Hauser Dam
Author: Matt Nelson
Hauser Dam Matt Nelson Four employees of the NorthWestern Energy Hauser Facility received their third OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star for Outstanding Safety in an awards ceremony June 24 at the dam. They received the first one for their safety efforts in 2014, the second one for 2019, and this one was for 2024. They have had a perfect safety record with absolutely no incidents over the last three years. The VPP Star is OSHA’s highest honor for workplace safety.
Those employees honored are Foreman Dan Kokoruda and Operator Maintenance journeymen, Dan Heavrin, Joe Ruprecht and Tom Ryan. NorthWestern Energy’s Hauser Dam Facility is located a few miles northeast of Helena on the Missouri River. The original dam was started in 1906, and the current dam was built in 1911. It is 80 feet high and 720 feet long. There are six powerhouse turbines, and they generate up to 19 megawatts of electricity.
On June 24th, this reporter was given an opportunity to tour the dam and the building where the turbines and control center are located. Kokoruda led the tour. Throughout the tour, safety was strongly emphasized. The noise of the turbines is deafening. We were issued foam earplugs, hard hats, and safety glasses. There are four modern-day turbines, and two others that were part of the original dam.
On the dam itself are 10 different gates, and it takes about 15 minutes to open or close each of the gates, all of which are controlled by computers in the control room. Four gates were operating the day I was there. If the level of water in the lake is high, the other six gates may be opened.
One of the original generators has a name plate that says, “Alternating Current Generator, 2800 K.W. (Kilowatts), 2400 Volts, 674 Amps per Terminal, 3 Phase, 60 cycles.” The newer generators can produce 4 Megawatts of power, and through transformers, the 2400 volts are reduced to 120 Volts AC and wired to the power grids.
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PhotoCredit: Matt Nelson
Image 1 Caption: Hauser Dam
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
Image 2 Caption: Two of the generators at Hauser Dam.
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
Image 3 Caption: The generator building at Houser Dam, built in 1911
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
