Sly Creek Dam facts for kids
Sly Creek Dam is a large dam located in Butte County, California. It's an important structure that helps manage water for people and power.
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What is Sly Creek Dam?
Sly Creek Dam is a type of dam called an earthen rockfill dam. This means it's built mostly from earth and rocks, making it very strong. It was finished in 1961.
Who Built the Dam?
A local group called the South Feather Water and Power Agency built the dam. Their job is to make sure people have water and electricity. The dam helps them do this important work.
How Big is the Dam?
The dam stands about 289 feet (88 m) (which is about 88 meters) tall. It's also very long, stretching about 1,235 feet (376 m) (or 376 meters) across the land.
What Does the Dam Do?
Sly Creek Dam holds back the water from Lost Creek. This creates a large lake called Sly Creek Reservoir. The water in the reservoir is used for two main things:
- Irrigation: This means providing water to farms to help crops grow.
- Hydroelectric Power: The dam helps make electricity using the force of the water.
Another smaller dam, Lost Creek Dam, is just downstream and also helps with these tasks.
Sly Creek Reservoir
The lake created by the dam is called Sly Creek Reservoir. It's a big body of water!
How Big is the Reservoir?
The surface of the water covers about 562 acres (227 ha) (which is about 2.27 square kilometers). It can hold a lot of water, up to 65,000 acre-feet (80,000,000 m3)!
Fun Things to Do at the Reservoir
Sly Creek Reservoir is a great place for outdoor activities. You can enjoy:
- Fishing: Many people like to fish in the reservoir.
- Camping: There are places where you can set up a tent and stay overnight.
- Hiking: You can explore the trails around the lake.
The area around the reservoir is part of the beautiful Plumas National Forest. This means there are lots of trees and nature to enjoy.
