The MDC's Goodwin hydro plant is located at the Goodwin Dam, a 135-foot-high structure that holds back the West Branch Reservoir. Water from the reservoir is currently used for three important purposes: to maintain adequate flows in the Farmington River (even during very dry periods); to meet legal commitments to downstream power producers; and to generate hydroelectric power for the MDC.

The Goodwin hydro plant is equipped with two Francis turbines (the world's oldest type of hydroelectric turbine) located in a conventional powerhouse on the downstream (back) side of the dam. Here, water delivered through a 400 foot-long penstock moves horizontally around the turbines where it strikes curved buckets that cause the turbines to turn rapidly. This initiates the electrical generation process.

The "Run of the River" facility at the Goodwin Dam operates 24 hours per day provided there are sufficient flows to generate power. During a typical year, the plant generates 12,500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, enough power to serve 2,000 homes. Most importantly, the water used to create that electricity is returned to the river (through a channel called a tailrace) to keep fish and plant life healthy - and to enhance the Farmington River's status as one of the region's recreational gems.

RESTORING ATLANTIC SALMON

In addition to producing environmentally friendly electricity, the Goodwin hydro facility helps produce another valuable resource - fish. In a chamber beneath the power house is a hatchery operated by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Here, 150,000 to 300,000 Atlantic salmon eggs - almost one-third of all the Salmon fry produced by the State of Connecticut - are hatched each year. After becoming used to their natural waters, the fish are stocked in local rivers and streams as part of DEP efforts to bring the Atlantic salmon back to the Farmington River.

Get a map to the Goodwin Hydroelectric Facility