Brule Hydroelectric Project Inflow Design Flood Study

by John M. Crawford, Wisconsin Electric Power Co, Milwaukee, United States,
Nicholas Pansic, Wisconsin Electric Power Co, Milwaukee, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Waterpower '91: A New View of Hydro Resources

Abstract:

In 1987, Wisconsin Electric Power Company (WE) was directed by FERC to provide additional spillway capacity at it's 63-foot (19 m) high Brule Dam. Original spillway capacity was approximately 25 percent of the estimated Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) peak. Studies were made using the National Weather Service DAMBRK model to identify the project's Inflow Design Flood (IDF), that flood at which failure of the dam would not represent a significant hazard to lives and property downstream. The close proximity of Brule Dam to downstream and adjacent basin dams raised concerns for potential domino-type failures as well as simultaneous failures of Brule and adjacent basin dams. Results of the studies showed that the IDF at Brule is 50 percent of its PMF. In the process of developing the IDF for Brule Dam, IDFs for seven other WE dams were also determined, enabling WE to prioritize spillway capacity improvements for maximum benefit to public safety within the entire Upper Menominee River basin.

Subject Headings: Dam failures | Floods | Hydro power | Spillways | Failure analysis | Public health and safety | Project management | Wisconsin | United States

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