Carmen-Smith

The Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Development is located 71 miles east of Eugene on the upper McKenzie River. The project gained the approval of the Federal Power Commission, the Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Fish Commission and Oregon Game Commission. The Carmen Diversion Reservoir is filled by the McKenzie River flowing from Clear Lake. The Carmen Diversion Dam and Reservoir border is confined to an area one-quarter mile below Koosah Falls. At capacity the reservoir covers 30 acres at a depth of 25 feet. Its elevation reaches 2,625 feet above sea level.

The reservoir then diverts the flow to Smith Reservoir through a circular tunnel. Accomplishing such a feat requires a tunnel 11,381 feet long with a concrete lined diameter of 9.5 feet. The Smith River Dam and Reservoir is a storage center for the Carmen Power Plant. The reservoir spans 170 acres at capacity with a total water storage capability of 9,900 acre feet.

A 7,275 foot long power tunnel and pipe-like "penstock" deliver the Smith River Reservoir water to the Carmen Power Plant. The horseshoe shaped, curved invert is concrete lined and 13 feet, 10 inches in diameter. The underground penstock is steel-lined, 1,284 feet long and 12 feet in diameter. The entire penstock is embedded in concrete. An underground surge chamber, 31 feet in diameter, rises 260 feet above the penstock. The portion showing above ground is 40 feet in diameter. Carmen Power Plant generators combine with a smaller, single generator at Trail Bridge Power Plant to produce a maximum power of 120,000 kw.

Carmen-Smith supplements the production of EWEB 's other hydroelectric plants at Leaburg and Walterville to supply approximately 30 percent of Eugene's electric needs. A variety of other sources provide Eugene's remaining power needs.

The Trail Bridge Re-regulating Reservoir spans 120 acres at capacity. The usable storage is 2,100 acre feet. The Trail Bridge power plant contributes an additional 10,000 kilowatts to the Carmen-Smith development.

Power is transmitted over a 115 kv, 19-mile line from Carmen Substation to the Cougar Dam area. Carmen-Smith power is then "wheeled" 42 miles to the EWEB system over a line constructed by the Bonneville Power Administration.

The same features that lured Native Americans to the McKenzie for centuries still attract people today. Whether picking berries, hiking trails, fishing, spending time with family, friends or just yourself the spectacular scenery of the upper McKenzie can revive the spirit. The Carmen-Smith complex offers camping, picnicking, fishing and boat launching facilities maintained by the U.S. Forest Service at Carmen Diversion Reservoir, Trail Bridge Reservoir and at Lake's End on the upper tip of Smith Reservoir. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks all three reservoirs with legal-size trout between April and August. More than 30,000 rainbow trout are released in the Trail Bridge Resevoir alone.