Design of Carters Pumped Storage Project

The Carters Project is under construction on the Coosawattee River near Carter, Georgia, about 75 miles north of Atlanta. When completed in 1974 it will consist of a 440-ft high, rockfill, main dam with a powerhouse on the right bank, an emergency spillway on the left bank, and a low, earth-and-rockfill reregulation dam about two miles downstream of the main dam. The powerhouse, of conventional enclosed design, will contain four units. Nominal generator rating for each of the four units is 125,000 kw. The two conventional Francis turbines are rated at 172,000 hp at 345 ft net head and 163.6 rpm. The two pump-turbines are rated as turbines at 150 rpm. Normal operating head, at maximum power pool elevation 1072.0, will be about 385 ft. This is a multiuse project which will be developed for flood control and recreation as well as power.