2005 Tower Inspection
Photo's and captions by Mike Adams

Here is a rare glimpse inside one of those mystery buildings.  The Lahontan Dam Tower.
We are required to inspect this tower once per year, and do any maintenance so to insure that no failures or problems arise during the water season.

This is a look from the back deck of the tower across the lake.

Most of the equipment is original and kept in top condition.  This is the piston type hydraulic pump and motor that raises and lowers the Gates and Dome Valves.

Mark Solinski and Kelly Cecil gear up for the trip down the Right Side.

Mark and Kelly start their decent into the Right Side Tube.

This is half way down or about 65 Feet.  Here is where the upper gates "Dam Side"  are checked for guide rail failures and rust and cracks on the gates.

Here is a telephoto view of the inspection.

Pictures from a 2004 inspection.  Here is one of the gates they are looking at.

Another picture from the 2004 inspection.
The view looking up can be a little un-nerving for the first time inspector.  This is from half way down.  Once we got down to business the depth of the tower wasn't so hard to handle.

At the bottom, Kelly and Mark have to look at the dome valve, air conduit, and mud gates for rust problems and overall condition.  If a problem is detected, tools are ready to be lowered and repairs are enacted immediately.

Inspection of the top of the Dome Valve is done and bolts are check where the Air Pipe goes into the valve.  From here the crew crawls onto the dome valve to get a close look at the lower "Lake Side" gates.  Photo taken during 2004 inspection.

The Air Pipe is also carefully inspected for rust, damage, as well as anchors and the condition of the concrete face.  All of this can be repaired onsite if needed.

The Valve and Seat are then inspected.  Through that hole is the outlet pipe called a Penstock which drops the water into the 2 power houses and the bowl.  The left side tower supplies the power generation and the right side tower dumps into the bowl.
Photo taken during the 2004 Inspection.

Here is a closer look at the bottom of the Right Side.

With the right side inspection complete, all the rigging and cage is moved to the left side and the whole process begins again.  Here Ted Renfroe centers the cage and prepares to run the hoist.

Looking around in the tower toward the left side, Ed Gray (far left) prepares for his decent, while Mark, Kelly and Ted discuss the next inspection.

Ed and Kelly make their decent down the left side.

Halfway down and the gates look good.

Here is a look at the bowl below the dam and downstream.  New and Old Lahontan Powerhouses are to the left of the picture.

The Elite Tower Crew
Here are the guys that make sure the Tower is safe and ready for the Water Season.
(l to r) Ted Renfroe (Shop Foreman & Tower Hoist Operator), Kelly Cecil (Hydro Foreman and Head Tower Inspector), Mark Solinski (Hydro, Welder, Tower Inspector, and Light Operator), Ed Gray (Hydro, Welder, Tower Inspector, and Light Operator) and Mike Adams (Journeyman Mechanic, Safety Inspector, Hoist Positioner, and Communications).