YANKTON, S.D. (KTIV) – Environmental protection is a top priority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and at Gavins Point Dam Generating Station near Yankton, South Dakota, finding ways to make it happen at the 65-year-old facility is a top priority.
When the dam and power plant were built in the late 1950s, people dumped everything from oil to paint into the river.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, during the construction of the dam and power plant, the facilities leaked oil into the water.
The power station has oil filters installed to remove impurities from the water. The power station's three generators also use oil to run and, like a car, require regular oil changes to keep them running efficiently.
The oil filters the plant now uses have extended the life of the 24,000 gallons of oil from 10 years to more than 20 years.
“And the reason that's important is because we have to get 24,000 gallons of oil just from Gavins,” explains Michael Moose Welch, operations project manager for the Gavins Point project. “Every 10 years we have to dispose of 24,000 gallons of oil, and we have to do that three times for 30 years. So right now we're taking 24,000 gallons of oil and keeping it for 20 to 30 years.”
Another problem facing Gavins Point Dam and Power Plant is what is becoming a common phenomenon in local waters.
In 2017, the plant installed two mitigation systems to prevent the introduction of zebra mussels. The invasive species can clog the plant's water intakes and cause millions of dollars in damage. The two systems, installed on either end of the plant, help eradicate zebra mussels as the water enters the plant.
Welch said the system works very well, but it doesn't eliminate all the zebra mussels.
Boaters are reminded to check their vessels for zebra mussels and to be careful not to transfer “livewells” or buckets of water containing bait from one body of water to another.
Copyright 2024 KTIV. All rights reserved.