Kerckhoff Dam

Kerckhoff Dam
Kerckhoff Dam is located in California
Kerckhoff Dam
Location of Kerckhoff Dam in California
LocationFresno County, California, United States
Coordinates37°07′41″N 119°31′31″W / 37.12806°N 119.52528°W / 37.12806; -119.52528
PurposeFlood control, Electricity, Recreation
Opening date1920
Owner(s)Pacific Gas & Electric
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete arch
ImpoundsSan Joaquin River
Height114 ft (35 m)[1]
Length495 ft (151 m)[2]
Elevation at crest994.5 ft (303.1 m)[2]
Dam volume22,000 cu yd (17,000 m3)[2]
Reservoir
CreatesKerckhoff Reservoir
Total capacity4,252 acre⋅ft (5,245,000 m3)[1]
Catchment area1,460 sq mi (3,800 km2)[2]
Power Station
Turbines3x 12.667 MW at Powerhouse No. 1
1x 155.0 MW at Powerhouse No. 2[1]
Installed capacity193 MW[1]
Annual generation579,100,000 KWh[1]
Website
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5308921

Kerckhoff Dam is a concrete arch dam on the San Joaquin River in Fresno County, California, about 10 mi (16 km) southwest of Big Creek. The 114 ft (35 m) tall dam is a run-of-the-river facility impounding 4,252 acre⋅ft (5,245,000 m3) of water and is the primary feature of Pacific Gas and Electric's Kerckhoff hydroelectric project.[3] The dam and its 160-acre (65 ha) reservoir provide water for the Kerckhoff Powerhouses No. 1 and No. 2. Powerhouse No. 1 has three Francis turbines producing a maximum of 38 megawatts (MW) and Powerhouse No. 2 has a single Francis turbine rated at 155 MW for a total project capacity of 193 MW. An annual 579.1 million KWh of electricity are generated here.[1]

Completed in 1920, the dam and Powerhouse No. 1 were the first to utilize the San Joaquin River for hydroelectricity. The second powerhouse was added in 1983.[1]

The dam, named for William George Kerckhoff, was part of the "Big Creek Hydroelectric Project", the largest construction project in the world in 1910.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Hydropower Technical Appendix" (PDF). Upper San Joaquin River Storage Investigation Initial Alternatives Information Report. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  2. ^ a b c d "Station Meta Data: Kerckhoff Dam". California Data Exchange Center. California Department of Water Resources. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  3. ^ "Kerckhoff Lake, Powerhouse, and Dam". Revive the San Joaquin. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  4. ^ "Historical Perspective: The amazing life of William G. Kerckhoff". 30 August 2015.