Courtright Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Courtright Reservoir |
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 Courtright Reservoir
Location in California
Courtright Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fresno County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°06′11″N 118°58′26″W / 37.10297°N 118.97387°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Helms Creek |
| Primary outflows | Helms Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 8,170 ft (2,490 m) |
Courtright Reservoir is a beautiful lake in Fresno County, California. It's not a natural lake, but a special kind of lake called a reservoir. This means it was created by building a large wall, called a dam, to hold back water.
The reservoir sits very high up, at 8,170 feet (2,490 m) above sea level. You can find it in the amazing Sierra National Forest, which is part of the big Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It's also right next to the John Muir Wilderness, a protected natural area.
What is Courtright Dam?
Courtright Reservoir was made by building the Courtright Dam. This dam is located in a canyon called Helms Creek. It's a very tall dam, about 315 feet (96 m) high. That's like a 30-story building!
The dam was finished in 1958. It is owned by a company called Pacific Gas and Electric. Their main reason for building it was to make hydroelectricity.
How Does the Dam Make Electricity?
Hydroelectricity is power made from moving water. Courtright Dam helps create electricity in a clever way. It's part of a system called the Helms Pumped Storage Plant.
This system uses two lakes: Courtright Reservoir (the upper lake) and Wishon Reservoir (the lower lake).
- When people need a lot of electricity (like during hot afternoons), water from Courtright Reservoir is released.
- It flows down through huge pipes and spins giant machines called turbines inside the Helms Power Plant.
- These spinning turbines create electricity. The water then empties into Wishon Reservoir.
When fewer people need electricity (like late at night), the system works in reverse.
- Water is pumped from Wishon Reservoir back up to Courtright Reservoir.
- This uses some electricity, but it's cheaper to do when power demand is low.
- This way, Courtright Reservoir is ready to make more electricity when needed again.
The Helms Power Plant itself is very special. It's located 1,000 feet (300 m) underground! It was carved out of solid granite rock near Wishon Lake.
Fun Things to Do at Courtright Reservoir
Courtright Reservoir is a fantastic place for outdoor adventures. Many people visit on weekends to enjoy nature.
You can do lots of activities here, such as:
- Camping: Spend a night or two under the stars.
- Fishing: Try to catch some fish in the clear mountain water.
- Hiking: Explore the trails around the lake.
- Boating: Take a boat out on the water.
- Swimming: Cool off with a dip on a warm day.
- Rock Climbing: The area has unique granite rock formations that climbers love.
- 4x4 Off-roading: Explore rougher terrain with special vehicles.
The high elevation of Courtright Reservoir also makes it a great spot for looking at the night sky. Local groups, like the Central Valley Astronomers, come here to see stars and planets. The air is clean, and there's very little light pollution, so the views are amazing!
