Gavins Point Project Statistics

Published Aug. 6, 2012

Statistics (Cubic Feet per Second = CFS; Mean Sea Level = MSL; Kilowatts = Kw; Revolutions per Minute = RPM)

Significant Dates:

  • Operating Since: 1955
  • Construction Start: 1952
  • Closure: July 31, 1955
  • Reservoir filling initiated: August 1955
  • Reservoir first reached minimum operating pool: December 22, 1955
  • Initial Power Generation – First and Last Units: September 1956 – January 1957

Powerplant

  • Number of turbines: 3 Kaplan, 75 rpm
  • Max power generation capability: 132,300 Kw

Size

  • Ranking:
  • Length of Dam: 8,700 feet (including spillway)
  • Damming Height: 45 feet (low water to maximum operating pool)
  • Maximum Height: 74 feet
  • Maximum width at base: 850 feet (total)
  • Maximum width at base: 450 feet (without berms)
  • Elevation at crest: 1,234 feet msl

Construction

  • Abutment formations (under dam & embankment): Niobrara chalk & Carlisle shale
  • Type of Fill: Rolled-earth & chalk fill
  • Amount of Fill: 7,000,000 cubic yards of fill
  • Amount of Concrete: 308,000 cubic yards

Spillway

  • Location: Right bank - adjacent
  • Width: 1,180 feet gated
  • Number of gates: 14
  • Dimension of gates: 40-foot x 30-foot tainter gates
  • Design discharge capacity: 584,000 cfs at 1,221.4 feet msl pool elevation
  • Discharge capacity at maximum operating pool: 345,000 cfs at 1,210 feet msl
  • Top of Spillway Gates (closed): 1,210 feet msl
  • Intake structures Direct intake, no Surge Tanks
  • Outlet works River regulation is attained by flow over low-crested spillway and through turbines

Lake

  • Upstream Drainage: 16,000 square miles
  • Tributaries: Missouri River
  • Shoreline length: 90 miles at 1,204.5 feet msl
  • Length of full reservoir: 25 miles
  • Surface acres: 31,000 acres
  • Storage capacity: 450,000 acre-feet
  • Maximum depth: 45 feet
  • Annual Flood Ctrl & Multi-Use Zone (Elevation): 1,204.5 feet msl – 1,208 feet msl
  • Exclusive Flood Ctrl Zone (Elevation): 1,208 feet msl – 1,210 feet msl
  • Record Pool Elevation (Date): 1,209.7 feet msl (2010)
  • Record Flow Prior to 2011 (Year): 70,000 cfs (1997)
  • Record Flow (2011): 160,200 cfs (Early July)