Direct cooling capacities of streams in eight major drain¬age areas in the United States (North Atlantic, South Atlantic-Eastern Gulf Coast, Ohio, Upper Mississippi, Lower Mississippi, Missouri, Columbia-Snake, Pacific) are summarized for average and low-flow conditions. Topical reports have previously been issued for each of the major drainage areas under study. Total capa¬city, considering not only direct heating of the rivers, but also their ability to dissipate heat to the atmosphere, ranged upward from a ten-year monthly low of 560 GWT(gigawatts, thermal). This value is reduced to a useable capacity of 260 GWT when projected generation patterns for 1990 are considered. The remaining cooling capacity is in excess of local requirements or its dist-ribution does not facilitate development in this time span.
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