Olivenhain Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Olivenhain Dam |
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Olivenhain Dam and reservoir in 2011 as seen from a helicopter
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 Location of Olivenhain Dam in California
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| Location | Escondido, California |
| Coordinates | 33°04′12″N 117°08′18″W / 33.07000°N 117.13833°W |
| Status | In use |
| Construction began | 1998 |
| Opening date | 2003 |
| Construction cost | $203 Million USD |
| Owner(s) | San Diego County Water Authority and Olivenhain Municipal Water District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity |
| Impounds | None |
| Height | 318 ft (97 m) |
| Length | 2,400 ft (730 m) |
| Dam volume | 1,300,000 m3 (46,000,000 cu ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Olivenhain Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 24,000 acre⋅ft (30,000,000 m3) |
| Surface area | 200 acres (0.81 km2) |
| Maximum water depth | 300 ft (91 m) |
The Olivenhain Dam is a huge wall-like structure near Escondido, California. It was built between 1998 and 2003. Its main purpose is to store water for people in San Diego to use every day. This dam is part of a big plan called the Emergency Storage Project. This project helps make sure San Diego always has enough water, especially during emergencies.
Unlike many dams, Olivenhain Dam is not built on a river or stream. Instead, it gets its water from a system of pumps and pipes. It is connected to Lake Hodges and the Second San Diego Aqueduct. The dam is made from a special type of concrete called roller-compacted concrete. It was the first dam of its kind built in California!
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Building the Dam: A Big Project
Building the Olivenhain Dam was a huge and complex task. It involved many steps and different companies working together.
Getting Started: Digging the Foundation
Before the dam could be built, the ground had to be prepared. A company called Ladd Associates dug out the dam's foundation. They removed a massive amount of dirt and rock, about 700,000 cu yd (540,000 m3) of material. This part of the project cost around $8.4 million.
Construction Begins: Pouring Concrete
The actual building of the dam started in the year 2000. Kiewit Pacific was the main company in charge of this. In 2001, another company, Morrison Knudsen Corp, got a $23 million contract to install the pipes that would bring water to and from the dam.
The dam was built by pouring concrete in layers. Each layer was about 12 ft (3.7 m) thick. The very last layer of concrete was poured on October 31, 2002. This moment is often called "topping off" the dam.
Finishing Touches and Opening
The entire dam structure, including the pipes for water to flow in and out, the road on top, and all the machinery, was finished in August 2003. Around the dam and the reservoir, a large park was also created. This park covers about 750 acres (3.0 km2).
The dam was designed by two engineering companies working together: JV Parsons Engineering Science Inc and Harza Engineering Co. The dam is owned by the San Diego County Water Authority and the Olivenhain Municipal Water District.
