Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment.

Leg 6 of the Transcontinental aqueduct. From Deadman Draw dam and pumped storage power plant to Buffalo Soldier Draw dam and optional pumped storage plant.

This leg has the freedom to pump water at 21,800 cfs or less, including stopping for up to 5 hrs/day to provide virtual peak hydro-power for the Texas grid. This must be coordinated with leg 5 and leg 7. Total distance of the aqueduct is 135 miles, from elevation 1830′ to elevation to 2840′.

From Deadman Draw dam to Buffalo Soldier Draw dam, a distance of 135 miles.

The water elevation at Deadman Draw dam is nominally 1,830 feet. The Buffalo Soldier Draw dam yet to be built will top out at 2,850 feet with maximum water level at 2,840 feet. The total lift of the water in stage 3 is (2,840 – 1,830 + 135×2) feet = 1,280 ft. To lift 21,800 cubic feet per second 1,280 feet requires twenty-five 100 MW LFTR nuclear reactors The upper reservoir will contain about 40,000 Acre-ft when full, about one day worth of storage. For 5 hours per day these twenty-five 100 MW reactors can provide 2.5 GW of peak power to the grid.

There will be a lower dam to provide hydroelectric power storage of 4.5 GWh, or 900 MW for 5 hours. After each use the lower dam will be re-emptied by pumping back the water to the upper dam, using 5.4 GWh of power, hopefully using surplus wind or solar power.

The aqueduct will go thru and dug sown at 1590’elevation

What’s in it for Texas? Wind power is already 22% of the source for the Texas power grid, but Texas has up to now no pumped water storage, and until this is fixed coal and natural gas backup must be provided when the wind doesn’t blow. This leg will provide 4.5 GWh of peak power per day from the pumped water storage. In addition the 2.3 GW of Nuclear power can provide virtual hydro-power generation by not pumping water for up to 5 hours and thus provide 6 GWh of peak power daily. This will greatly help stabilize the Texas power grid, and facilitate the phasing out of coal power and help the transition to electric vehicles, which will add stress to the stability of the grid by their uneven recharging patterns. I addition, the City of Lubbock can purchase water from the aqueduct, to be negotiated.

March 22: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

In Matthew 26:31-75 Jesus predicted Peter’s denial. After finishing the Last Supper they all moved on to the Mount of Olives, and there was the garden of Gethsemane. In the garden Jesus prayed “Not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus prayed this prayer three times, and every time the disciples fell asleep. After that is recorded the betrayal and arrest of Jesus as he was taken to the Sanhedrin to be interrogated. The chapter ends with Peter’s denial.

Deuteronomy 28. The LORD through Moses specified many blessings for obedience and even more curses for disobedience.

Leg 5 of the Transcontinental aqueduct. From Brad dam to Deadman Draw dam and pumped storage power plant.

The distance of leg 5 is 10 miles of water and 60 miles of aqueduct. This leg has the freedom to pump water at 22,000 cfs or less, including stopping for up to 5 hrs/day to provide virtual peak hydro-power for the Texas grid.

The elevation at Brad reservoir is nominally 1260 feet. From 25 miles East of Breckenridge the aqueduct goes W to 19.5 miles ENE of Abilene, a distance of 60 miles . The dam yet to be built will top out at 1840 feet with maximum water level at 1830 feet. The total lift of the water in stage 3 is (1830 – 1260 + 60×2) feet = 690 ft. To lift 22,000 cubic feet per second 690 feet requires twelve 100 MW LFTR nuclear reactors The upper Baird reservoir will contain about 90,000 Acre-ft when full, about two days worth of storage. For 5 hours per day these twelve 100 MW reactors can provide 1.2 GW of peak power to the grid. There will be a lower dam to provide hydroelectric power storage of 4 GWh, or 800 MW for 5 hours. After each use the lower dam will be re-emptied by pumping back the water to the upper dam, using 4.75 GWh of power, hopefully using surplus wind or solar power.

What’s in it for Texas? Wind power is already 22% of the source for the Texas power grid, but Texas has up to now no pumped water storage, and until this is fixed coal and natural gas backup must be provided when the wind doesn’t blow. This leg will provide 4 GWh of peak power per day from the pumped water storage. In addition the 1.2 GW of Nuclear power can provide virtual hydro-power generation by not pumping water for up to 5 hours and thus provide 6 GWh of peak power daily. This will greatly help stabilize the Texas power grid, and facilitate the phasing out of coal power and help the transition to electric vehicles, which will add stress to the stability of the grid by their uneven recharging patterns.

March 21: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 26:1-30 is very important. It begins with the plot against Jesus, continuing with his anointing at Bethany, then Judas agreeing to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, continuing with the Lord’s supper being initiated, and Jesus predicting who is going to betray him.

Deuteronomy 25 tells of the marriage duty of a surviving brother, how to weigh with honest measures, and, totally unrelated; do not forget to destroy the Amalekites.

Deuteronomy 26 shows the regulations for offerings of firstfruits and tithes. Follow the LORD’s commands, you are a special people of God.

Deuteronomy 27 specifies that the Law should be inscribed on large stones on Mount Ebal. There six tribes shall declare curses, and on Mount Gerizim six tribes shall pronounce blessings.

Leg 4 of the Transcontinental Aqueduct. From Lake Ray Roberts to the Brad Dam (to be built).

Leg 4 of the Transcontinental aqueduct is 15 miles of lake and 100 miles of aqueduct.

Lake Ray Roberts, elevation 625′, must be kept nearly constant.

The elevation at Lake Ray Roberts is 625 feet. From here the aqueduct goes WSW to the Brad dam. It crosses the Brazos river, but does not interfere with it. (This can change if desired). The Brad dam is located just south of the Brad Cemetery on U.S. route 180, 25 miles East of Breckenridge. The dam, yet to be built will top out at 1280 feet with maximum water level at 1270 feet. The total lift of the water in stage 2 is (1,260 – 625 + 100×2) feet = 835 ft. To lift 22,000 cubic feet per second 835 feet requires seventeen 100 MW LFTR nuclear reactors. Lake Brad will contain about 60,000 Acre-ft when full, about one and a half day’s worth of storage. For 5 hours per day these 17 reactors can provide 1.7 GW of peak power to the grid. (The power can also partly be provided by wind power, during which time the LFTR’s can make hydrogen for extra peak power storage).

What’s in it for Texas? The 1.7 GW of Nuclear power can provide virtual hydro-power generation by not pumping water for up to 5 hours and thus provide 8.5 GWh of peak power daily. This has to be done in conjunction with Leg 3.

March 20: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 25: 31-46. Jesus will return to judge the nations, to illustrate how he told the parable of the sheep and the goats, and the sheep were defined as those who do God’s will “You did it for me.”

Deuteronomy 22 contains more instructions, protect your brother’s property, the LORD detests unisex clothing, protect nesting birds, do not yoke an ox and a donkey together. The chapter ends with various laws on sexual morality.

Deuteronomy 23 deals with shunning and exclusion from the assembly, how to deal or not to deal with certain foreigners. Make your relief stations outside the camp and do what you have to do and keep proper camping cleanliness. No harlots allowed and do not accept offerings from them. You may not charge interest to a fellow Israelite, but you can be a Shylock to a foreigner. If you make a vow to the Lord, you better fulfill it!

Deuteronomy 24 tells of divorce laws and limitations for remarriage, leprosy, lending laws, how to properly pay workmen, and after harvest please leave the gleanings.

Leg 3 of the Transcontinental aqueduct. From the Eufaula Dam to Ray Roberts Lake.

Stage 3 consists of 40 miles on Lake Eufaula, 10 miles on Aquila lake and 125 miles of a 22,000 cfs aqueduct, 95 miles in Oklahoma and 30 miles in Texas. This segment should ideally have used lake Texoma, but the water in it is brackish with between one half to one percent salinity, so it is unusable for drinking water, and even for agricultural purposes.

It starts out at lake Eufaula:

From there the real aqueduct will start, unencumbered by barge traffic regulation. It will go from the southern tip of Lake Eufaula to lake Atoka, a distance of 40 miles. Lake Atoka is 10 miles long.

Then from Lake Atoka it will pass by lake Texoma on ther downslope of thee Denison dam at an elevation of 640′. From there it will go to Lake Ray Roberts

Leg 3 total length 50miles lake, 125 miles aqueduct, end point Lake Ray Roberts, elevation 625′

The elevation at lake Atoka is about 590′. The aqueduct will have a capacity of 22,000 cfs, and it will climb from Eufaula to about 740′ before going down again to lake Atoka. From lake Atoka it will only pump up water for 85 miles. The aqueduct water level drops by 2′ per mile. Total pumping up will be 365′ and going down water release will be 110′ The total power need for this stage will be up to 665 MW assuming 92% pumping and generation efficiency. three 200 MW LFTR SMR will take care of the power needs this stage, and can be used for peak power generation when pumping is temporarily shut off. It is important to keep the water level steady at Lake Ray Roberts.

What’s in it for Oklahoma? Eufaula lake flood control will be greatly enhanced. Lake Atoka flood control will be enhanced and in case of drought extra water will be supplied to keep lake levels steady. There will be about 200 MW virtual hydro-power energy provided for up to 5 hours/day to stabilize the grid with peak power.

What’s in it for Texas? In case of drought Lake Ray Roberts can supply extra water to the Dallas area. The water levels will be stabilized at Lake Ray Roberts. There will be about 400 MW virtual hydro-power energy provided for up to 5 hours/day to stabilize the Texas grid with peak power.

March 19: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 25:1-30 begins with the parable of the ten virgins, five with oil, five without oil. (Give me oil in my lamp, keep it burning). After that Jesus told the parable of the five, two and one talent given to three different people, the one with five made ten, the one with two doubled his talents, but the one with only one talent buried his. Jesus had his one talent taken away and be given to the one with ten talents. The moral of this parable is: Equal opportunity, not equal outcome.

Deuteronomy19. God commanded to set aside three Cities of Refuge, maybe three more as the land expands. Do not change property boundaries. There must be two or three witnesses for a conviction in court. From this chapter also comes the saying “an eye for an eye”.

Deuteronomy 20. Rules for warfare: The Lord fights the battle for you. If you are too chicken or are building a house or are pledged to marry, you may be excused. For the rest of you, show no mercy unless they surrender, but above all, save the fruit trees.

Deuteronomy 21 deals with what to do with unsolved murders. Can you marry a female taken captive? What are the rights of the firstborn? What to do with a rebellious Son? A man punished to death and hung on a tree, he must be buried the same day. From this we get “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”.

March 18: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 24:36-51. Nobody knows the time or the day of Christ’s coming, not even Jesus at that time. Many have tried to predict it, and so far all have failed. This makes sense since we are supposed to watch and wait, and with this admonition the chapter ends.

Deuteronomy 16 describes in detail how to celebrate the Passover, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. Bring an offering, no one can go empty handed. Appoint Judges so justice can be properly administered. Do not worship any Asherah poles ever.

Deuteronomy 17, Anyone worshiping other Gods must have justice administered, including stoning. The Israelites will elect a King after they have entered the promised land. He must be an Israelite, not gathering riches or take many wives. He must read the scroll of the Law all the days of his life. As long as he does all these things he will reign a long time.

Deuteronomy 18. The LORD is the Inheritance for Priests and Levites. No Wicked Customs are allowed, such as child sacrifice, “ or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer ^”In other words: ^“Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.” Then the LORD gave a promise. He will raise up a Prophet like Moses. There will also rise up many false prophets, and they are not to be listened to.

Leg 2 of the Transcontinental Aqueduct: From the Robert S. Kerr Lock and dam to the Eufaula Dam on the Canadian River.

The length of Leg 2 is 20 miles on the Robert S Kerr reservoir and 22 miles on the Canadian river.

The Robert S Kerr reservoir has an area of 43,000 acres and its elevation is regulated by the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. This means that the water can be pumped up or released as long as it is coordinated for the whole canal system. This also means that the water flow can be stopped and the power normally used to pump up water can be used as peak power, which can come in handy on a hot humid day with no sun and no wind and every air conditioner in the area is going full blast to take out the oppressive humidity.

The part of the aqueduct going up the Canadian river will have 3 20 ft dams with concrete spillways, each with a 20,000 cfs reversible flow pumping station. The map:

The dam will have a 20,000 cfs pumping station added lifting water 87 ft.

The Eufaula Dam.
The Eufaula dam
*Riverbed at 498′ conservation pool at 585′*

The total power consumption in this stage will be up to 265 MW. The preferred power plant will be 3 100 MW LFTR SMRs.