Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Spillways--Summer 1983

by Philip H. Burgi, US Bureau of Reclamation, Hydraulics, Branch, Denver, CO, USA,
Bruce M. Moyes, US Bureau of Reclamation, Hydraulics, Branch, Denver, CO, USA,
Thomas W. Gamble, US Bureau of Reclamation, Hydraulics, Branch, Denver, CO, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water for Resource Development

Abstract:

Flood control at Glen Canyon Dam is provided by a 41-ft (12. 5-m) diameter tunnel spillway in each abutment. Each spillway is designed to pass 138,000 ft**3/sec (3907. 7 m**3/sec). The spillways first operated in 1980 and had seen very little use until June 1983. In early June the left spillway was operated for 72 hours at 20,000 ft**3/sec (566. 3 m**3/sec). After hearing a rumbling noise in the left spillway, the radial gates were closed and the tunnel was quickly inspected. Cavitation damage had occurred low in the vertical bend, resulting in removal of approximately 50 yd**3 (38. 2 m**3) of concrete. Flood flows continued to fill the reservoir. Both spillways were operated releasing a total of 1,626,000 acre-ft (2. 0 multiplied by 10**9 m**3) over a period of 2 months. Extensive cavitation damage occurred in both spillways in the vicinity of the vertical bend.

Subject Headings: Spillways | Tunnels | Dams | Cavitation | Floods | Canyons | Reservoirs

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