Don Pedro Dam
{{Short description|Remnant dam in California}}
{{use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Don Pedro Dam
| name_official = Old Don Pedro Dam
| image = OldDonPedroDam.jpg
| image_caption = Old Don Pedro Dam and reservoir, circa 1925
| image_size =
| coordinates = {{coord|37.7125|N|120.4020|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location = Tuolumne County, California
| construction_began =
| opening = {{start date and age|1924}}
| cost =
| owner =
| dam_type = Concrete thick arch/gravity
| dam_length = {{convert|1000|ft|abbr=on}}
| dam_height = {{convert|283|ft|abbr=on}}
| dam_width_base = {{convert|170|ft|abbr=on}}
| dam_width_crest = {{convert|16|ft|abbr=on}}
| dam_volume =
| dam_crosses = Tuolumne River
| spillway_type =
| spillway_capacity =
| res_name = Don Pedro Reservoir
| res_capacity_total = {{convert|290400|acre.ft|m3|abbr=on}}
| res_catchment =
| res_surface =
| res_max_depth =
| plant_operator =
| plant_turbines = 4
| plant_capacity = 30 MW
| plant_annual_gen =
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| website =
| extra =
}}
The Don Pedro Dam, since 1971 also known as the Old Don Pedro Dam, was a dam across the Tuolumne River in Tuolumne County, California. The structure still exists and is flooded underneath Don Pedro Reservoir, which is formed by the New Don Pedro Dam.
Construction
File:Don_Pedro_Sainsevain.png.]]
It was a solid concrete gravity dam that was {{convert|283|ft|abbr=on}} high, {{convert|1000|ft|abbr=on}} wide, {{convert|16|ft|abbr=on}} thick at the crest, and {{convert|170|ft|abbr=on}} thick at the base. It was completed in 1923 where the Tuolumne River had carved a narrow gorge with walls of solid rock about a mile (2 km) below Don Pedro Bar. The reservoir created by this dam contained {{convert|290400|acre.ft|m3|abbr=on}} of water when full, 14.3% of today's capacity.
A 15 megawatt power plant was part of the dam's original design, and two more 7500 kilowatt generators were added in 1926 for 30 megawatts total, just 15% of today's capacity. The old dam still exists about {{convert|1.5|mi|abbr=on}} upstream from the new 1971 dam, and since the old dam topped out at just {{convert|580|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level it is now under some {{convert|250|ft|abbr=on}} of water when the new reservoir is full.
References
- {{cite book | author=Dwight H. Barnes | title=The Greening of Paradise Valley, The First 100 Years of the Modesto Irrigation District | chapter=Chapter 12: The First Don Pedro | chapter-url=http://www.mid.org/about/100-years/chpt_12.htm | publisher=Modesto Irrigation District | access-date=7 November 2010}}
- {{cite journal | author=Richard W. Amero | title=Lessons from Hetch Hetchy | url=http://www.balboaparkhistory.net/glimpses/hetchy.htm | date=June 30, 2000 | access-date=7 November 2010}}
- {{cite web | author=Sukhwant Virk | author2=Josh Hinkey | title=Don Pedro Dam: General Information | url=http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lund/dams/Don%20Pedro/donpedro.htm#General%20Information | publisher=University of California, Davis | date=31 August 2007 | access-date=7 November 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610190548/http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lund/dams/Don%20Pedro/donpedro.htm#General%20Information | archive-date=10 June 2010 }}
- {{cite web | author=Department of Water Resources | title=Station Meta Data: Don Pedro Reservoir (DNP) | url=http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/stationInfo?station_id=DNP | work=California Data Exchange Center | publisher=State of California | year=2009 | access-date=7 November 2010 | archive-date=November 16, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116165444/http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/stationInfo?station_id=DNP | url-status=dead }}
External links
{{Portal|California|Water|Renewable energy}}
- [http://www.tid.org Turlock Irrigation District]
- [http://www.mid.org Modesto Irrigation District]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050117090556/http://ca.water.usgs.gov/archive/waterdata/98/11287500.html USGS Hydrologic Data]
Category:Dams on the Tuolumne River
Category:Buildings and structures in Tuolumne County, California
Category:Demolished buildings and structures in California