Alcova Dam

Alcova Dam is a tall zoned earthfill dam in central Wyoming, built in 1935-38 on the North Platte River and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for water storage and hydroelectric power generation. The dam was built as part of the Kendrick Project, formerly the Casper-Alcova Project, whose central features are Alcova and Seminoe dams.
Alcova Powerplant comprises two generating units, each 18 MW. The reservoir's capacity is, but only may be used for irrigation.

History

Alcova Canyon was first surveyed for potential damsites in 1903. In 1921 a dam was proposed at Alcova to divert water to Casper, irrigating. The project was authorized in 1933, with $15,000,000 allocated by 1936. Initially titled the Casper-Alcova Project, the effort was renamed the Kendrick Project in 1937 to honor Wyoming senator John B. Kendrick. Work on a diversion tunnel began in 1933. Work on the dam started in 1935, carried out by a joint venture of W.E. Callahan Construction of Dallas, Texas, and Gunther and Shirley of Los Angeles, California. Earthfill placement started in 1936.and was completed in 1937. The reservoir was filled in 1938, with final completion of the dam on May 8, 1938. The powerplant was not started until 1952, completed three years later.

Geology

Alcova Dam is situated within an anticline; a Laramide-age fold located on the southeastern margin of the Wind River Basin. The North Platte River has carved a deep canyon directly through the axis of this anticline, exposing vertical walls of ancient sedimentary rock. The dam itself is anchored in a narrow gap where the river sliced through resistant rock ridges. In the immediate vicinity of the dam, the rock layers generally dip toward the northeast or east at angles ranging from 9° to 13°. The rock in this area is Tensleep sandstone and Alcova limestone, a member of the Chugwater Formation.