TVA's Ocoee Dams

TVA has three power producing dams on the Ocoee River in Tennessee (a fourth is in Georgia). Two are diversion dams. We bagged part of the project on our Tapoco Quest II.

The farthest downstream is Ocoee #1. It is a concrete dam/powerhouse, standing 135 feet high and 840 feet long, and was completed in 1911. It can produce 25 MW.

There is a very nice day use facility there, with a 1/10 scale model of the Rafting Venue of the 1996 Olympics.

This is Ocoee #2 Dam. It is a small one, 30 feet high and 450 feet long. We both recollect that it is constructed of timber, but of course we couldn't tell from this.

When in production, the dam diverts the river into an open wooden flume.

TVA added this ramp to accomodate the rafters, and schedules power production at the #2 and #3 powerhouses to provide the rapids. At this time #3 was in full production and #2 was shutdown. So all the water flowed over the dam into the rapids downstream.

Because of the traffic, we couldn't pay much attention to the progress of the flume. But we got stopped in a traffic jam long enough to grab this shot. The powerhouse is apparently a popular takeout point, and there was no place we could park to grab a shot. So we pressed on, saving it for later. It is good for 19 MW.

We missed the dam, but we did get the Ocoee #3 Powerhouse. The lone generator can produce 28 megawatts.

The surge tank and penstock into the plant.

The Ocoee #3 Switchyard.

We will try to get the rest of the project on a future quest, but we have found access to the #3 dam to be limited. Shucks...