The sluice gate problem was sorted on August 8th. Our O&M team tracked it down to a tiny check-valve that was leaking.
Generation returned to nearly normal levels, but then gradually declined. On August 12th our clearance team found the reason for this second problem: Canadian pondweed had collected on the trash screens, reducing the water flow to the turbines. Once the pondweed had been removed (see photo) the power returned to its normal level and has remained there.
A big thank-you to everyone involved in sorting these problems.
But if somebody dumped all this Canadian pondweed in the river, PLEASE DON’T DO THIS AGAIN. Not only does it mess up our generation, it reduces river biodiversity by competing with native species for nutrients.
