Pit 5 Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pit 5 Dam |
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 Location of Pit 5 Dam in California
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Shasta County, California |
| Coordinates | 40°59′30″N 121°52′16″W / 40.99167°N 121.87111°W |
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Opening date | 1944 |
| Owner(s) | PG&E |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Pit River |
| Height (foundation) | 58 ft (18 m) |
| Length | 340 ft (100 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Pit 5 Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 330 acre⋅ft (410,000 m3) |
| Power station | |
| Name | Pit 5 Powerhouse |
| Installed capacity | 160 MW |
| Annual generation | 781,328,000 KWh (2001–2012) |
The Pit 5 Dam is a special kind of dam on the Pit River in Shasta County, California. It's called a "run-of-the-river" dam because it uses the natural flow of the river to make electricity. This dam is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Big Bend.
The Pit 5 Dam is an important part of a bigger project. This project, called Pit 3-4-5, helps create electricity for many homes and businesses. The Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) owns and operates this entire system.
Contents
Dam Design and Features
The Pit 5 Dam is a concrete structure known as a gravity dam. This means it uses its own heavy weight to hold back the water. It is 58 feet (18 m) tall and 340 feet (100 m) long.
Controlling Water Flow
The dam has a special section called a spillway with gates. These gates can be opened to let extra water flow out safely. There are four large steel gates, each about 50 feet (15 m) by 26.3 feet (8.0 m). There's also a smaller pipe, 30 inches (76 cm) wide, to release water regularly into the river.
How Electricity is Made
The Pit 5 Dam is a diversion dam. This means it sends river water away from its natural path. An intake structure collects water and sends it into a long pipe called a penstock. This first penstock is about 5,109 feet (1,557 m) long.
The water then reaches a small reservoir called the Pit 5 Tunnel forebay. From there, another long tunnel, about 23,149 feet (7,056 m) long, carries the water to the Pit 5 power station. Inside the power station, there are four large machines called generating units. Each of these units can make 40 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Each unit gets its water from its own 1,380 feet (420 m)-long penstock.
History of Pit 5 Dam
The Pit 5 Dam and its power station were approved in 1942. They were built during World War II to help with the war effort by providing electricity. The first power was generated on April 29, 1944.
River Changes and Restoration
When the dam and power station were built, a part of the Pit River, known as the "Big Bend," had most of its water removed. This changed the river's environment.
In 2007, new rules were put in place for the dam's operation. These rules require the dam to release at least 250 cu ft/s (7.1 m3/s) of water back into the river. This helps bring back the natural river environment. It also makes the river better for fun activities like boating and fishing.
