Whiskeytown Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whiskeytown Dam |
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| Location | Shasta County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°35′55.8″N 122°32′22.3″W / 40.598833°N 122.539528°W |
| Construction began | 1960 |
| Opening date | 1963 |
| Owner(s) | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment |
| Impounds | Clear Creek |
| Height | 282 ft (86 m) |
| Length | 1,228 ft (374 m) |
| Spillway type | Glory-hole |
| Spillway capacity | 28,650 cu ft/s (811 m3/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Whiskeytown Lake |
| Total capacity | 241,100 acre-feet (297,400 dam3) |
| Catchment area | 202.5 sq mi (524 km2) |
| Surface area | 3,220 acres (1,300 ha) |
| Power station | |
| Commission date | 1964 |
| Hydraulic head | 566 ft (173 m) |
| Turbines | 2x 90 MW at Spring Creek Powerplant |
| Installed capacity | 180 MW |
| Annual generation | 274,224,000 KWh |
The Whiskeytown Dam is a large earth dam in northern California, United States. Its official name is the Clair A. Hill Whiskeytown Dam. It was built on Clear Creek, which flows into the Sacramento River. The dam is about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Redding. It creates Whiskeytown Lake, which sits near the Trinity Mountains. This dam is 282 feet (86 m) tall. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 241,100 acre-feet.
Contents
Building the Dam
The Whiskeytown Dam was one of the first parts of a big water project. This project is called the Central Valley Project. Its goal was to bring water for farming to the Central Valley.
Construction Begins
Work on the dam started in August 1960. First, they cleared the land where the dam would be built. Then, they dug out areas for the spillway and tunnels. By late 1961, more than half of the dam was already finished.
Dam Completion and Dedication
The dam was completed on February 7, 1963. After that, the lake began to fill with water. On September 28, 1963, a special event took place. President John F. Kennedy came to dedicate the dam. More than 10,000 people were there to see him.
How the Dam Works
The Whiskeytown Dam helps manage water from the Trinity River. Water travels through an 11-mile (18 km) tunnel called the Clear Creek Tunnel. This water is then stored behind the Whiskeytown Dam.
Generating Power
From the dam, water is sent to the Sacramento River. It goes through lower Clear Creek and another tunnel called the Spring Creek Tunnel. This tunnel helps power the Spring Creek Powerplant. This power plant can make 180 megawatts (MW) of electricity. It generates about 274 million kilowatt hours (KWh) each year. This is enough electricity for many homes!
The Name Whiskeytown
The lake and dam are named after an old town. This town was a Gold Rush camp called Whiskeytown. When the new lake filled up in 1963, the old town was covered by water.
