The Crater Lake Water and Power Project is moving forward, and could become a viable option to provide consistent electricity and resources to Cordova.
At a recent city council meeting, Public Works Director and Engineer Rich Rogers, explained the project would allow the city to get more high-quality water when it is needed most, in the late spring and mid-summer, and it would lessen the dependence on Eyak Lake waters during times of shortages.
“The proposed project would utilize the existing Crater Lake as a high head reservoir to generate hydropower and as an auxiliary water supply source for the city,” the City of Cordova said in a press release.
Last year, Cordova Electric Cooperative (CEC) and the City of Cordova contracted with engineering firm McMillen Jacobs Associates to evaluate the feasibility of the project. The firm identified several options for the project, narrowed down the field and then conducted a comprehensive feasibility analysis of the best choice, the city said.
The project is possible, and the city and electric cooperative may continue with more advanced engineering and environmental studies to ultimately decide whether or not to build it.
The project could offset as much as 25 percent of the current diesel generation, according to the feasibility study. Costs are estimated anywhere from $12 to $26 million to build the Crater Lake project, with an average estimate of about $17 million dollars. The city and CEC would share the expenses of construction.
No formal action on Crater Lake is being taken by city council at this time.
The feasibility study can be read online CityOfCordova.net and hard copies are available at the library.
