Boca Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boca Dam |
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| Location | Tahoe National Forest Nevada County, California |
| Construction began | 1937 |
| Opening date | 1939 |
| Operator(s) | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Little Truckee River |
| Height | 93 ft (28 m) |
| Length | 1,629 ft (497 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Boca Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 41,110 acre⋅ft (50,710,000 m3) |
| Catchment area | 172 sq mi (450 km2) |
| Surface area | 977 acres (3.95 km2) |
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Boca Dam
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | South end of Boca Reservoir, Nevada County, California, United States |
| Built | 1937-1939 |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000712 |
| Added to NRHP | 1981 |
Boca Dam is a large earthfill dam in California. It's part of the Truckee Storage Project, which helps manage water in parts of Nevada County, California and Washoe County, Nevada. The dam is open all year round.
You can find Boca Dam at the southern end of Boca Reservoir. It's about 1 mi (2 km) north of Interstate 80. The dam sits above where the Little Truckee River and the Truckee River meet. It's also about 6 mi (9.7 km) northeast of Truckee, California. The city of Reno, Nevada is 27 mi (43 km) to the east.
Boca Dam is important for a few key reasons. It helps with farming by providing water for crops. It also plays a role in protecting nature and wildlife. Plus, it's a great example of engineering. The dam is managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation. The Washoe County Water Conservation District helps operate it. The dam was built between 1937 and 1939.
How Big Is Boca Dam?
| Boca Dam bridge | |
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| Carries | Boca Dam Reservoir Road |
| Characteristics | |
| Width | 2 lanes |
Boca Dam is quite large! Here are some of its main measurements:
- The very top of the dam (crest elevation) is 5,615 ft (1,711 m) above sea level.
- From its base, the dam stands 93 ft (28 m) tall.
- The dam stretches 1,629 ft (497 m) across the river.
- The spillway, which lets extra water out, is at 5,589 ft (1,704 m).
A Historic Landmark
Boca Dam is recognized as a historic site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important part of American history.
A special plaque at the dam shares details about its construction:
- It states that Boca Dam was built between 1937 and 1940.
- It mentions the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation. These agencies were in charge of the project.
- The plaque also lists the dam's height as 116 feet and its length as 1629 feet.
- It notes that the dam can hold 40,901 acre-feet of water.
- The company that built the dam was George W. Condon Co.
