Kerckhoff Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kerckhoff Dam |
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 Location of Kerckhoff Dam in California
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| Location | Fresno County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°07′41″N 119°31′31″W / 37.12806°N 119.52528°W |
| Opening date | 1920 |
| Owner(s) | Pacific Gas & Electric |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete arch |
| Impounds | San Joaquin River |
| Height | 114 ft (35 m) |
| Length | 495 ft (151 m) |
| Elevation at crest | 994.5 ft (303.1 m) |
| Dam volume | 22,000 cu yd (17,000 m3) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 4,252 acre⋅ft (5,245,000 m3) |
| Catchment area | 1,460 sq mi (3,800 km2) |
| Power station | |
| Turbines | 3x 12.667 MW at Powerhouse No. 1 1x 155.0 MW at Powerhouse No. 2 |
| Installed capacity | 193 MW |
| Annual generation | 579,100,000 KWh |
The Kerckhoff Dam is a large concrete arch dam located on the San Joaquin River in Fresno County, California. It's about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Big Creek. This dam is 114 feet (35 meters) tall.
It works as a "run-of-the-river" facility. This means it uses the natural flow of the river to create electricity. The dam holds back about 4,252 acre-feet (5.2 million cubic meters) of water. This water is then used by the Kerckhoff Powerhouses to make electricity.
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How Kerckhoff Dam Generates Power
The Kerckhoff Dam is a key part of the Kerckhoff hydroelectric project. This project is owned by Pacific Gas and Electric. The dam and its 160-acre (65-hectare) reservoir supply water to two powerhouses.
Powerhouse No. 1
Powerhouse No. 1 uses three special machines called Francis turbines. These turbines can produce up to 38 megawatts (MW) of electricity. A megawatt is a huge amount of power, enough for many homes!
Powerhouse No. 2
Powerhouse No. 2 has one very large Francis turbine. This single turbine is rated at 155 MW. Together, both powerhouses can generate a total of 193 MW of electricity.
Annual Electricity Production
Each year, the Kerckhoff project generates a massive amount of electricity. It produces about 579.1 million KWh (kilowatt-hours). A kilowatt-hour is the unit used to measure how much electricity you use at home. This power helps light up many homes and businesses.
History of the Kerckhoff Dam
The Kerckhoff Dam has been an important part of California's power supply for a long time.
Early Construction and Use
The dam and Powerhouse No. 1 were finished in 1920. They were the very first structures to use the San Joaquin River to create hydroelectricity. This was a big step forward for clean energy in the region.
Adding More Power
As the need for electricity grew, a second powerhouse was added. Powerhouse No. 2 began operating in 1983. This addition greatly increased the amount of clean energy the Kerckhoff project could produce.
