Suvarna Garge (Editor)

John H. Kerr Dam

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Opening date
  
1953 (1953)

Impounds
  
Creates
  
Opened
  
1953

Create
  
Type of dam
  
Concrete gravity

Length
  
2,785 ft (849 m)

Height
  
44 m

Surface area
  
202.3 kmĀ²

Construction began
  
1947

John H. Kerr Dam httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Location
  
Operator
  
United States Army Corps of Engineers

Similar
  
Occoneechee State Park, Dick Cross Wildlife Manage, Prestwould, Boyd's Tavern, MacCallum More and Hudgins

Time lapse 12x speed of a release at the john h kerr dam on friday oct 3rd


John H. Kerr Dam is concrete gravity-dam located on the Roanoke River in Virginia, creating Kerr Lake. The dam was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1947 and 1953 for the purposes of flood control, and hydropower. The dam also serves wildlife resources, forest conservation, and public recreational uses. The John H. Kerr Dam currently produces over 426 GWh of electricity annually and has prevented over $385 million in flood damage since completion. The dam is named after John H. Kerr, a Congressman from North Carolina who was instrumental in authorizing the construction.

Contents

Map of John H Kerr Dam, Boydton, VA 23917, USA

John h kerr dam top 5 facts


Background and constructionEdit

Construction of the John H. Kerr dam was authorized by the 78th United States Congress in 1944 with the Flood Control Act of 1944 but did not commence until 1947. The site was selected because of the granite in the area that could support a large concrete dam. During early construction, the project was called Buggs Island Lake after a downstream island which was named after Samuel Bugg, an 18th-century early pioneer. The 82nd United States Congress renamed the project the John H. Kerr Dam later in 1951.

The John H. Kerr Dam Project consisted of a dam, powerhouse and switchyard. The dam was built in 53 sections called monoliths. A grouting tunnel or gallery was built in order to fill gaps between the dam and foundation with concrete. The spillway consists of 22-tainter gates for overflow and at the base of the dam, 6-sluice gates were installed to maintain downstream flows. Construction was completed and the dam was opened in 1953.

Hydro power-plantEdit

The hydro-power plant within the John H. Kerr Dam contains 7 vertical Francis units capable of producing 227 MW. Six large generators within the power-plant produce 32 MW each and one smaller unit produces 12 MW. The hydro-power plant operates at about 83% efficiency.

58% of the power sold is transmitted to the Virginia Electric Power Company and 42% to the Carolina Power & Light Company. Overall, the power is regulated by the Southeastern Power Administration and about one half of the power is transmitted to various government preference customers such as rural Cooperatives.

Other linksEdit

  • Kerr Lake
  • Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
  • References

    John H. Kerr Dam Wikipedia


    Similar Topics