Volume 2 Issue 4 April 2021
Powering the Future By Kris Polly Through technological innovations, regulatory revisions, and constant advances in management, the U.S. hydropower industry is preparing to power the future. In this month’s Hydro Leader, we speak with representatives of numerous federal agencies, local hydropower entities, and industry professionals. Max Spiker has three decades of experience in the […]
Mitigating Warming and Preserving Cold Water Refuges in the Columbia River
Few tasks are as challenging as conserving endangered or threatened species. Such conservation often requires balancing many diverse and competing factors to preserve the species and their habitat while also allowing for the appropriate use of natural resources. John Palmer is part of a team at the region 10 office of the U.S. Environmental Protection […]
David Capka: Advancing Dam Safety at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses almost all nonfederal hydropower dams in the United States. To maintain a license or exemption, dam owners must meet a number of criteria, including many related to dam safety, and carry out periodic inspections. Currently, FERC is considering significant technical revisions to the part 12 process, one of […]
Denise Bunte‑Bisnett and Rachael Bisnett: A Family Tradition of Hydropower
When Denise Bunte‑Bisnett began taking her daughter Rachael with her on dam visits, it planted a seed of interest that would inspire Rachael to pursue her own career in hydropower. Since then, mother and daughter have both grown their roles in the world of dams: Denise is now the president of the board of directors […]
Camilla Braithwaite and Billy Cothran: Using Geospatial AI to Make Dams Smarter
Geospatial data and advanced information technologies have revolutionized nearly every aspect of modern life, including the assessment of dams. Geospatial analytics companies are now partnering with water districts, dam operators, and government agencies to provide better assessment of normal and abnormal dam behavior, subsidence patterns, vegetation changes, and other factors that can provide insight into […]
The Red Rock Hydro Project: How Missouri River Energy Services Powered a Nonpowered Dam
Adding hydropower facilities to nonpowered dams is an increasingly popular way to create new noncarbon power generation resources without having to build new reservoirs or dams. Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), a joint action agency that brings together 61 municipal utilities in the upper Midwest, recently added a hydro plant to the federally owned Red […]
Max Spiker: Using Hydro to Power the Future at the Bureau of Reclamation
Since 1902, the Bureau of Reclamation has played a crucial role in bringing water and power to the western United States. Many of the Reclamation dams that provide flood control services or surface water also generate hydroelectric power for millions of homes and businesses. In his three decades with Reclamation, Max Spiker has been at […]
