Red River Lock & Dam No. 3

Colfax, Louisiana
Project Stats
Turbine Supply:
Project Developer:
Natel Energy
Capacity:
30 MW
Head:
8.5 m (28 ft)
Number of RHT Units:
27
RHT Unit Diameter:
2.4 m (8 ft)
RHT Unit Type:
Z-type
Commission Date:
expected 2027

Lock and Dam No. 3 is located near the City of Colfax, 38 miles upstream of Alexandria, Louisiana at approximately river mile 116.5. Lock and Dam No.3 is one of five navigation lock and dam structures that comprise the J. Bennett Johnson Waterway on the Red River, and one of three that Natel will develop to add power generation.

Lock and Dam No.3 was designed and constructed under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in December 1994. The principal structures associated with Lock and Dam No. 3 are a navigation lock, a gated spillway, concrete abutment walls and an overflow weir. The project will be developed using Natel’s FishSafe™ RHT design and will generate an estimated 30 MW of electricity.