[gpm]

Niagara falls (Erie -> Ontario) is already a huge hydro eletric power generator with variable flow. Instead of storing water though they decide how much water to allow over the falls for tourists. More during the day, less at night.

Thinking about the terrain, it would probably be relatively easy to setup a dam somewhere that acted as a battery, downstream is basically already a giant bowl... I suspect the tourist industry would complain though.

[ulfw]

They create more electricity at night when less electricity is generally consumed? Odd. But interesting.

[londons_explore]

They want niagara falls to look great for tourists.

When nobody is looking at night, it pretty much stops.

[Scoundreller]

Not only that, but so much water gets diverted during the night that the tourist ships could not operate.

Reducing water flow helps to preserve the falls too. The water has substantially changed their shape, even over a time period of 2-300 years: https://www.marriottonthefalls.com/blog/2015/02/06/rate-eros...

During the Post-Great Big Blackout period, the Falls power generation ran with night-time levels of diversion during the day-time. The tourist boats that go near the falls got furloughed.

[Scoundreller]

I want someone to do the math one day: What's the value of the tourist industry, and what's the value of the lost electricity production?

[mabbo]

That's just lane Erie though. There's still 4 more. Michigan is completely inside America so less political hurdles there.