The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-09-25
so Year Potomac ASiCpE.
PLAN Offered Ay Engineers

present regulated flow at Luke is
/ 50 c. f. S." he stated.
When operating in conjunction
/ with the existing Savage River
/ reservoir, the North Branch
Reservoir could by. itself, take
over almost complete regulation
of flow during the recreation sea-
son from June to September, al
lowing for the existing Savage
River Reservoir to remain at
nearly constant pool level for en-
hancement of it recreation fea-
lures" he continued,
Track Relocation
The construction of the North
Branch Reservoir would require
relocation of eight miles of the
Western Maryland Railway start
ing at the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad overpass near Beryl, w.
Va. to a point north Of Alternately
Run. The relocated line would be
5.57 miles long and include an
8.000-foot tunnel, 1880 feet of
level grade and $500 feet of
grade"
The engineer explained the pro-
posed Stony River Dam would be
rolled earth-fill type with a
maximum height of Isl feet The
area would cover 6l0 acres and
the normal storage would be
p 500 acre-feet The maximum
capacity would be 1880 acre
feet
He said this reservoir would be
operated for low flow augmenta-
ton. flood control and supplement
tai hydroelectric power Fishing
and other types of recreation
would be possible. From May
through August the drawdoWn
would be limited to two feet per
month with five-foot drawdoWn
in September.
Third Highest in East
THE hydroelectric power fea-
lures include intake control works
at the reservoir, an eight-foot
diameter concrete lined tunnel
SO 700 feet long to point on the
North Branch about 5000 feet
downstream from Lostland Run
where a powerhouse would be
located containing a turbine and
generator of $1,000 XIV capacity
the speaker explained.
IF constructed, Birrell said,
this would be the third highest
operating head plant east of the
Mississippi River. The average
annual production would be so
million Kilowatt hours.
u. S. Route 50 would be re-
located to cross Stony River over
the new dam. The old route would
be maintained for access to the
lake for recreational purposes.
1t has been estimated this pro-
posed reservoir could expect
about 225,000 Visitor-days annual
~"
Turning to a proposed second
Savage River Dam, the speaker
said it would be an earth-flll
type, 173 feet high. The normal
pool would cover $50 acres and
the normal storage capacity
would be 10000 acre-feet. During
flood periods the maximum stor-
age would be 26,250 acre-feet.
This reservoir, said Birrell,
would be operated for water
supply only" He added: Due to
the excellent water quality, this
supply should be reserved for do
nestle purposes"
Create Industrial Land
Touching on the flood and in
dustrial aspects, Birrell stated:
THE control of flood on the
North Branch would, in addition
to prevention of flood damages in
the urban areas from Luke to be-
low Cumberland, effectively re-
move from flood hazards 1000
acres of land otherwise poten-
TALLY ideally suitable for indus
trial development.
In addition LAOS acres would
be made suitable with only minor
improvements by land fill or
Ievees. Another 1900 acres are
presently above flood levels and
the assurance of dependable
water supply would make these
areas attractive for similar de-
velopment'
The speaker suggested that
early construction would save
money and added:
1T has therefore been tenta-
lively proposed that the immedi-
ate project development consist
of simultaneous construction of
both Stony River and the North
Branch projects. Savage River
project would be deferred for
future domestic water supply re-