Turbines and Mechanical Components

Corps of Engineers completes reinstallation of orifice gate at Center Hill Dam

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Corps of Engineers completes reinstallation of orifice gate at Center Hill Dam
(photo courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has reinstalled the orifice gate at Center Hill Dam after an inspection, allowing for a new summer/fall minimum flow regime.

The Corps operates four flood control dams upstream of Nashville, including Center Hill Dam on the Caney Fork River in Lancaster, Tenn.

The Corps said the orifice gate reinstallation is part of an ongoing commitment to bolster the ecological health and recreational opportunities along the Caney Fork River.

The orifice gate is a critical component situated about 120 feet deep in the forebay. The gate was reinstalled on June 10, after being removed the previous fall for inspection. High water levels delayed the initial plans for reinstallation by several weeks.

The pivotal initiative of establishing a new summer/fall minimum flow regime is aimed at enhancing the habitat of the cold-water trout fishery situated below the dam on Caney Fork River, a prime destination for anglers hailing from across the region, the Corps said. Reinstallation of the gate allows the Corps to effectively ensure the stipulated minimum flow through November.

“In response to substantial public input, the Corps has set a new seasonal minimum continuous flow of 250 cubic feet per second from the dam,” said Robert Dillingham, a hydraulic engineer from the Nashville District’s Water Management Section. “This strategic adjustment seeks to augment the wetted perimeter of the stream, mitigating the risk of elevated temperatures during periods of zero generation and thereby fostering a conducive environment for trout and other aquatic life.”

The process of reinstalling the orifice gate involved use of a crane loaned from Wolf Creek Dam to facilitate lowering the gate into place. A team of skilled mechanics from Center Hill Dam supervised the operation, ensuring precise attachment and alignment of the gate. Concurrently, Corps personnel aboard a watercraft deployed an underwater rover to monitor the proceedings beneath the surface, providing guidance to the crane operator and mechanics.

“Successfully installing this gate truly took a team effort involving several different sections from the Corps of Engineers,” said Kevin Salvilla, Center Hill Lake Resource Manager. “With safety always being at the forefront, everyone working on this project was able to perform their roles while working together to get the job done.”