Carmen-Smith Hydropower Project

In 2019, we acquired a new license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This 40-year license allows us to continue generating hydropower at Carmen. In return for our license to operate, we will be enhancing and managing natural resources and rebuilding public recreation facilities in the area. Much of the initial work will take place over the coming decade, but we will continue to manage certain natural resources for the duration of our license.

Here are just a few projects we are working on:

• Creating fish passage past Trail Bridge dam, which will give federally threatened salmon and trout access to historic spawning areas upstream of the dam.

• Enhancing biodiversity across more than 300 acres of terrestrial wildlife habitat by encouraging native plant species, preserving mature trees and enhancing understory development, and providing dead wood habitat.

• Monitoring and respecting sites around the project that are culturally significant to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of Siletz, and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (and other indigenous tribes and bands).

• Rebuilding Trail Bridge Campground and shoreline trail, including universally accessible opportunities and signs about the history and ecology of the area. 

• Monitoring rare, native plants and removing invasive species.

Please click here to find out more about our environmental stewardship at Carmen Smith.

New Infrastructure projects

In 2016, we started replacing old infrastructure and outdated technology and this work will likely continue through 2022. These projects include:

• Replacing both turbine runners and rewinding the generators at the Carmen Powerhouse to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operations. The generator uses the force of water moving through the turbine runner to produce power -- up to 55 megawatts per generating unit.

• Replacing both turbine shutoff valves. Turbine shutoff valves allow the turbine-generator units to cycle on and off to serve peak power demand periods each day. The 96-inch diameter valves also isolate the generating equipment from high pressure water for maintenance and repair work.

• Rebuilding the Carmen substation at its current location on the McKenzie River, using environmentally friendly transformer oil. Two new 60-MVA transformers at the substation will convert power to a higher voltage before the power is sent to Eugene via our transmission line. This project also includes modernization of the Carmen Powerhouse switchgear, protective relays and control systems.

• Upgrading our control systems at the Trail Bridge Power Plant. These improvements will allow us to make precise flow rate changes to the water we release from Trail Bridge Reservoir.

• Installing new stoplogs at the Carmen Diversion Reservoir spillway. New stoplogs help EWEB safely minimize water levels in the reservoir during the flood and snowmelt seasons.

• Performing seismic upgrades to an access bridge over the McKenzie River.

• Upgrading our on-site drinking water system.