New Bullards Bar Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Bullards Bar Reservoir |
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 New Bullards Bar Reservoir
Location in California
New Bullards Bar Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Yuba County, California |
| Coordinates | 39°25′45″N 121°07′48″W / 39.42903°N 121.13010°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 16 mi (26 km) |
| Water volume | 969,600 acre⋅ft (1.1960×109 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 56 mi (90 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,956 ft (596 m) |
| Settlements | Dobbins |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The New Bullards Bar Reservoir is a big reservoir (a human-made lake) in northern Yuba County, California, in the United States. It sits high up at about 2,000 feet (610 m) in the Tahoe National Forest. This large lake is about 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Yuba City.
The reservoir holds a huge amount of water, about 969,600 acre-foot (1.1960×109 m3). It was created by the New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River. This river is a branch of the larger Yuba River. The reservoir also gets water from another branch, the Middle Fork, which is sent through tunnels.
About the Dam
The New Bullards Bar Dam is a very tall structure, standing 635 feet (194 m) high. It is a special type of concrete dam called a variable radius arch dam. This means it curves to help hold back the water. The dam was finished in 1970.
The Yuba Water Agency owns and manages the dam. This agency is a special government group based in Marysville, California. The dam serves many purposes, but its most important job is to control floods. A big part of the reservoir's space, about 170,000 acre-feet (210,000,000 m3), is set aside just for flood control. This amount of water is like having a medium-sized lake all by itself!
The dam also helps provide water for irrigation (watering crops), making hydroelectricity (power from water), and for fun activities.
Making Electricity
The water from the reservoir is used to power two electricity plants: the New Colgate Powerhouse and the Fish Release Powerhouse. The New Colgate Powerhouse is not right at the bottom of the dam, like many power plants. Instead, a large tunnel, 14-foot (4.3 m) wide, carries the water about 5 miles (8 km) away from the dam. This long tunnel helps the water gain more pressure, which allows the plant to make more electricity.
The dam uses special Pelton wheels, which are like giant water wheels. The ones here are the biggest ever built! Together, they can produce a lot of power, up to 315 megawatts. Some water is also let out at the bottom of the dam. This keeps the river flowing below the dam. This smaller amount of water powers the 150 kW Fish Release Powerhouse. If there's a power outage, this smaller plant can even help open the dam's huge spillway gates.
Fun at the Reservoir
New Bullards Bar Reservoir is a popular spot for outdoor fun. The lake is about 16 miles (26 km) long and has over 60 miles of shoreline. Water Ski Magazine has even called it one of the best lakes in the United States for water sports!
It's also a great place for mountain biking. There are about 19 miles of trails for hiking and biking, mostly on the east side of the lake. These trails are kept in good shape by the US Forest Service and volunteers.
The reservoir has two places where you can launch boats. One of them is next to the Emerald Cove Marina. The Emerald Cove Marina offers many services, like a general store, gas for boats, and places to dock your boat. You can also rent houseboats, ski boats, patio boats, and fishing boats there.
Fish Safety
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has given advice about eating fish caught in New Bullards Bar Reservoir. This advice is based on how much mercury or PCBs might be in the fish. It's important to check these guidelines to know which fish are safest to eat.
Images for kids
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A view of New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir from Marysville Road.
