New Spicer Meadow Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Spicer Meadow Reservoir |
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Aerial view of reservoir (lower right) and the Stanislaus National Forest.
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 New Spicer Meadow Reservoir
Location in California
New Spicer Meadow Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sierra Nevada, Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38°23′36″N 119°59′49″W / 38.39333°N 119.99694°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Highland Creek |
| Primary outflows | Highland Creek (Stanislaus River tributary) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Water volume | 189,000 acre-feet (233,000,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 6,621 ft (2,018 m) |
New Spicer Meadow Reservoir is a large reservoir (a human-made lake) located high up in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains. You can find it in eastern Tuolumne County, California, inside the Stanislaus National Forest. It sits at an elevation of about 6,621 feet (2,018 meters) above sea level, close to the border of Alpine County.
Contents
Building the Reservoir
The New Spicer Meadow Reservoir was created by building a large dam across Highland Creek. This creek is a smaller stream that flows into the Stanislaus River. The dam, called New Spicer Meadow Dam, was finished in 1989.
The Dam's Structure
The dam is made mostly of rock-fill and stands about 265 feet (81 meters) tall. It holds back a huge amount of water, about 189,000 acre-feet. To give you an idea, one acre-foot is enough water to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep!
How Water Gets There
Most of the water in the reservoir comes from Highland Creek. But some extra water is also brought in from the North Fork of the Stanislaus River. This is done using another dam, called the North Fork Diversion Dam, and a long tunnel about two miles (3 kilometers) long.
Uses of the Reservoir
The water from New Spicer Meadow Reservoir is very important for many reasons. It helps people, farms, and even makes electricity!
Water for People and Farms
The Calaveras County Water District owns and manages the dam. They use the water from the reservoir to supply drinking water to communities. It also provides water for irrigation, which means watering crops on farms.
Fun Activities and Power
The reservoir is also a great place for recreation, like boating and fishing. Besides that, the water helps make electricity. At the bottom of the dam, there is a hydroelectric plant. This plant uses the force of the water flowing out of the reservoir to spin turbines and create electricity. This plant can produce 5.5 megawatts of power. The water district works with the Northern California Power Agency to sell this electricity. They also help operate another larger power plant downstream.
