '.ot.17.' ot t.his total, abou~ 1 ~ 700
acres ha .... beea classltled .. suit.able tor A1 a ekeD ceneral ~rop pr.o-
. ciuCJtiC3D rith local. 1JJd.tat.i0ll8, &!)out 8,800 acres as pr1DcipalJ.y ,
&nd.t.:ab1e tor grazing or l1aited torage crop productiOD, aDdS,SOO
acres, as l1Ilau1tabl.e tor agricultural lUI. at. present., '
In the ¥rrotr coastal lowland which lies alOllg bit ~ at. the
base of the high Uld )ougged Chugach lIountains north of Anchorage be-
tween the fort Richardson I1l1tary Reservation proper on the ,south
and the Eklutna Industrial School Reserve au the north, there are an
est1aat.ed 26,SOO aore. ot land. Settlement in this entire area 1s
_parse and .ost of it ia contlDed to the lands adjacent to the east
side ot th. Palmer Highway. Almost three-tourths of this area has,
been W'1thheld trom ent17' since the war pending restoration of .those
lands tellporarlly-withdrawn for II1lita17 purposes. ,Exclusiye of the
1,614 acre a ellbraced in the small military reservation about the
Birchwood Airfield, there is a total of alJIoat 18,000 acres which II8y
becoae available for sett.lellent. if land restorations proceed as pre-
sentl1' p18.lllled.. Only curl30ry information is available as to the use
aultabUttle*, o£ the .. laDda but lt ieest.1Eted that pollsibly as '
-.ch a,1I OD. ~ --could be ut.U1zed for agricultural purposes. or-tor
s-.J.l tracts.t~r holDe, bUSiness, camp, cabin, ~d recreation sites.
ID visualizing the tuture ot irrigation in the' Anchorage area
priMry consideration mst be-' given to its ecoDoll1c feasibillty.
s-.n scale, supp!elleDtary' irrigation, especially application ot water
,6
at critical periods of the growing season has apparently been success-
ful on a few farms in the region. Although the annual rainfall is
adequate, it is not distribu~ed with regularity from year to year or
frequently in sUfficient amount in early stages of the growing season.
Fortunately, available water and agricultural soils occur side b.1
side in most areas. There have been no field experiments, however,
concerning the practical problems of efficient occasional application
of irrigation water and the economics of supplemental irrigation about
Anchorage. Future field investigations b.1 the Bureau of Reclamation
appears justifiable to determine the physical and economic feasibility
of potential supplemental irrigation.
Approximately 1,600 acres in the vicinity of Anchorage which will
eventually be released from the military reservation have been classi-
tied for small tract purposes. This land will provide approximately
700 lots ranging in size-from one and one-quarter acres to five acres
for lease and sale for business, home, cabin, camp, and recreation
sites. Such uses ot these lands, and there is dire need, would create
a considerable additional market for electricity trom an Eklutna Power
Project.
DEPARTMENT OF ~ INTERIOR
Bureau 2!: Mines
A wide variety of activities relating to mines and minerals is
conducted b.1 the Bureau of Mines. Of particular interest are the
studies of the use of power rn extracting minerals now being conduct-
. ed in a new electro-development laboratory at Albany, Oregon. Smaller
laboratories are maintained at Seattle and Pullman, Washington. The
former is concerned with coal and non-metallic minerals, and at the
. latter, specialized work is conducted on processes for the production
of magnesium. Other activities include the production of helium,
coal-mine inspections and investigations, fuel testing, mineral economic
studies, investigation of mine accidents and~evelopment of means to
prevent them, studies to improve mining methods and the preparation
of minerals, and investigations to eliminate conditions harmful to
health in the mineral industries.
If hydro-electric power 90uld be made available at a cost which
would justify extension of a three-phase line from Eklutna to the
Jonesville and other coal mines in the Matanuska coal field, and still
permit the sale price per kilowatt-hour to be competitive with the
mine's cost of generation, this project would materially aid in further-
ing the economic development of the coal mines in this area. . It
appears a detinite probability that the coal mine operators are pro-
spective purchasers of power from the Eklutna project.
It is likely that lower-cost power may revive other smaller or
more costly mining operations in the coal-bearing areas immediately
7
surrounding Matanuska Valley and in the Willow Creek mining district,
where hard-rock gold mining on a large scale was once quite profit-
able, but in recent years has been practically dormant because of
high labor and material costs. Tungsten has been found in the
Willow Creek district, and availability of low-cost power would un-
doubtedly encourage further development.
Extension of its lines into the mining areas is under considera-
tion by the Matanuska Electric Association, which anticipates that a
possible additional demand of at least 1,500 kilowatts could be ac-
quired thereby. This figure includes the Jonesville coal mine and is
sufficiently high to allow for serving various operations and a possible
custom mill in the Wi~low Creek area.
Representatives of the Bureau of Mines believe that a marked
saving to small producers would result from milling their ores lo-
cally and shipping out concentrates as against the expensive practice
of shipping out sacked ore to Seattle or elsewhere for treatment.
The speculative element in establishment of a custom mill could be
materially reduced by availability of commercial power avoiding in-
vestment in a steam or diesel-driven power plant.
Annual kilowatt-hour req~irerr.~nts for metal mining loads are
subject to wide fluctuations, but an estimate of 14,000,000 kilo-
watt-hours annually for existing and potential mining and milling
operations app~ars conservative.
As the work of the Bureau of Reclamation progresses, it would
be advisable that the Bureau of Mines keep a close watch for appear-
ances of any lode deposits.
DEPARTMENT OF THE rnTERIOR
Fish and ~ildlife Service
In a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation dated September 9, 1948
Clarence J. Rhode, Regional Director of the Fish and ~ildlife Service
in Alaska, has stated: "The principal game in the Eklutna Lake area
consists of Dall sheep, mountain goats, a few bla~k bear and an
occasional grizzly bear. Inasmuch as this area is accessible by
plane from Anchorage, and would be heavily hlmted by Anchorage resi-
dents, the Alaska Game Commissicn created some years ago a Game Re-
fuge, in which the lake is included. That particular area affords
some of the most beautiful scenerJ and natural game h~bitat to be
found anywhere in Alaska. I think it is highly doubtful that this
Service would ever wish to remove the area from the Game Reserve now
i~ effect, as the lake can be reached by a fifteen-minute flight from
8
Anchorage, and it would be a matter of only one season until most of
the game would be killed or driven trom the area."
In referring to the proposed plan to raise the lake level two
feet, Mr. Rhode said: " ••• inasMUch as no salmon or game fish are in-
vol ved, we can. see no possibility of your proposal being harmful to
wildlife interests."
The Fish and Wildlife Service recommends the maintenance of the
Eklutna Lake area in its primitive state, and "would be favorable to
any plan which would provide additional protection to the wildlife
and its habitat around Eklutna Lake".
DEPARTMENT OF ~ INTERIOR
Geological Survey
The following is an account and abstract of investigations on
Eklutna Lake, Alaska, by the United States Geological Survey:
During January, 1947, the Anchorage Public Utilities completed
plans for making an underwater survey of Eklutna Lake in order to de-
termine the amount of storage that could be developed by drawing the
lake level below its natural low water stage. The Geological SurVey
was asked to provide a representative who would act in an advisory
capacity. Mr. Arthur Johnson, District Engineer, Water Be Power Division,
Conservation Branch, was assigned to be this representative. He
arrived in Anchorage 'on FebrUary 15,1947, and accompanied the field
crew making the survey from February 17 to March 1. The survey made
at that time consisted of taking sufficient soundings and determining
their locations to develop a map showing underwater contours to a
depth of at least 50 feet below lake level. The resulting map was
drawn on a scale of 1:4,800 (1 inch. 400 feet) and showed the shore
lin., elevation 868, and 10 foot underwater contours down to and in-
cluding the 800 foot contour.
Mr. Johnson, as a result of his observations during the above
mentioned survey, recommended 'that the Geological Survey extend the
investigations on Eklutna Lake in order to determine the feasibility
of developing the Eklutna Lake storage site by the construction of a
dam at the lake outlet and raising the lake abov., rather than draw-,
ing it below, its natural level. His recommendations were approved
and the following program was carried out.
A map was made showing Eklutna Lake and shore up to the 950 foot
contour. This map was on a scale of 1:12,000 (1 inch = 1,000 feet)
with ten foot contours. This map incorporated the results of the
underwater survey. An area from the lake outlet downstream about one
half mile and up to the 950 foot contour was mapped on a scale! of
1:4,800 (1 inch. 400 feet) with ten foot contours. This map "s
made to determine the most favorable site for a dam from the stand-
point ot topography and also serve as a base map for the geologiC
studT of the site. Eklutna Creek was mapped from the lake outlet
downstream four miles on a scale of 1:24,000 (1 inch = 2,000 feet)
with a 20 foot contour interval~ The results of the above surveys
have been published as a set of maps entitled "Plan, Eklutna Lake,
Alaska, Dam Site". The set consists of three sheets, two of which
show the lake and the third sheet shows the dam site area and Eklutna
Creek. .
A geologic examination was made of the 18m site area by Mr. A.F.
Bateman, Jr., Geologist, Mineral Classification DiVision, Conservation
Branch, and of a proposed diversion tunnel route by Dr. F.F. Barnes,
Geologist, Alaskan Section, Geologic Branch. Following the above
mentioned field work the following reports were prepared.
Preliminary Report On·
Water Power Resources
ot
Eklutna Creek, Alaska
b,-
Arthur Johnson
August, 1947
.Reconnaissance Report on Geology ot
Eklutna Lake Dam Site and Conduit Route Near
Anchorage, Alaska
by
A. F. Bateman, Jr.
. August, 1947
Preliminary Report On The Geology Along The Route Of A
Proposed Tunn,l To Develop Power From .
Eklutna Lake, Alaska
b,-
F. F. Barnes
July, 1947
The three foregoing reports were opened to public inspection by
press notice dated February 15, 1948. Copies are on file at Room
3214 Federal Works Agency Building, Washington, D. C.; 410 Federal
Building, Tacoma, Washington, and the Anchorage Public Utilities
office, Anchorage Alaska.
10
/
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Eklutna Lake is about seven miles long and a mile in width at
the widest part. The area at normal high water level, elevation
868, is 3,260 acres. The sides both above and below lake level are
fairly steep. The area of the 950 contour above the proposed dam
site is 4,940 acres and the area of the sub-surface 800 contour is
2,700 acres. The lake has a maximum depth of about 200 feet in the
upper half and then decreases gradually toward the lower end. The
lower half mile is comparatively shallow. Regulation of the lake
through a range of between 40 and 50 feet will provide sufficient
storage to regulate the flow of Eklutna Creek. The available data
at the time Mr. Johnson prepared his report indicated that a flow of
300 second-feet could be made available continuously and 350 second-
feet for 50% of the time. This data was considered somewhat uncertain
but subsequent information obtained at the gaging station below the
lake outlet shows that the above figures for discharge are fairly
reliable. With these figures for discharge, and assuming development
by a tunnel rather than,a conduit following the Eklutna Creek valley,
about 15,000 K.W. can be developed 100 percent of the time and about
18,000 K.W. 50 percent of the time.
The proposed dam site, located abOut 400 feet below the outlet
of Eklutna Lake, is considered suitable for a dam of flexible earth-
embankment type of sufficient height to regulate the lake. Bed rock
at the site is very deep and the dam would rest on glacial deposits
of till, clay, sand and gravel, and on deposits of lake-shore and
alluvial fan gravels. The geologic conditions in the area of the
right abutment are imperfectly known .at this time and may make necessary
a long, deep cut-off extending for an unknown distance beyond the
north end of the dam. An exploration program of drilling and teat
pits must be carried out before the conditions of the site can be
fully evaluated.
•
The proposed tunnel for diverting water from Eklutna Lake north-
westward to the valley of the JDik River would be about 4.5 miles
long, the exact length depending on the route selected. Such a tunnel
would encounter three general classes of bedrock, viz.; interbedded
slate and graywacks; a fine grained intrusive rock, probably ande-
sitic in composi~ion; and a variety of basic intrusive rocks, locally
highly sheared and serpentinized. The region in which the tunnel
would be located has been subjected to strong deformative stresses,
as shown by the numerous sheared and complexly folded zones. The
affects of this deformation may be expected in all types of rock at
tunnel depth in the form of joints, faults, and shear zones. No
unusual geologic conditions were encountered that would indicate that
the construction of the proposed tunnel would be unfeasible.
The investigations by the Geological Survey shows the general
information relating to water supply, storage, power available, and
the. geologic condition~ that would be encountered in any construction
11
program. This information serves as a starting point for the more de-
tailed and complete investigations that are necessary before any definite
plans~ designs and estimates can be made by whatever agency or company
contemplates development of the project. In this particular instance
the Bureau of Reclamation is carrying on the more detailed investigations
and studies and in so doing has used the information prepared by the
Geological Survey as the starting point for its own work. This is an
example of proper cooperation between agencies of the Interior Department,
all workin~ toward the common goal of the best use of the nation's
natural resources.
DEPARTMENT OF !.!§ n~TERIOR
National ~ Service
Upon the request of the Bureau of Reclamation and in accordance
with inter-bureau agreement, the National Park Service submits this
report on recreational potentialities of the proposed Eklutna Project.
On August 19, Mr. ~{1fred C. Kuehl, a Special Representative of
the National Park Service, accompanied Mr. J.M. Morgan, Chief of the
Alaska Investigations Office, Bureau of Reclamation, on an inspection
of the area.
Summary of findings, conclusions ~ recommendations:
1. It is recommended that the recreational potentialities of the
Eklutna Project be developed if the project is considered favorably by
the Congress.
2. Recommend that further study of the recreational potentialities
and a comprehensive planning analysis be undertaken preparatory to the
preparation of detailed plans.
J. Recommend that development of the recreational facilities
be under the supervision of the National Park Service.
4. Subject to approval by the Director of the National Park
Service, it is recommended that administration of the recreational area
be under the National Park Service until such time as the Territory of
Alaska can assume the responsibility through the creation of a Terri-
torial Park System properly financed fo'r the purposes.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Qr ~
Eklutna Lake is located high in the mountains of the Chugach
Range overlooking the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet. It is approximately
/
J
,
36 miles by highway north of Anchorage, Alaska and 22 miles south of
Palmer, Alaska, the heart of the MatanuskaValley farming settlement.
The lake is accessible by means of a secondary mountain road·lO miles
in length extending westerly from the Anchorage-Palmer highway, a
major link in the Territorial high'vay system.
Purposes ~ Operation
Since 1932, the lake has supplied water for the development of a
limited amount ,of power which is consumed by the City of Anchorage. A
low 10 foot dam was originally constructed across the end of the lake.
From a collecting basin at a lower level, the water is carried by pen-
stock to a generating plant at the base of the mountain range. This plant,
although originally constructed by private enterprise, was purchased by
the City of Anchorage in 1943.
The purpose of the Eklutna Project is to expand the system to pro-
vide adequate power for the city, its outlying communities, the town
of Palmer, the Matanuska Agricultural region, the Willow Creek mining
district and the Matanuska coal fields.
It is proposed to increase the height of the present dam approximat~ly
4 feet. This increase will not affect the overall size of the lake to
any great extent due to the gradient of the shore line.
The lake is approximately seven miles long and va~ies in width
from 3,500 feet to one mile. Maximum lake elevation will be 870 feet
above sea level and will be subjected to a maximum drawdown of 40 feet.
Any maximum drawdown will probably occur during the month of April.
Water will be carried through diversion tunnel and penstock through the
mountains, a distance of 22,000 feet to a generating plant to be located
at the base of the mountain range near ~he highway.
Physical Characteristics
The lake is of glacial origin, created and supplied by an unnamed
glacier which has receded to a point h'ip'h above the lake level. The
extent of the glaCier which remains is about six and two-tenths square
surface miles. There are other unnamed glaciers of greater significance
within the immediate vicinity in the surroundin~ mountains; all of which
add greatly to the scenic quality of the area. Scenic values are fine,
in that the lake is completely surrounded by rugged mountains which rise
as much as 7,000 feet above the surface of the lake. There ere a number
of alluvial fans of large proportion which terminate abruptly at the water's
edge. .
The lower mountain slopes above'the lake level are covered with
a g09,d stand of spruce, aspen, black cottonwood and some birch trees.
13
The undercover consists principally of native shrubs, moss and
ground cover plants.
Lake water is glacial, containing colloidial silt in sufficient
quantity to cause a slight milky coloration.
The approach from the main highway to the lake ~llels in a
general way the Eklutna Creek. It is extremely ,scenic and from a
number of points the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet can be seen.
&!!!!! Status
The lake, its adjacent lands and land upon which the present
works are located,'are owned b,y the City of Anchorage. An agreement
between the city and the Bureau of Reclamation states that all the
land is to be turned over to the Federal Government upon initiation
of the proposed project. All lands surrounding those described are
part of the publfc domain. The exact extent of land withdrawals
necessary for the project has not been determined but there are 172
square miles in the basin of which 119 square miles are tributary
to Eklutna Lake.
Climate
The climate of the region corresponds somewhat with the conditions
that prevail in many of the north central states. Over a 29 year re-
cord period, the maximum low temperature in the Anchorage area was
-37D, and the maximum high temperature 920. The January average was
11.20 , and the July average 57D.
Precipitation averages 14.56 inche~ per annum" most of which
falls within the late summer months. Killing frosts occur as late
as May 23 and early in September. There are 113 growing days, and
the possible sunlight hours on June 1 are 18:41, July 1, 19:14,
and .January 1, 5:42.
Climati.c conditions of the region are conducive to wholesome
outdoor recreation.
Present Recreational y!! 2! Eklutna ~
No recreational fa~ilities have been provided at the site, al-
though the area has proved exceedingly popular for picnicking, camp-
ing, boating, and sightseeing. It is repo+ted that as many as 400
persons have visited the area on a week-end day and that the usual
daily week-end visitation is more than 200 persons. There have been
times when every available shore campsite within reach by automobile
has been occupied.. Many persons transport their small boats to the
lake for a week-end of boating.
14
~~.~s tn-r1ca.l ~ Ar(;heological Investigation
In view of the remotecess of the area and the geological con-
;,~~ions, i~ is questioned whether any historical or archeological
significance prevails.
RECREATIONAL NEEDS QE IH! REGION
The regi~n to be benefitted by this project is distinctly lack-
ing in recreational facilities. Nowhere in this part of Alaska have
~ompr~hensive recreational facilities,been developed. Considering
that this project's recreational potentialitie~ can be available to
arproximately 25 percent of Alaska's population, there can be little
doubt as to its value. The need for well planned facilitie3 for the
use of the military personnel of the area cannot be denied.
~here is a population of approxt.Btely 30,000 persons who' re-
side within a 25 mile radius of Eklutna Lake. A substantial in-
crease in population is inevitable if the increase of the past.
eight years is any criteria. The population of Anchorage !las in-
~reased more than 500 percent during this period.
Alaska has been urAble to develop recreational areas for its
popul&tion due principally to the lack cf funds. Heretofore, onl7
minor developments have been provided in the forest areas or South-
eastern Alaska.
A re~ent report of the SUbecmmittee 2n Resource Policy 2! ~
Interagency Committee 2a ~ DeveloPJDl9nt 2t Alaska, through it.
study, strongly recommends the development of Alaskarsrecreational
resources and recognizes the urgent need as well as its effect upon
the econolll1 of the Terri tory. .
RECOMMENDED RECREATIONAL DEVJIPPMENT .
In view of the close relationship of this project to the cent-
ers of population, and its physical attributes, it appears that its
development would serve best for day, week-end, tourist and orga-
nized ca.ping uses.
Completion of a permanent high standard road to the area as
proposed for the Eklutna Project will make it easily accessible.
Because of the Hirmindedneas of Alaskans and the great number of
privately owned planes tha~ are equipped with pontoons in the
Anchorage area, it can be expected that many persons will use this
method of transpo~tationG The waters of the lake Rre suitable for
amphibious plane operation.
The land available for recreational de~elopment is limited due
15
to topographical condlticns. Some of that which now is available
will be &espolled for certain uses due to construction activities.
Attention is called~o the results that may occur through the dump-
ing of material excavated from the diversion tunr.el. This operation
will probably leave large waste piles which if graded to a level may
be put to some use. Further study would reveal "these possibilities.
The lake contains no fish of consequence due to the colloidal
snt t::ontent of the water, but the surrounding area contains con-
siderable wildlife. The proposed recrp.ational area should be closed
to hunting.
Faciltties that should be provided for recreation as revealed
by this initial investigation are camping, picnicking, sightseeing,
boating, overnight accommodations, limjted minor sports, hiking and
winter sports such as Skiing, skating, and to~gganing.
EST !MATED QQ§! 9l: RECRF..ATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
A more detailed breakdown and apprcximate cost of providing
for these uses follows, but a comprehensive planning study would be
necessary to accomplis •• a conclusive analysis.
1. Two miles of road extending from diversion tunnel
along the no~th shore ••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ ••••••• $ 50,000
2. Campground with mini:num of 50 individual camp-
sites equipped with tables, stoves, garbage recep-
tacles and water system ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 32,500
3 0 Picnlc areas along lakeshore drive equipped with
tables, shelters, stoves and parking apace........... 35,000
4. Comfort stations for picnic and campground
areas ••..... < •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
5. Boat pier •••••••..••...•••••••••••••.•••..•••••••
~. Airplane landing float and finger floats for
rx)S ts ...................................... e ............ .
7. Minot" sports area, horseshoes, archary, etc ••••••
s. Parking areas at overlooks, lodge and ski
2-5,000
32,000
24,500
15,000
area •................••••..•. II • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 70,000
q. Lodge, centrally located on lakeshore equipped
with minimulJl 10 guest rooms, 1011n~e, coffee shop,
related f~cilities and help1s quarters ••••••••••••••• 250,000
16
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le. Trails along lakeshore - 5 miles •••••••••••• ~ •••
~inter sports Facilities
11. Ski hut with warming room, sna~k bar, lockers,
etc. . .............................................•.
12. Rope tow for ski slope ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
13. Toboggan Slide .••..... ' ..•.•.•...•. " ...•.••••..••
14. Skating hut equipped with heating facilities ••••
Administrative ~
15. Office and employees' residences ••••••••••••••••
16. Equipment storage building, shop and utility
at ru.cture 8 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ' ••••••••••
17. utility system for all uses, including water
system, sewerage disposal system and power distri-
bution lines •••••••.••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
18,000
40,000
25,000
30,000
22,500
100,000
80,000
150,000
18. Walks, terraces and landscaping................. 50,000
Total estimates cost -$1 ,055,500
Plans and supervision •••••••••••••••••••• ~ •••••• 160,000
$1,215,500
The National Park Service is strongly of the opinion that,
due to the many intangibles involved, there is no satisfactory
method of estimating monetary benefits from recreational develop-
ments. On a judgment basis, how.ever, the recreational benefits
at the Eklutna Project have been estimated to be double the
recommended expenditures of $1,215,500 for the proposed recrea-
tional facilities.
17
RECOIOIENDED ~ QE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION
1. It is recollUDended that upon approval b,y the Director, the
National Park Service be designated as the Federal agenc,y to administer,
maintain and protect the proposed recreational area until such iime as
the Territory of Alaska can, through creation of a Territorial Park
System, assume the responsibility.
2. It is recommended that operation of revenue produet*g facilities
such as the lodge, skiing facilities, boat rental, sale of gasoline and
other services be operated by private enterprise on a concession con-
tract fee basis under regulations established by the Secretal7 of the
Interior and the National Park Service. -.
RECOMMENDED FURTHER STUDY Mm. PLANNING
If construction of the Eklutna Project is favorably considered br
the Congress, it is recommended that a comprehensive planning studr be
undertaken, and that master plans and detailed plans be prepared for
the recreational developments with funds allotted for the purpose.
18
'--
DEPARTMENT OF !HI INTERIOR
Office 2! Indian Affairs
The Office of Indian Affairs has a direct interest in the Eklutna
area through the operation and maintenance of. the Eklutna Indian Re-
serve (containing the Eklutna ·Vocational S~hool), and the construction
and operation of the planned 400-bed hospital to be located at Anchorage.
The following are excerpts from a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation
by Don C. Foster, General Superintendent of the Office of Indian Affairs:
"There is already a power shortage in the Anohorage area. We
believe that the economical solution is the installation of a new
Eklutna hydroelectric plant. This would not in any way, so far as we
can see, conflict with the present Eklutna Indian Reserve.
"The Alaska Native Service construction program includes considerable
development in the Anchorage area. Plans ar~ now geing prepared for
a 400-bed hospital to be located at Anchorage. The electrical demand for
this hospital is estimated at 150 Kw. to 180 Kw. The long range plans
also call for the rebuilding of Eklutna Vocational School which would
have a maximum demand of approximately 120 Kw.
wrour erforts to improve the power situation for the Anchorage
area are appreciated."
19
C'~"
. ;,;'
u. S. DEPARl'MENT OR AGRICULTURE
Agricul ture in Alaska will develop along 'Wi th industry, mining, recrea-
tion" fisheries and other commercial actiVities. As the popllation
grows, there w:Ul be need :for increased agri~ltural production. Es-
pecially in the inmed:iate future it can be anticipated that military"
tood requirements will remain high.
But there must be a very tine balance maintained between the rate ot
agri~ltuml developllent and industrial development. Payrolls for
industrial. workers in population concentrations are necessary it there
is to be a market tor Alaska agricultural products. The number ot A.rtzq
persozmel at Alaskan bases and Arrrr:r policy with respect to procurement
ot those food products which can be produced in Alaska" will be ot
primary immediate importance in the rapidity and stability ot agricul-
tural development.
Need tor Electric Power
As agricul ~l development proceeds in the areas suitable therefor"
there should be a substantial increase in the demand for power provided
rates are reasonable. At the start the average tarm family will have &
Ddninum ot peifer equipment for which electric Energy will be required.
It may be five to six years before the individual tarmsteads are developed
sutfic:i.ently to aftord the use ot electric energy on an extensive scale,
unless it is awilable at a very lair rate. Low cost electricity is at
great importance tor a satistactory heme in Al.aSca, whether in the countr,y
or in the· City" because of the long winters' with short days.
Oanning, storing" and quick-:treezing of agricultural products will all
require electric power. A favorable purchasing policy by" the A.rm:r plus
the increase in ciTilian population concentrated in the larger toW'1]8
of the Terri tor,r wID g:l. ve an increased market tor both tresh frozen
and processed agriQllturaJ. products. Heme locker system.a and walk-in
uD1ts will require more parer.
Because of the short grcnr1ng season it is necessary to bave greenhouses
in order to start some vegetables fo r early planting as soon as the
soil is read1". These greenhouses need low-cost electrio power tor
both e:ffecti ~ beating and lighting. Newly developed methods for grain
and teed drying al.so depend upon electric porrer.
Commercial greenhouses in tarming areas tor production ot early vegetable
plants, out of season vegetables" and for fiowers can become a conside~ble
industl'1, especiall:y' near centers ot population, if law cost electrio
energy tor heating aDd lighting is available. Establishment of process-
ing plants e:i. ther on a small farm. scale or on a large cOlIIIISrcial scale
cannot be antiCipated unless ample parer at low rates is awilable.
20
.r
I
Because of lack of power, the Matanuska Valley-farming cOlDIlllnity has
not been able to _ke full use of electric equipment and rationing of
power Will be necessary this 1r.i.nter. The Spen8.rd area outside the
c1 ty limits of Anchorage and other ruISl areas are nOW' asking for
power distribltion. The rates beginning at tal cents 'per ldlowatt-
hour and progressing cbwnward on a sliding scale to a miniDllm of three
cents per k:ilawatt-hour are expensive even for ordinar,r household use.
No industry can afford Slch rates if the products they manufacture or
process come in competition with similar prochcts manufactured or proe-
essed in the States 1Vhere low power rates are available.
The growth of a sound agricultural economy in Alaska and the rapidity
of its development are closely linked 1Ii th, low cost transportation,
increased iridustrial and cOll1IlBrcial development, and availability of
aamdant electric energy of constant voltage and at low cost.
Irrigation at> Crops in Alaska
Some irrigation is practiced by a feJr fanners on 8D indiv.1.<hal farm
basis primarily for truck crops. Not too much is known at the pl"esent
time about irrigation in Alaska either as to its economic or its
agronomic and sails aspects. Both experience and research in irriga-
tion in Alaska are very limited.
No doobt there is an important place for some irngaticn on sCllle fams.
In some seasons the mtural rainfall is adequate for crop pl'Ochction.
In other aeascns" hClrever, the normal rainfall, especially in the spring,
may be inadequate for getting crops off. to a good start. Because of the
short grOll'ing season" getting crops off to a good start as well as pro-
viding them with adequate moisture during seasons of short precipitation
is essential. Thus irrigation, even in relatively small amounts may
result in substantial benefits where the soils are good and where the
other necessar,r PlQctices are carded rut. Without use of good 'Varieties
of crops, adequate fertilization, and other good management and cultural
practices" irrigation is not likely to prove satisfactory. On the
economic side, a cont1mlation of current relatively high Alaska :ram
eonunodity price levels if coupled nth reduced punping and equipment
costs would greatly stinlllate "wider trial" of irrigation possibilities
in Alaska. PCIII'er rates for pumping in Alaska are nClr greatly in excesa
of those preyailing in the States.
Although present knowledge is too limited for adequate appraisal of
the future value of irrigation, there is little reason to believe tl'Bt
it will be either large scale or extensive; rather it 11111 likely con-
tinue to be on a small, individual farm basis, or possibly on the basis
of snall groops of farms using a cooperetive water supply. Most of the
water will likely be obtained by fUIDP1ng" pri.llarlly from wells but
possibly in some eases from nearby streams or lakes. So far" experience
2.1.
C:.·
has ~en nearly all with sprinkler systems" which are particularly
adaptable for use "12re supplElllentation of natuml rainfall is desir-
able. Because of the nature of the soils, it lIOUld not likely be
practicable to attempt mch leveling or ridging for furrow, border
or fiood irrigation.
In the »a.tanuska Valley 1I'ells for household and livestock use, drilled
by the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation in 1935, 1936, and
later, are from 12 feet to 300 feet in depth. These wells were all
drilled with four inch bits and cased with four inch casing. .ter
in som.eof the deeper wells rose 1D the caa1ng from 60 to 150 feet
when the water vein was tapped. In some wells the flow was strong
but in other wella there ftsscarcely enough for household and live-
atock use. The condltions, therefore, are not uniform. There may be
places in or near some fams where small impoundments or farm resel'-
vo~.rs lI'OUld be pxe.cticable for the light irrigation needed.
The situation is more difficult in the Tanana Vallel where wells pas.
through layers o.t' pemafrost (eveI-frozen deep eDil). Dlff1cult7 bas
been encountered in keeping the wells from freezing if' they are not
pumped at regular intervals of from three to four hours, day aDi
night. At the Fairbanks Agricultural Eltper1ment Station, which is on
the edge of the depositional saU area overlaying the flood plain, a
well 110 feet 198.S drilled. Se~ral days elapsed before the p1JIlp pipe
was placed in the 1I'ell. Meantime ice :tad fomed in the casing. A
steam boiler with thawing point attached to a hose was necessary to
clear tm ice so that the PllIIP pipe could be lowered into the bottan
of the well.
Groundwater research is needed in Alaska, especially near Fairbanks
and other potentiaJ. agrica.linrel areas having permafrost. Water
supply for farm homes and livestock 10 such areas is alreac\y critical
both as to quantity and potability.
RDral Ele ctrl.fi cation in Alaska
furaJ. electr.i..f'ication progress in Alaska is being seriously-hampered
by shortage of power and by the high cost of producing electricity.
The situation is particularly acute in soutb-cElltral Alaska 'Where
additional agricultural developnent is possible and 1Vhere &l;L exten-
sive program of lUral electrification has been planned.
Of most immediate importance in this area is the development of
Eklutna Lake as a source of hydro-electric power" and the construction
of transmission facilities between Anchor~ge and Pa1.nEr. Ultimately,
if Alaskan rural people are to enjoy the arundance of 101l'-cost electric
power on 19h1ch the development of the Terri<t·~ry heavily depends, other
favorable hydro-electric sites need to be developed and transmission
facilities must be provided.
22
(
The RuMl Electrification Adninistration promotes rural electrification
by making loans to local b.t.siness enterprises which construct and opere.te
lUral pOller systems and repay their Federal loans out of operating
revenues. In Alaska REA. has made loans to six borrowers, all of them
rural electric cooperatives Olmed and directed by the consumers they
serve. Headquarters of these cooperatives are at PalJner, Kodiak, Homer,
Fairbanks, Juneau and Anchorage. Borrowers that would be benefited
immed:iB.tely by the development of Eklutna Iake as a pc!II'er source are
the Matanuska Electric Associa.tion of Palmer and the Chugach Electric
Association of Anchorage.
The Matanuska Electric Association received its first REA loan in 1941,
energized its distli but ion system in Janua.r;y 1942, and is now supply-
ing electric power to the coDmWlity of Palmer and to approximately
250 fams in the l4atanuska Valley. It has additional loan fUnds avail.-
able sufficient to serve 70 mare consumers as S)on as new lines can be
constxucted. llany more homesteaders are ultimately expected in the
area and will require electric pav-er.
The Chugach Electric Association is the newest at the REA. borrowers
in Alaska. It was organized in 1947 to serve approx:imtely 1,500
families living in the Anchorage area but outside the Anchorage city
limits. These prospective users of electricity cannot be servedby'
the Anchorage municipal systan because the city lacks adequate generat-
ing facilities and bas insufficient capital to extend its present
s78'tem. The Chugach Electric Association has receiTed an REl loan for
electric distribltion facilities but is still wi tmut an assured source
ot pOW'er for the new system it plans to b:l.ild.
Power Problems in tWa Anclx>rase Areal The only' present sources of
poller for both urban and rural· users in the area of Anchorage and tba
Matamska Valley are the generating facilities of the City of Anchorage.
These facilities are critically inadequate. The Anchorage power system,
orig1nalJ.)"-designed to serve a population ot approx1.nately 3,500 people"
is now serving an estimated population of 20,000. As a remlt, the city
has been forced to ration power to users, arxi interruptions and black-
outs have occurred.
Dependence on this inadeqJ.ate pOlJer source las brought serious problems
to the REJ.-1"1named Yat.aIm.ska Electric Assoc:1B.ticn. The parer which
the coopel1ltive distrib:l.tes to its members is purchased from the city
under a contract. which limits the cooperative to 450 kva sub-etation
capacitf. TlIi.s limitation seriously-restricts the use of electricity
that may be made by the members. The systan lI&S energized chrlng the
war "ft'b6n electric appliance' aDi equipment were not available. Now the
Association is forced to discourage its mEmbers from adding pawer-consuming
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cquipnent, such as water heaters, ranges, 1V8.sben and motors, in order
nat to exceed the pemissible p01'ler load. This restriction l1mi ts the
val:ue of electric service to the cooperative1s manbers. It is also a
limitation on the revenues on l'Ihich the cooperative depends for the re-
payment of its REA. loans.
In addition to the shortage Situation, the Matanuska Electric Associa-
tion mst pay high rates for 'Wholesale energy. The 'Wholesale rate paid
by the Association is 2 cents per kilowatt-hour -more than double the
average wholesale rate paid by REA borrowers in the States. As a result
the cost, of electric energy to Matanuska Valley consumers is high. A
typical user pays an average bill of $25 to $35 per m.onth to operate an
electric _tar heater" deep 'Well pump" electric range" electric washing
machine, and small household appliances.
The Clmgach Electric Association" of course" bas an even more severe
pOtfer problem smce it tas no assured source of parer at all. As matters
stand, its only altermtlves are to attempt to get ~er from the lard-
pressed City of Anchomge" or to request a loan from REA. to finance its
own generating facilities. Either of these alternatives lIilllle&n
relatively' bigh-cost parer.
P.FA financing at generation and transmission facilities in Alaska 1I1ll
probably be necess&ry' in serving isolated rural sect1.ons" rut it repre-
sents no solution to the problem of o~l pOlrer development in the
area. Generation of parer in small plants is easential.lya bigb-cost
operation. AJ.aska needs a coordinated electric pCllrer development PlO-
gram to prov.l.de 10W'-cost parer tor the Tern to1'7' s rapidl.y expandin&
industrial" military and rural needs. Such a program is" of ccurse,
beyond the scope of the REI. pro gram.
Future Development Possibilities in the Anchorage Area: If abundant
low-cost power can be _de available to the REA borrowers in the
Anchorage area" there are real poss1bilit:iss for the development of
agriculture and associated industries. Matanuska Valley farmers are
at present using only an average or 140 kUowatt-hours of electricity
per mnth. If al:nndant low-cost pCllrer were available" estimates based
on experience in the States indicate that average use lIOuld rise ma~ -
perhaps to 1,,()J() ld.lawatt-hours per month within a Tery short time.
IDw-cost electric pOW'er ccW.d do mch to relieve Valley tal'lDSrs of
their present dependence on the hazards of weather. The ValleY' tamers"
for instame, suffer severe losses as a result of rain during the grain
and hay harvesting season. Economical operation of electrically parered
individual grain dryers could hold this to a m:lmpnlll. Spring and sommer
drought is a constant threat to root and vegetable crops of Valley
talDBrs. IDw-cost power is essential for pump irrigation. EeonOlDical
use of soil-heating cable installat1.ons would enable Valley farmers to
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to get an early start with tomatoes" cucumbers" and other garden products.
These are only a few 01' tIE scores of uses Valley farmers lIOUld make of
electricity if paver costs encouraged all-electric opel9.tion.
Iow-cost power would also encourage the establishment of basic industries
along the lines of RFA borrowers in Alaska to supplEment the agricul-
tural development and thus assist in providing a well-rounded econoJllY'
for the area. For eDmple, pa;-er at low rates would help re-opening and
operation of gold mines 1Ibich since the war have either rem,ajned shut
down or have curt.ail.ed their operations because of high production costs
or inability to obtain sufficient electric power. Coal mining operations
would probably be revived in the Yatanuska Valley if the mines could be
electrified. Consideration is beiIlg given to the installation of a coal
briquet plant which would require a. lo .. cost S)urce of pO'fter. ,Wood-
worldng industries have been studying the possibilities of the MataIlUSka
Valley. The assurance of law-cost adequate power 'WOuld be an important
stiIllllant to the development of commerce am industry in the area between
Anchorage and l'a1mer. .
Tte ultimate contribution that the P.El program can make to develcpLng
and stabilizing the econOllG" of Ancoorage" the greater Anchorage area
and the Matanuska Valley depends almost entirely upon the maintenance
of adequate and dependable ele ctric service at a cost consumel'S can
afford to pay.
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DE? ARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Civil Aeronautics Administration
When the Civil Aeronautics Administration established headquarters
in Anchorage, Alaska, nine years ago we were faced with the problem
of either constructing our own power facilities here or negotiating
with the local municipal authorities for the purchase of power from
an already inadequate generating and· dist ripution system. Due to
conditions beyond our control, namely the necessity for inunediate
service together with the fact that we were definitely compelled to
purchase and install our own plants at our isolated stations through-
out the Territory, we welcomed and took the only logical course open
to us and negotiated for service from the Anchorage municipality.
Further, it was our dl!tsire to utilize Government dollars to sponsor
and encourage the development of commercial power generating and
dist ribution systems. 'ntis arrangement, in a sense, amounted to a
subsidy as the CAA advanced the money for necessary line const ruction
with a gradual retirement of Government investment through slightly
reduced rates on electrical energy.
Overloads on the local electrical syst .. developed with increased
population in the area and were a constant source of trouble to us,
particularly in the early rears of operation. There were frequent
outages, many of which occurred for relatively long periods of time.
'ntis not only disrupted our airways communications system but threw
our general offices in darkness, slowing down office operations which
resulted in a general loss of efficiency and lowering of employee
morale. 'ntis constant outage problem had a still greater effect on
lowering of employee morale in the homes. 1lany' residences are dependent
upon a constant source of electrical energy for cooking, operating of
their oil heating furnaces, water and lights. This situation still
exists to a certain extent and we are warned by local city officials
that it may become a most serious problem this coming winter.
It was necessary for our organization to install two 75 kW. stand-by
generators in the Federal Building to assure us of reasonably·continuous
service, and to prevent the loss of service to the Govenunent of about
250 employees during the winter months when outages occurred in tlle com-
mercial power source. Other stand-by units were installed at the Remote
Receiver Site and at Merrill Field for the same reason but mainly to
permit continuous service to aircraft using local air navigation facil-
ities which would be endangered through interruption for any cause.
Often these auxiliary plants were compelled to remain in operation dur-
ing hours of darkness or until the peak loads were passed.
The charge for our canmercial electrical energy has been abnonnally
high, the rates varying from lQ. downward to 4¢ per kilowatt-hour. Our
present yearly load in the Anchorage area is approximately 1,805,400
kilowatt-hours. With the construction of the new International Airport
near Anchorage which we anticipate will be in operation (although only
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partially completed) in late 1949, our power load increase is expected
to be 400,000 kilowatt-hours annually. At present only one international
airline, Northwest Airlines, is operating through here on a scheduled
air carrier basis. '''e can easily anticipate that by 1952 one or two
addi tional United states carriers will be operating to the Orient through
Anchorage with the possibility of three or four additional foreign lines.
The new airport power load alone might easily reach an annual 1,000,000
kilowatt-hours peak by 1952.
Local municipal authorities have been faced with so many problems
in this rapidly growing community that they have had neither the time,
the finances nor the qualified engineering personnel to establish an ade-
quate and efficient electrical generation and distribution system nor
can we foresee when the time will ever come that existing situations can
be profitably remedied. Their present plans call for a bond election on
August 27th to purchase and install a small 1,000 kw. diesel engine unit.
The entire An-chorage system is cluttered up with several of these small
generating plants, all of which are required to carry present peak loads
and none of which is capable of carrying the off peak load alone. Efficien-
cy, therefore, is unknown and impossible in the city's method of operation.
Th& possibilities offered by the Bureau of Reclamation in the devel-
opment of available water power in the general area surrounding Anchorage
for relatively low-cost power generation are most encouraging. The outlay
of capital required is far beyond the resources of the Ci1.y of Anchorage
so no objections should be voiced by its citizens to such a plan. Rather
they should and doubtless will welcome the program being recommended as
a relief from the burden which has been stining the growth and develop-
ment of this community. The city administration can then devote its time
and energy to other problems so necessary to be correctly solved in a new
community and leave the power problem in the hands of trained engineers.
Aviation is not a passing fancy. It is here to stay. It has
already taken its place in the front ranks of world commerce. Particularly
is this true in Alaska where aviation has long since become the Territory's
one outstanding means of transportation. However, the success of aviation
is dependent upon an adequate and rel"iable supply of uninterrupted elec-
trical energy to operate and maintain the many aids to our Federal Airways
Service. This point we wish to make quite clear. There must be no "if's",
'lmd's" or "but's". The service must be sufficient, of a constant voltage
and always available.
The proposed new sites for water power development, namely the
Eklutna Project, the upper Susitna River and in the Kenai area should
prove to be of great value, not only to those districts and to our CAA
stations along the general transmission route, but to the conmunity in
and about Anchorage which already is over twice the size of the next
largest city in the Territory of Alaska in spite of its existing deplor-
able power system.
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FEDERAL PO'mt COOfISSION
The proposed project would, to a large degree, supersede existing
Project Number 350, licensed to the Anchorage Public Utilities System,
owned by the City of Anchorage. The existing licensed Project Number
350 consists of a storage dam and reservoir at Eklutna Lake, a diversion
dam about 70 feet high on Eklutna River about three miles above its
mouth, a water conduit about 2,800 teet long, comprising an intake
structure, a tunnel and penstock, a powerhouse and appurtenant equipment
with an installed capacity ot 2,000 Kw. in two units, and step-up equip-
ment and transmission line from the powerhouse to the City of Anchorage.
The following comments are based on a rather hasty review of the
report, and consequently we may desire to modify them, at least in
part, atter a more intensive study:
1. The report contains no mention ot any specitic authorization
tor the study ot the project and preparation ot the report thereon.
2. The abUity of the City ot Anchorage, or other private capital
rather than the Government to tinance and construct the project, is not
covered.
3. The report contains no material on alternative hydroelectric
projects that might be constructed in the vicinity to serve the area,
perhaps more economically than the proposed Eklutna Project.
4. An alternative site, if available tor development, would be
cheaper by the cost ot the existing project which may be as high as
$800,000, and would not impair the usetulness of the existing project
of 2,000 Kw. installed capacity.
5. 'The report contains no material on the possibUity of develop-
ing additional head and power on Eklutna River, above the existing
project, thereby saving the existing project. This mignt be a cheaper
development.
6. The cost of the tunnel accounts for about 40% of the cost of
the project. Should unfavorable ground be encountered, the estimated
cost of the tunnel might be doubled. Trouble on the construction of
the dam might increase the cost of the project considerably.
7. It appears that more study should be given to the dependable
flaw that might be developed at Eklutna Lake and to the choice of the
installed capacity.
8. A benefit-cost ratio of 2.66 is computed for the project in
the report. The computation of benefits is based on total savings to
consumers, plus surplus earned by the project over and above financial
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! requirements during the amortization period. In determining costs,
only the capital cost of the project is considered. This method of
calculating the benefit-cost ratio differs considerably from accepted
practice. We should like to suggest that in lieu of the method used,
that a computation be made of equated average-annual costs during
amortization period, and that these costs be related to benefits.
Benefits should be measured by the cost of power from the next-
available alternative source, which in this case could be a steam
plant of approximately 22,500-Kva. capacity.
9. The rights of the City of Anchorage will have to be ex-
tinguished in favor of the Government. We believe that this might
be done by licensee making application to the Commission for t rans-
fer of license to the Government, or by making an application for
surrender or termination of license. In any case, it is likely
that the Commission would have to make a finding of the amount which
the Government should pay for the project, and fonnally provide for
the extinguishment of the license. -
10. The Federal POwer Commission is at present making a power-
market survey of Alaska, and from preliminary investigations it
appears that there is a serious power shortage in Anchorage and
vicinity. It is apparent fromthb investigation that additional
power facilities, relatively substantial in amount, should be con-
structed at Anchorage in the immediate future.
If after further study of the project, we have further comments
to offer, we will write you. We appreciate having an opportunity
to review this report in the formative stage.
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HEADQUARTERS ALASKAN COMMAND
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDER.IN.("'HIEF
Jo'ORT RICHARDSON, ALASKA
Bureau of Reclamation
Department of the Interior
Juneau, Alaska
Dear Sir:
2 September 1948
The Alaskan Conmand Headquarters is familiar with the general
.objectifts of the Eklutna Hydro-E~ectric Project. It recognizes
that subjeot project is intended primarily for deve10pment of
civilian econ~ in the Anchorage-Matanuska Valley Area. However,
due to its potential. va1ue for military purposes, the ,Alaskan
Comma.nd is in sp!pS.~ with a proposal for early action by Congress
in order that construction may be undertaken at an early date.
This headquarters' foresees a need at Fort Richardson and
Elmendorf Field tor a considerabl.e portion of the power which will
be developed at Eklutna.
The Alaskan Command assures you of a desire to cooperate
fully with the Bureau of Recl.amation in the development of this
project~
Sincerely,
~~ Ii. F. 'l'I9INnm
Lt Gen, USAF
Commander-in-Ghief