The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mobile District, announced that water will be released through the spillway gates rather than the generators due to a fire that occurred in the powerhouse on May 19, 2014. The spillway gates will be used to make releases to manage lake levels and for downstream environmental purposes.
“There will be essentially no difference in normal water volumes released,” said E. Patrick Robbins, Public Affairs Officer. “The difference is that when using the spillway gates it is essentially a 24-hour per day release, rather than the two to six hour peak hydropower releases, but the water quantity is basically the same.
USACE had scheduled a power outage for repairs to the switchyard. When the system was re-energized there was an apparent breaker failure which caused the fire.
The fire was extinguished in the early evening of the May 19. There were no injuries to any personnel. A team of experts have been sent to Allatoona to assess the situation and damages.
The dam was not damaged during the fire.
USACE appreciates the local support of the Bartow and Cartersville fire departments.
Release no. 14-014