in the appalacian region august 2009 lexington, ky · 12/14/2005  · – – johnson shut-ins...

An UnAn Un--Natural DisasterNatural Disaster Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir BreachTaum Sauk Upper Reservoir Breach

–– Johnson ShutJohnson Shut--ins State Park ins State Park ––

Geohazards In Geohazards In TransportationTransportation

In the Appalacian RegionIn the Appalacian Region

August 2009 August 2009 Lexington, KYLexington, KY

Scope of PresentationScope of Presentation

FERC Website Information FERC Website Information –– www.ferc.govwww.ferc.gov [search Taum Sauk][search Taum Sauk]–– Executive SummaryExecutive Summary–– Panel ReportPanel Report–– ConsultantConsultant’’s Reports Report

PowerPoint PresentationPowerPoint PresentationOpen DiscussionsOpen Discussions

AmerenUE Taum Sauk AmerenUE Taum Sauk PresentationPresentation

Overview of Breach Event and Flood Overview of Breach Event and Flood ImpactsImpacts

Restoration Efforts within JohnsonRestoration Efforts within Johnson’’s s ShutShut--Ins State ParkIns State Park

Sediment Removal From Taum Sauk Sediment Removal From Taum Sauk Lower ReservoirLower Reservoir

East Fork River Restoration East Fork River Restoration FERC ReportsFERC ReportsOpen DiscussionsOpen Discussions

AmerenAmeren

AmerenAmeren–– St. LouisSt. Louis--based Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) based Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE)

serving 2.4 million electric customers and nearly one serving 2.4 million electric customers and nearly one million natural gas customers in a 64,000million natural gas customers in a 64,000--squaresquare--mile mile area of Missouri and Illinois.area of Missouri and Illinois.

AmerenUEAmerenUE–– Founded in 1902 as Union Electric Company Founded in 1902 as Union Electric Company –– Missouri's largest electric utility Missouri's largest electric utility –– Operates 9 Operates 9 power plantspower plants–– Provides energy services to 1.2 million electric Provides energy services to 1.2 million electric

customers in eastern Missouri, including the St.customers in eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis Louis area area

Location of Taum Sauk PlantLocation of Taum Sauk Plant

AmerenUE:AmerenUE: Taum Sauk Hydroelectric FacilityTaum Sauk Hydroelectric Facility

Operation of the Taum Sauk Operation of the Taum Sauk Pumped Storage PlantPumped Storage Plant

Taum Sauk PlantTaum Sauk Plant–– 450 MW Pumped 450 MW Pumped

Storage FacilityStorage Facility–– Constructed in Constructed in

19631963–– Cost: $50 MillionCost: $50 Million–– Operation: Operation:

Generate during Generate during Day, Pump back at Day, Pump back at nightnight

–– Source Water:Source Water:

East Fork of Black East Fork of Black River/Lower Taum River/Lower Taum Sauk ReservoirSauk Reservoir

JSI State Park

Taum SaukHydro Project

Upper ReservoirUpper Reservoir–– 55 acre Structure55 acre Structure–– Constructed by Constructed by

blasting top off of blasting top off of Proffit MountainProffit Mountain

–– RockRock--filled dam filled dam with concrete facewith concrete face

–– 1.5 Billion gallon 1.5 Billion gallon capacitycapacity

Instrumentation to Control Upper Instrumentation to Control Upper Reservoir RefillReservoir Refill

Conduit which housed instrumentation for reservoir monitoring levels was not properly secured to the dam.

Control Instrumentation and Control Instrumentation and Discharge TunnelDischarge Tunnel

Deterioration of the instrumentation tie-down allowed the conduits to move, adversely impacting reservoir level readings.

JohnsonJohnson’’s Shuts Shut--ins State Parkins State Park

““JewelJewel”” of the Missouri State Park of the Missouri State Park SystemSystem

Most Highly Visited Park in the StateMost Highly Visited Park in the State

East Fork of Black RiverEast Fork of Black River–– ””State Outstanding Natural ResourceState Outstanding Natural Resource””

Camping, hiking, swimmingCamping, hiking, swimming……

Designated Natural and Designated Natural and ““WildWild”” AreasAreas–– Forested FenForested Fen

Unusual Wetland with Rare Plant SpeciesUnusual Wetland with Rare Plant Species

East Fork of the Black RiverEast Fork of the Black River

JohnsonJohnson’’s Shuts Shut--InsIns

Observation Deck Overlooking the Observation Deck Overlooking the ShutShut--InsIns

Overview of Breach Event Overview of Breach Event and Flood Impactsand Flood Impacts

December 14, 2005December 14, 2005 5:20 AM5:20 AM

Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir breaches, sending 1.4 billion breaches, sending 1.4 billion gallons of water down the side of gallons of water down the side of Proffit Mountain and into Proffit Mountain and into JohnsonJohnson’’s Shuts Shut--Ins State ParkIns State Park

Reservoir BreachReservoir Breach

700 ft

94 ft

Pick-Up Truck

Geologic Features exposed on Geologic Features exposed on Proffit Mountain ScourProffit Mountain Scour

Unique Geologic FeaturesUnique Geologic Features

Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir Failure - Shut-Ins Park Area

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

180000

200000

5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM

Time (December 14, 2005)

Dis

char

ge (c

fs)

800

805

810

815

820

825

830

835

840

845

850

Elev

atio

n (ft

)

Reservoir Breach Flow

Park Area Outf low

Park Area Water Level

What Happened--Hydrology

Water Quality Impacts

Taum Sauk Lower ReservoirTaum Sauk Lower Reservoir

Taum Sauk Lower ReservoirTaum Sauk Lower Reservoir

Park SuperintendentPark Superintendent’’s Residences Residence

Foundation of Park Superintendent’s House

JohnsonJohnson’’s Shuts Shut--Ins State ParkIns State Park

Park Superintendent’s Car

AftermathAftermath

AftermathAftermath

Pump HousePump House

East Fork ShutEast Fork Shut--Ins AreaIns Area

12-22-05

Debris Dam at Base of Scour

East Fork of the Black RiverEast Fork of the Black River

Yes, I was there!Yes, I was there!

Debris DamDebris Dam First Geotechnical ChallengeFirst Geotechnical Challenge

Damaged Boardwalks

Second Geotechnical ChallengeSecond Geotechnical Challenge JohnsonJohnson’’s Shuts Shut--Ins State ParkIns State Park

BoardwalkBoardwalk Second Geotechnical ChallengeSecond Geotechnical Challenge

Foundation ChallengesFoundation Challenges

Questions?Questions?