New no wake zone for C Land

Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources News Release
New no-wake zone slated for Lake Cumberland
near Burnside in Pulaski County
March 22, 2007







Frankfort, Ky. – An 800-yard no-wake zone is being created on Lake
Cumberland near Burnside to help protect the water intake of a lakeside power plant. Buoys will be placed in the area within the next few weeks with enforcement of the no-wake zone to commence afterward.
Officials at East Kentucky Power Cooperative requested the change to help
protect the water intake for the John Sherman Cooper Power Station. For the next 5-7 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to keep the lake at a
lower level while repairs are being made to Lake Cumberland’s Wolf Creek Dam.
Because of the lower level, the current intake is located only a few feet
underneath the surface. Officials at the power cooperative are concerned that a
number of large wakes created during the summer boating season could reduce
water over the intake to the point where the pumps could be damaged, creating a
disruption to power production. At full capacity, the plant can generate enough
electricity to power 31 cities the size of Somerset.
The no-wake zone will be located upstream of the U.S. 27 bridge.
-30-
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR)
manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and
wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the
benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. KDFWR, an agency of
the Commerce Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.8 billion
annually. For more information on KDFWR, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.

Never been to Cumberland lake but I have been on other large bodies of water. I have been on KY lake at times when the lake has 3 ft rollers or larger.

I wonder what the Power company will do to protect it's water intake from huge waves created by mother nature?

Why don't they just lower the intake pipe to a deeper depth? They bring this water in to cool the power plant right? Would they not get colder water from a deeper part of the lake? I would think that they would want to bring in colder subsurface water rather than hot surface summertime water?

But they do need to keep boats from hitting that intake pipe with the lake as much lower levels. This will help the power plant from any liability if someone were to get hurt running a boat lower unit into the submerged pipe.

[quote=peter;291126]Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources News Release
New no-wake zone slated for Lake Cumberland
near Burnside in Pulaski County
March 22, 2007







Frankfort, Ky. – An 800-yard no-wake zone is being created on Lake
Cumberland near Burnside to help protect the water intake of a lakeside power plant. Buoys will be placed in the area within the next few weeks with enforcement of the no-wake zone to commence afterward.
Officials at East Kentucky Power Cooperative requested the change to help
protect the water intake for the John Sherman Cooper Power Station. For the next 5-7 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to keep the lake at a
lower level while repairs are being made to Lake Cumberland’s Wolf Creek Dam.
Because of the lower level, the current intake is located only a few feet
underneath the surface. Officials at the power cooperative are concerned that a
number of large wakes created during the summer boating season could reduce
water over the intake to the point where the pumps could be damaged, creating a
disruption to power production. At full capacity, the plant can generate enough
electricity to power 31 cities the size of Somerset.
The no-wake zone will be located upstream of the U.S. 27 bridge.
-30-
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR)
manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and
wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the
benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. KDFWR, an agency of
the Commerce Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.8 billion
annually. For more information on KDFWR, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.[/quote]

Moose, at the lower elevation the pick up for the WTP is close to the surface. Rough water could cause the head to bob in and out of the water....UNLIKELY, but possible......at that point air gets in the line causing all kinds of problems with the suction lift and the pump itself. Resulting in the minumum of service problems at the maximum pump damage or destruction. Lowering the intake pipe is no simple task.

One other item. The intake is as close to the bottom as they can legally take it. Any lower and there is a chance the vortex caused by the suction will disturb/**** off the bottom of the lake.

Extending the suction line the 2 miles required to hit the main channel will cost $28 million so they are still studying the situation.

There's a guy in the know :)

[quote=buzzking;294755]There's a guy in the know :)[/quote]


Now I understand why the no wake rule! Thanks for the information. I sort of figured it was because of the high costs involved that it would be simpler to just put in a no wake rule. But I had no idea how far the pipe would have to be run to reach a deeper part of the lake. Or that the pipe was that close to the lake bottom. Can't have mud sucked into the intake pumps. And I now understand how air would ruin the current pumps.

Thanks for the help guys.