Englebright Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Englebright Dam |
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A miner scaling the rock face below the dam during installation of the Narrows II Powerhouse Flow Bypass System in 2006
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| Official name | Englebright Dam |
| Location | Nevada / Yuba counties, California |
| Opening date | 1941 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Yuba River |
| Height | 260 ft (79 m) |
| Width (base) | 1,142 ft (348 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Englebright Lake |
| Total capacity | 70,000 acre-feet (86,000,000 m3) |
| Surface area | 815 acres (3.3 km²) |
| Power station | |
| Installed capacity | 58.8 MW |
| Annual generation | 237,769,000 KWh (2001–2012) |
Englebright Dam is a tall concrete dam on the Yuba River in California, USA. It is about 280 feet (85 meters) high. The United States Army Corps of Engineers finished building it in 1941. This dam helps control the river and creates a beautiful lake for fun activities.
Contents
Why Was Englebright Dam Built?
Englebright Dam was first built to catch dirt and rocks. These came from old gold mining activities in the area. Even though this type of mining stopped, the dam still helps manage the river.
Today, the dam is mainly used for two important things:
- Fun Activities: People enjoy boating and camping at Englebright Lake.
- Making Electricity: The dam helps create clean energy for many homes.
About Englebright Lake
Englebright Lake is a beautiful spot in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The dam itself is a strong concrete arch structure. It stretches 1,142 feet (348 meters) across the river. The dam is 260 feet (79 meters) tall.
The lake is about 9 miles (14 km) long. It covers an area of 815 acres (3.3 square kilometers). A special thing about Englebright Lake is that you can only camp there by boat!
How the Lake Helps People and Nature
Englebright Lake holds a lot of water, about 70,000 acre-feet. This water is used for many things:
- Recreation: It provides a great place for people to have fun on the water.
- Fish: Each year, water is released from the dam to help fish living downstream.
- Homes and Farms: Some water is also used for homes and farms in the region.
- Power: The water flowing through the dam helps make electricity. It creates enough energy for about 50,000 homes each year!
Powerhouses and River Flow
In 2006, a new system was added to the dam. This system helps make sure that enough water always flows in the river. This is important even when the Narrows II Powerhouse, which makes electricity, is shut down for maintenance.
There are two powerhouses near the dam:
- Narrows 2 Powerhouse is at the bottom of the dam.
- Narrows 1 Powerhouse is a bit further downstream and is smaller.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of Englebright Dam and Lake on the Yuba River
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Englebright Dam during spring floods. Water is spilling over the dam's crest. Narrows II Powerhouse is visible at the base of the dam.
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Map of the Yuba River watershed
