The Year in Infrastructure 2008 - (Page 5) SuStaining Our envirOnment – Winner CH2M HILL Round Butte Dam Selective Water Withdrawal Madras, Oregon, United States Protection of native fish has required modification of water intakes at major hydroelectric projects to comply with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Clean Water Act water-quality permits. Modifications to current structures are often simple, requiring only installation of baffles and gates to prevent fish from entering the intakes. At the Round Butte Hydroelectric Project, located on Billy Chinook Lake in Oregon, a far more complicated and innovative design was required to satisfy regulatory requirements. As part of the FERC license for the Round Butte Dam, the joint owners – Portland General Electric and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs – have committed to re-establishing the anadromous fish runs above the dam and to meet the water-quality requirements of the Clean Water Act. CH2M HILL’s selective water withdrawal system modifies the surface-current directions for migrating fish so they can more easily move into the fish handling area, provides a fish collection system, and ensures the released water complies with water-quality standards. Located in the middle of the lake, the system is comprised of a floating platform of steel and concrete that selectively diverts water from specific depths of the lake as well as diverts migrating fish from the turbine intake. The unique structure presented challenging difficulties for design and construction. The design team developed a 3D model using MicroStation and TriForma to visualize the design as it progressed, drive the engineering data, and coordinate and construct the components. Project files were shared among all team members, including five CH2M HILL offices and a multitude of consultants. Whenever a component changed, the model was quickly revised and the data was extracted for quantities and materials. Fabricators then used the model to extract material quantities and construct specific components. By enabling the transport of fish around the dam to allow migration to the ocean, this innovative system encourages fish populations to thrive. bE AwARd wINNER WinnEr 5 ALSO NOMINATED IN INDuSTry CATEgOry: INNOvATION IN WATEr rESOurCES (FINALIST) I uSTry CATE ST ATEg I v WATE ATEr 5
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