Wishon Dam

{{Infobox dam

| name = Wishon Dam

| name_official =

| image = Wishon Dam and Reservoir.JPG

| image_size =

| image_caption = Wishon Dam (left) and spillway (right)

| image_alt =

| location_map = California

| location_map_size =

| location_map_caption = Location of Wishon Dam in California

| location_map_alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|37|00|11|N|118|58|00|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| country =

| location =

| purpose = Hydroelectricity

| status =

| construction_began =

| opening = 1958

| demolished =

| cost =

| owner =

| operator =

| dam_type = Rockfill{{Cite web|url=http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/profile?s=WSN&type=dam|title=California Data Exchange Center}}

| dam_crosses = North Fork Kings River

| dam_height_foundation= {{convert|265|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_height_thalweg =

| dam_length = {{convert|3328|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_elevation_crest = {{convert|6554.7|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_width_crest =

| dam_width_base =

| dam_volume = {{convert|3700000|yd3|m3|abbr=on}}

| spillway_count =

| spillway_type =

| spillway_capacity =

| res_name = Wishon Reservoir

| res_capacity_total = {{convert|118000|acre.ft|m3|abbr=on}}

| res_capacity_active =

| res_capacity_inactive=

| res_catchment = {{convert|177|mi2|km2|abbr=on}}

| res_surface = {{convert|970|acre|ha|abbr=on}}

| res_max_length =

| res_max_width =

| res_max_depth =

| res_elevation =

| res_tidal_range =

| plant_name = Haas Powerhouse{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA101|title = Popular Mechanics|date = March 1959|publisher = Hearst Magazines}}

| plant_coordinates =

| plant_operator =

| plant_commission =

| plant_decommission =

| plant_type =

| plant_hydraulic_head = {{convert|850|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| plant_turbines =

| plant_capacity = 128 MW

| plant_capacity_factor=

| plant_annual_gen = 447,850,000 KWh (2001–2012){{cite web|url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/almanac/renewables_data/hydro/index.php|title=California Hydroelectric Statistics & Data|publisher=California Energy Commission|date=|accessdate=2018-05-02|archive-date=2018-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226135225/http://www.energy.ca.gov/almanac/renewables_data/hydro/index.php|url-status=dead}}

| website =

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}}

Wishon Dam (National ID # CA00411) is a dam in Fresno County, California in the Sierra National Forest, in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It impounds the North Fork Kings River to form Wishon Reservoir.

The earthen and rockfill gravity dam was constructed in {{start date and age|1958|p=y}} by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) with a height of {{convert|260|feet}} and a length of {{convert|3,330|feet}} at its crest.[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1995-06-12/html/95-14313.htm Federal Register, Volume 60 Issue 112 (Monday, June 12, 1995)] Wishon Dam and its companion Courtright Dam, which stands about five miles to the north, along with other smaller auxiliary gravity dam structures, are elements of PG&E's Haas-Kings River Project.

Courtright Reservoir serves as the upper reservoir for the Helms Pumped Storage Plant. Wishon Reservoir is the lower. During times of peak demand for electricity, which is also when it is most expensive, water is drained from Courtright Reservoir, run through the 1,212 MW Helms Power Plant and emptied into Wishon Reservoir. When demand and prices for electricity are low, water is pumped from Wishon Reservoir to Courtright Reservoir using the power plant's reversible turbines. Helms Power Plant is 1,000 feet (300 m) underground in a chamber carved out of solid granite at the north end of Wishon Lake. It is similar to Southern California Edison's Eastwood Powerhouse near Shaver Lake, which is also a pumped-storage plant.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/hydro/DraftEIR/DEIR_Files/Appendix_B.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-08-04 |archive-date=2006-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005062516/http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/hydro/DraftEIR/DEIR_Files/Appendix_B.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The reservoir Wishon Dam creates, Wishon Reservoir, has a maximum capacity of 128,606 acre-feet. PG&E maintains Lily Pad Campground with 15 campsites on the southern shore, and recreation includes fishing (for German brown, rainbow or Eastern Brook trout), boating, camping and hiking.[http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5308926 Sierra National Forest - Recreation] The area north of the dam that is now covered by the reservoir was known as Coolidge Meadows{{Cite web|date=September 23, 1955|title=Blackcap Mtn., Quadrangle|url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ht-bin/tv_browse.pl?id=e97f77116dd0322b53f46f42beae639f|access-date=January 28, 2022|website=USGS TopoView|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|type=15 Minute Quadrangle Map|format=Map scan}} prior to the construction of the dam.