This winter is proving to be another unusual season for the Association.  As the Provo Reservoir Canal Enclosure Project is completed, a transition process unfolds for those who will operate and maintain this new system.  Work is being done to remove and salvage any useable equipment form the decommissioned canal.  This equipment will either be used on other Provo River Project facilities, be reserved as spares, or be transferred to a new owner who can put them to beneficial use.  Staff is learning the processes, procedures and technology involved with commissioning the new, enclosed canal system. 

Additionally, there is a great deal of support needed from Association staff for the Enclosure Project construction process.  Besides these unique tasks, this time of year staff prepares for the upcoming runoff and irrigation seasons.  At Deer Creek Power Plant, winter preventative maintenance is performed on all equipment.  Each penstock and power generation unit is inspected and prepared for the 2012 season. 

From other areas of the Provo River Project equipment is taken to the Pleasant Grove Shop for annual preventative maintenance.  Maintenance personnel also care for all rolling stock which includes earthwork equipment, pumps, generators, and smaller powered equipment.  A large task for this winter will be the replacement of the torque converter on the Association’s D7G bulldozer.  This will be akin to major surgery.  The combination of the facilities at Pleasant Grove and the talents of the maintenance staff allow this level of work to be done in-house.

This year’s heavy snowpack initially gave cause for some flooding concerns, but cool, wet weather lasting throughout the spring allowed for a slower runoff.  Water delivery began in mid-June, with some deliveries being made through the newly enclosed canal.

Staff continues to complete regular summer maintenance items, such as mowing the canal bank and maintaining project roadways.  In addition to these routine items, the maintenance crew is working with the PRCEP contractor to learn operation of the newly enclosed canal and its components.

Staff also takes advantage of the summer season to maintain conveyances and facilities in the Uinta Mountains and along the Weber-Provo Canal.

Association staff uses the winter months to make preparations for the coming spring runoff and the 2011 irrigation season.  The winter of 2010-11 has been a wet one so far.  Staff will watch the snow levels closely in order to manage the snowmelt runoff for optimum Deer Creek Reservoir storage in 2011.  Maintenance personnel perform routine and preventative maintenance on Provo River Project facilities and equipment during the winter, including vehicles and rolling stock.  Some Project equipment is removed from its location and brought to the Pleasant Grove shop for maintenance and then placed back in service before the runoff begins.  Scheduled maintenance at the Deer Creek Power Plant is also performed during the winter months.  Personnel also monitor facilities used to bring winter water from the Weber and Duchesne Rivers.  These facilities require service to prevent damage by ice buildup.  The Association staff is also fully engaged in the Provo Reservoir Canal Enclosure Project as it is beginning in earnest this winter.

The Association has had a busy summer so far.  The spring runoff came late and in a large, single swoosh.  This caused flooding along both the Provo and Weber Rivers.  The Association was able to divert and store a sufficient volume of water to easily fill Deer Creek Reservoir, which wasn’t a given prior to runoff season.  

The water deliveries in the Provo Reservoir Canal (PRC) were quite heavy at the first of the irrigation season, but have reduced down to a small amount compared to normal deliveries.  Even at these lower levels, the PRC requires the same diligence while operating and maintaining it.  Construction along SR-92 has required some extra work and coordination to make everything operate smoothly. 

There has been a requirement for additional coordination with neighboring jurisdictions because of the various construction projects near Provo River Project facilities.  Such projects as the expansion of 4800 West, the construction of the Murdock Connector roadway in Highland, SR-92 reconstruction and the work on I-15 have all impacted Association activities.  The Association’s own large project – the Provo Reservoir Canal Enclosure Project – will soon be underway in the fall.  Residents and commuters in north Utah County will be able to follow the progress on the Association’s website and be apprised of any construction impacts to roadways and neighborhoods.

Duchesne Tunnel System

The Duchesne Tunnel is in a state of readiness to carry the high spring runoff flows.  The water control gates, the water flow rate sensors and other equipment are inspected to ensure they will function properly.  Some if this inspection and preparation work can actually be done remotely over the SCADA system.  Some of the other work requires Association employees to use snowmobiles or a snow cat to travel to the tunnel inlet and outlet, as well as to the Broadhead Diversion.

Weber-Provo System

The Weber-Provo Canal has been delivering water from the Weber River to the Provo River  throughout the winter under an ice cap that runs the full length of the canal.  As spring comes, the ice cap begins to break up.  This activity is monitored by Association staff to ensure that the ice does not form an ice jam and damage equipment.  Additionally, a special weir for measuring the lower winter flows at the Francis Gage is removed in anticipation of the high spring runoff flows.

 Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir

With the winter annual maintenance completed, the Deer Creek Reservoir spillway gates and operating equipment are checked one final time before the runoff begins in earnest.  The reservoir is nearly full this year, so there is a likelihood that the gates will need to be operated and that a controlled spill of the reservoir will take place.

Deer Creek Power Plant

Annual winter maintenance has been performed on the Deer Creek Power Plant, and  the generator controls and tube valves must be given one final check before runoff season.  The tailrace level control gates are inspected and tested as required.  This past winter, some modifications to the emergency power system for the power plant were completed.

Provo Reservoir Canal

The PRC requires a lot of preparatory work before the irrigation season begins in April.  The canal is inspected, trash is removed, and the concrete-lined sections of the canal are cleaned and any cracks are repaired.  The weeds are burnt off of the canal banks,the bottom of the canal is graded with a bulldozer and debris that may remain in the siphons is removed.  Equipment maintained in the shop during the winter is also re-installed during this time.

Jordan Narrows Facilities

The Jordan Narrows turbine-pump is reassembled and tested to ensure all parts are ready to operate.  The machinery  and buildings are cleaned and painted as required.  The siphon and penstock pipelines are inspected to ensure they are ready for the irrigation season.