Dam discussion dominates city meeting

GONZALES — Last Tuesday night's special meeting of Gonzales City Council was mostly a lengthy executive session, scheduled for attorney consultation, but upon returning to open session, a business workshop, the city's hydroelectric dam – one of the three items up for discussion – set the pulse of the meeting.

The financial status of the city was not revealed. Instead, Mayor Connie Kacir said the status would be given by way of a press release and the city's electric rate review was tabled for a future meeting. Meanwhile the city's hydroelectric dam is set for an overhaul.

Project Engineer Keith Schauer, with Doucet & Associates Engineering, reported his findings from a survey of the city's hydro facility to council.

According to Charles Windwehen, Doucet & Associates has been called in to replace the Snyder Engineering, because Doucet & Associates has experience with dam work.

"If we are going to run a hydro facility we need to do it right and not nickel and dime," Windwehen said.

Schauer said the total cost of dam repairs will be $1.7 million.

According to Schauer the dam has many problems. The dam gets debris buildup at the dam head and there is bank erosion up-stream and down-stream. Schauer said the debris and erosion problems can be addressed for $200,000.

Structural damage also plagues the facility. Schauer reported cracks in structurally-supportive sections of the building, exposed steel and pitted concrete. The concrete slab is so damaged that vehicles are no longer allowed on the surface. The price tag for structural repairs is estimated at $250,000.

Water intake is an important part of the hydro facility. Schauer said the two pumps currently in use need to be moved temporarily. One of the two pumps would be placed at the intake tower. The water intake issues are estimated for moving and repair costs of $214,000.

The rest of the cost is slated for access, turbine replacement and repairs, generator replacements, rebuilding of gear boxes, electrical repairs and replacement of various unplanned parts and yet unfound electrical problems that could come up during the project.

As of right now the facility is operating at 65 percent, in its current state and on one turbine.

Another angle Schauer is researching is raising the dam head by two feet, which would increase energy production.

Schauer also said the future productivity of the dam could be helped by adding energy storage. Energy storage would also "shave" usage peaks. These costs have not been added into the analysis.

It is estimated that repairs could offset Lower Colorado River Authority rates by 40 cents per kilowatt hours, allowing the city to break even on the expenditure in 30 years.

The city has until 2020 to meet a repair deadline. The initial study of the facility was in 2012.