Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project Area Map

Map and area descriptions courtesy of Eugene Water & Electric Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carmen Diversion Dam

One-quarter mile below Koosah Falls on the McKenzie River is a diversion dam and 30-acre reservoir. An 11,380-foot tunnel diverts water from the McKenzie to Smith Reservoir.

Smith River Dam and Reservoir

The reservoir stores water for use at the Carmen Power Plant. The reservoir is 170 acres in size with a total water storage capacity of 15,050 acre-feet. At Smith River Dam, a 7,325-foot-long power tunnel and 1,160-foot, pipe-like “penstock” deliver water to the Carmen Power Plant below.

Trail Bridge Reservoir

This “re-regulating” reservoir spans 73.4 acres and has a storage capacity of 2,263 acre-feet. At the dam, the Trail Bridge Power Plant contributes an additional 10,000 kilowatts of power.

Transmission line

Power from the Carmen and Trail Bridge generators is transmitted over a 10-mile line from the Carmen Substation to the Cougar Dam area.

Salmon spawning channel

An artificial spawning channel was built alongside the main McKenzie River bed just below Trail Bridge Dam to assist Spring Chinook salmon in their journey back to the upper McKenzie in mid-to-late summer, with spawning occurring in September and October. Public access to the channel is controlled to avoid undue disturbance to the naturally spawning fish.