Wishon Dam facts for kids
Wishon Dam is a large dam located in Fresno County, California. It sits high up in the beautiful Sierra National Forest, which is part of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. This important dam holds back the North Fork Kings River, creating a big lake called Wishon Reservoir.
Quick facts for kids Wishon Dam |
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 Location of Wishon Dam in California
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| Coordinates | 37°00′11″N 118°58′00″W / 37.00306°N 118.96667°W |
| Purpose | Hydroelectricity |
| Opening date | 1958 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Rockfill |
| Impounds | North Fork Kings River |
| Height (foundation) | 265 ft (81 m) |
| Length | 3,328 ft (1,014 m) |
| Elevation at crest | 6,554.7 ft (1,997.9 m) |
| Dam volume | 3,700,000 cu yd (2,800,000 m3) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Wishon Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 118,000 acre⋅ft (146,000,000 m3) |
| Catchment area | 177 sq mi (460 km2) |
| Surface area | 970 acres (390 ha) |
| Power station | |
| Name | Haas Powerhouse |
| Hydraulic head | 850 ft (260 m) |
| Installed capacity | 128 MW |
| Annual generation | 447,850,000 KWh (2001–2012) |
Building the Dam
Wishon Dam was built in 1958 by a company called Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). It is a special type of dam known as an earthen and rockfill gravity dam. This means it's made mostly of earth and rocks. The dam is very tall, about 260 feet high, and very long, stretching 3,330 feet across its top.
Wishon Dam is part of a bigger system called the Haas-Kings River Project. Another important dam in this project is Courtright Dam. It is located about five miles north of Wishon Dam. Both dams work together to help make electricity.
How the Dam Makes Electricity
Wishon Dam plays a key role in making electricity using a method called pumped storage. Think of it like a giant battery!
- Courtright Reservoir acts as the upper reservoir.
- Wishon Reservoir acts as the lower reservoir.
When people need a lot of electricity, especially when it's expensive, water is released from Courtright Reservoir. This water flows down through a huge power plant called the Helms Power Plant. As the water rushes through, it spins special machines called turbines, which create electricity. The water then empties into Wishon Reservoir.
When there isn't much demand for electricity, and it's cheaper, the power plant works in reverse. Water is pumped from Wishon Reservoir back up to Courtright Reservoir. This saves the water for when it's needed most.
The Helms Power Plant is quite amazing! It's located 1,000 feet (about 300 meters) underground. It was carved out of solid granite rock at the north end of Wishon Lake. This setup is similar to another pumped-storage plant called Eastwood Powerhouse, near Shaver Lake.
Fun at Wishon Reservoir
The large lake created by Wishon Dam is called Wishon Reservoir. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 128,606 acre-feet.
PG&E helps maintain a place called Lily Pad Campground on the southern shore of the reservoir. It has 15 campsites for people to enjoy. Many fun activities are popular here, including:
- Fishing: You can try to catch different kinds of trout, like German brown, rainbow, or Eastern Brook trout.
- Boating: The reservoir is a great place for boating.
- Camping: Enjoy spending time outdoors at the campground.
- Hiking: Explore the beautiful trails around the lake.
