Canyon Dam (California)

{{Short description|Dam in California, United States}}

{{For|other dams with the same name|Canyon Dam (disambiguation){{!}}Canyon Dam}}

{{Infobox dam

| name = Canyon Dam

| name_official =

| image = LakeAlmanorSpillway.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Spillway of Canyon Dam

| image_alt =

| location_map = California

| location_map_size =

| location_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|40|10|24|N|121|05|25|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| country = United States

| location = Plumas County, near Westwood, California

| status =

| construction_began =

| opening = {{start date and age|1927}}

| demolished =

| cost =

| owner = PG&E

| dam_type = Earthfill

| dam_height = {{convert|130|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_height_thalweg =

| dam_height_foundation=

| dam_length = {{convert|1250|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_width_crest =

| dam_width_base =

| dam_volume =

| dam_elevation_crest =

| dam_crosses = North Fork Feather River

| spillway_count =

| spillway_type =

| spillway_capacity =

| res_name = Lake Almanor

| res_capacity_total = {{convert|1308000|acre feet|m3|abbr=on}}

| res_capacity_active =

| res_capacity_inactive=

| res_catchment = {{convert|503|mi2|km2|abbr=on}}

| res_surface = {{convert|28160|acre|ha|abbr=on}}

| res_elevation =

| res_max_depth =

| res_max_length =

| res_max_width =

| plant_hydraulic_head = {{convert|356|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| res_tidal_range =

| plant_operator =

| plant_commission =

| plant_decommission =

| plant_type =

| plant_turbines =

| plant_capacity = 41 MW

| plant_annual_gen = 156,100,000 KWh

| website =

| extra =

}}

Canyon Dam (National ID # CA00327m also known as Lake Almanor Dam{{Cite web|url=http://www.water.ca.gov/damsafety/docs/Juris(H-M)2010.pdf|title=Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (H-M)|publisher=California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams|accessdate=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005023236/http://www.water.ca.gov/damsafety/docs/Juris%28H-M%292010.pdf#|archive-date=2012-10-05|url-status=dead}}) is an embankment dam on the North Fork Feather River in northern California, {{Convert|16|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} southwest of Westwood. Located about {{convert|8|mi|km}} southeast of Chester, the dam forms Lake Almanor, a large and shallow reservoir surrounded by the Cascade mountains.

First constructed in 1910 by the Great Western Power Company as part of the Upper North Fork Feather River Project, the dam was originally planned to be built of masonry but was later changed to an earthfill design. The dam's primary purpose was to store water for the Western Canal Company, an irrigation district in the Central Valley and a subsidiary of Great Western. The dam provided flows for a hydroelectric plant about {{convert|40|mi|km}} downstream at the Big Bend Powerhouse, today submerged by the reservoir behind Oroville Dam. Canyon Dam was modified in 1927 and 1962 to increase its usable storage. Today the dam and reservoir, owned by Pacific Gas and Electric, supply water to the 41 megawatt Butt Valley Powerhouse{{cite web

|url=http://www.project2105.org/project_facts.htm

|title=Almanor Dam (Canyon Dam) And Lake Almanor

|publisher=Project 2105 Committee

|date=

|accessdate=2011-11-04

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214063113/http://www.project2105.org/project_facts.htm

|archive-date=2013-02-14

|url-status=dead

}} and provide summer flow for six hydroelectric plants on the North Fork Feather River downstream.

See also

{{stack|{{Portal|California|Water|Renewable energy}}}}

References