Adjustable weir for hydroelectric dam installations

A method for controllably adjusting spent water levels in the tailrace pool area of a hydroelectric power-generating dam installed into a waterway, the method comprising:

• providing a controllably adjustable weir device installed into a downstream portion of the waterway adjacent a distal end of the tailrace pool area, said weir device configured for controllably impeding the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area;
• providing an apparatus provided with operative components configured for manipulating said controllably adjustable weir device for controllably increasing and decreasing the impediment therewith of spent water egress from the tailrace pool area, said operative components serviceable from above the spent water;
• providing a control device configured for communicating and cooperating with apparatus for manipulating the adjustable weir therewith, for monitoring, recording and reporting the flow of spent water into and through the tailrace pool area, for calculating adjustments required to the rate of flow of spent water through the tailrace pool area, to maintain a selected level of effective net head of impounded water in the hydroelectric power-generating dam, and for communicatingly cooperating with the apparatus to manipulate the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase or decrease the impediment provided therewith to the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area;
• monitoring, recording and reporting the flow of spent water into and through the tailrace pool area;
• calculating adjustments required to the rate of flow of spent water through the tailrace pool area, to maintain a selected level of effective net head of impounded water in the hydroelectric power-generating dam;
• and
• communicatingly cooperating with the apparatus to manipulate the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase or decrease the impediment provided therewith to the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area.