Rocky Creek Dam (Washington)
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
| Founded | October 1990 |
| Headquarters | Mount Baker , United States |
Area served | Washington state |
Key people | Covanta Energy, Atlantic Power (owners) |
| Products | Electricity |
The Koma Kulshan Project is a run-of-river hydroelectric installation with a capacity of 13.3 MW, located on Mount Baker within Washington’s North Cascades. Since commencing operations in October 1990, it has been jointly owned by Covanta Energy and Atlantic Power. The facility delivers electricity to Puget Sound Energy under a Power Supply Agreement. Its generation system includes a single Pelton turbine manufactured by Sulzer Escher Wyss.
Positioned inside the Mount Baker National Forest, this facility is among six small-scale hydroelectric developments licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on federally managed lands in Washington State. Utilizing a hydraulic head near 1,600 feet, the project produces roughly 45 million kilowatt-hours annually, maintaining a capacity factor close to 39%.
The name Koma Kulshan originates from the Lummi language, referring to Mount Baker.
Dams
Water intakes are established at diversion dams on Rocky Creek and Sulphur Creek, which are tributaries feeding into Lake Shannon. A penstock with a diameter of and length of conveys water from a bifurcation point located at above sea level to the powerhouse. After energy generation, water is released via a brief channel along Sandy Creek into Baker Lake. The facility can divert up to of flow to the powerhouse.
The Rocky Creek diversion dam measures in height and stretches in length at an elevation of . Similarly, the Sulphur Creek diversion dam stands tall and extends long at .
The alteration of creek flows due to diversion has impacted the visual character of Upper and Middle Sulphur Creek Falls.
Peak generation
Electricity production reaches its maximum between May and July, corresponding with seasonal snowmelt, followed by a secondary peak during November’s wet period.
Further reading
External links
- FERC document library pertaining to permit number 3239 for Koma Kulshan
- — detailed topographic map of the surrounding region