HYDRO
PLANT
Constructed by Homestake Mining Company to provide power for the mine
site in Lead SD. and power for the Homestake Sawmill in Spearfish SD.
which provided timber for various mining methods.
The Spearfish Hydro system was purchased by the City of Spearfish in
2004 from Homestake Mining Company to maintain water flow through the
city and downstream users.
The diversion tunnel from Maurice intake to Forbay totals 5 miles in
length. Mining was completed in one year with 14 headings working towards
each other without any errors in elevations or horizontal mismatch. It
is constructed of five feet high concrete side walls and a poured floor.
The roof consists of either poured concrete, arched concrete blocks,
or nature arched rock.
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Spearfish Hydro Plant constructed
in 1910
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Maurice Intake |
Diversion Tunnel |
Stand Pipes are located on a ridge south of Spearfish and above the
mouth of Spearfish Canyon. The Stand Pipes reduce the water shock within
the pipelines feeding the plant, as the water flows change the height
of the Stand
Pipes changes.
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Stand Pipes |
Hydro Plant is equipped with two 2 megawatt generators |
THE HYDRO PLANT TODAY:
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