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Aug 19, 2026 - This NEVER Happened Before at This Dam



Hydrodams MUST open flood gates or catastrophic flooding could happen.
At Duke Energy`s Cowans Ford Hydro Station, water from Lake Norman flows through hydroelectric generators to help power the Carolinas. But when water levels rise too high, another critical system comes into play: the flood gates.
In this video, learn how the station`s 11 spillway gates help protect the dam, manage water levels, and reduce flood risk downstream. During Hurricane Helene, operators experienced a historic event that had never occurred in the station`s history, requiring multiple flood gates to be opened simultaneously.
Discover:
✅ How flood gates work
✅ Why dams release water during storms
✅ How hydropower stations balance power generation and safety
✅ The role Lake Norman plays in hydroelectric generation
✅ What made this event so unusual