Outardes-3

{{Infobox dam

| name = Outardes-3 generating station

| image =

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| name_official = Outardes-3 generating station

| dam_crosses = Outardes River

| location = Manicouagan Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada

| dam_type = Concrete, gravity

| dam_length =

| dam_height = {{Convert|250|ft|m|abbr=on}}

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| spillway_type = Service, gate controlled

| spillway_capacity =

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| owner = Hydro-Québec

| res_name =

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| plant_operator =

| plant_turbines = 4 x Francis turbines

| plant_capacity = 1026 MW

| plant_annual_gen =

| plant_type = R

| plant_commission = 1969

| plant_decommission =

| location_map = Canada

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| coordinates = {{coord|49|33|45|N|68|45|08|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

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}}

Outardes-3 is a hydroelectric power station and dam on the Outardes River {{convert|55|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} northwest of Baie-Comeau, Quebec, Canada. The power station was commissioned in 1969 and is run-of-the-river.{{cite web|title=Hydroelectric Plants in Quebec|url=http://www.industcards.com/hydro-canada-qc.htm|publisher=Power Plants Around The World|accessdate=20 August 2010|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090719052842/http%3A//www.industcards.com/hydro%2Dcanada%2Dqc.htm|archivedate=19 July 2009}}{{cite web|title=Hydroelectric Generating Stations|url=http://www.hydroquebec.com/generation/centrale-hydroelectrique.html|publisher=HydroQuebec|accessdate=20 August 2010}}

Outardes-3 was built in conjunction with the Manicouagan-Outardes project and is located {{convert|13|mi|km|1|abbr=on}} downstream of Outardes-4. Only a {{convert|250|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} high concrete dam was needed to exploit {{convert|478|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} of hydraulic head as the dam raised up water into the existing Lake Tirebouchon. Raising the water in the lake allowed it to rise east near the actual power station {{convert|4.5|mi|km|1|abbr=on}} downstream. Near the eastern portion of the lake, two depressions were filled in with small dikes to withhold the higher lake level, one of which supports a concrete spillway. From the intake on the northern portion of the concrete dam, water is fed via four {{convert|750|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} penstocks towards the underground power station. Water being discharged from the power station enters a {{convert|1488|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|73|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} high tunnel before being returned to the river.{{harvnb|Paradis|1967|pp=45–48}}