Power for Progress…A weekly column from the Grand River Dam Authority GRDA’s W.R. Holway Reservoir

Located in the hills southeast of Salina, Oklahoma, the Grand River Dam Authority’s W.R. Holway Reservoir is a bit off the beaten path. Resting roughly 250 feet up above the Grand River valley, in a place where the river never flowed, the reservoir does not always garner the attention that it’s “sister lakes” – Grand and Hudson – get from water enthusiasts. In fact, many consider Holway Reservoir one of the best kept secrets in the state.  

However, while its 712 surface acres of water and 21 miles of shoreline may pale in comparison to GRDA’s other lakes, the role that this particular reservoir has played in GRDA’s overall operations is an important one.

The reservoir was created in 1968 when GRDA completed a 200-foot earth and rock dam in Chimney Rock Hollow, as part of the construction of the Salina Pumped Storage Project (SPSP). Because it was an innovative approach to hydroelectric generation at the time of its construction in the late 1960s, the SPSP was considered by some to be an “experimental” project. It houses six hydroelectric-pump turbines in its powerhouse that can be used to produce hydroelectricity or operate in reverse to serve as pumps to move water out of the Saline Creek arm of Lake Hudson and up into the upper Holway Reservoir. Thus, the facility is often referred to as the “pumpback” by locals. In time when the water is needed for generation, it is then released from the reservoir and flows back downhill, through the pumps, now serving as generators. Essentially, Holway’s waters serve as a battery for GRDA electric generation.

Open to the public and always a favorite of anglers, the Holway Reservoir is a favorite destination year-round. Although GRDA rules prohibit the use of internal combustion engines and swimming, visitors can be found using canoes, paddles, and electric trolling motors to navigate the deep, quiet, and clear waters.

As is the case with all its hydroelectric facilities, GRDA reminds visitors to Holway Reservoir to be aware of the notifications around the facility. Signs, buoys, sirens, fencing, and flashing lights are all intended to notify those in the area when floodgates are open, generators are operating, or water is rising swiftly. Educating yourself on this signage and the reservoir area can help insure a fun, safe visit to one of Oklahoma’s best kept secrets.

GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.

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