O'Sullivan Dam facts for kids
The O'Sullivan Dam is a very large dam located in the state of Washington, USA. It's one of the biggest dams in the United States built mostly from earth. This impressive structure is about 200 feet (61 meters) tall and stretches for 19,000 feet (5,791 meters) across the land. It was finished in 1949.
The dam is built on Crab Creek, a waterway in Washington. It's located about 45 kilometers south of Ephrata and 25 kilometers south of Moses Lake.
Potholes Reservoir and Water Use
The O'Sullivan Dam creates the large Potholes Reservoir. This reservoir covers about 27,800 acres (112.5 square kilometers). It's special because it collects extra water that drains from farms in the northern part of the area. This collected water is then used again for irrigation in the southern parts of the region.
To help manage the water, special channels called "wasteways" were built. These channels are connected to the West and East Low Canals. They help keep the canals safe and also bring more water into Potholes Reservoir. This extra water adds to the natural water flow and the water collected from farms.
Part of a Bigger Project
The O'Sullivan Dam was built as an important part of a much larger plan called the Columbia Basin Project. This huge project helps manage water resources in the Columbia River Basin. It provides water for farming and creates electricity for many people.
Dam Facts and Figures
Here are some interesting facts about the O'Sullivan Dam:
- Water Storage: The dam can hold a lot of water, about 332,200 acre-feet (which is like 410 million cubic meters).
- Height: The dam stands 200 feet (60 meters) tall from its base.
- Building Time: Construction of the dam took place between 1947 and 1949.
- Water Level: The normal water level in the reservoir is about 1052.0 feet (320.6 meters) above sea level.
- Drainage Area: The area that drains water into the reservoir is very large, covering about 3,920.0 square miles (10,153 square kilometers).
