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Redinger Dam

Country	United States
State	Califronia
County	Fresno County
Coordinates	37.149719,-119.434003
Year	1951
Dam Type	Concrete gravity dam
Resevoir	35,000 Acre Feet
Owner	Southern California Edison's Big Creek Hydroelectric Project

Redinger Dam

Redinger Dam (National ID # CA00440) is also known as Big Creek Dam No. 7 and is a gravity dam that was completed in 1951. Redinger Dam is located in Fresno County on the South Fork of the San Joaquin River above Kerckhoff Reservoir. Redinger Dam got its name after David H. Redinger who helped plan and execute the Big Creek Hydroelectric project.

Redinger Dam is part of Southern California Edison's Big Creek Hydroelectric Project. Edison's Big Creek Hydroelectric Project is considered the "hardest working water in the world". Today the Edison's Big Creek Hydroelectric Project consists of six reservoirs, twenty five dams, and nine energy generating powerhouses; The whole system generates about four billion kilowatt hours (KWh) per year.

The reservoir that Redinger Dam creates is called Redinger Lake. Redinger Lake holds a maximum capacity of thirty-five thousand acre-feet and has an elevation of anywhere between one thousand and thirteen hundred feet depending on the water year. The recreation on Redinger lake consists of fishing boating camping and general hiking.

Construction

The dam is two hundred and fifty feet tall.The top of the dam has an elevation of 1,413 feet. Redinger dam is eight hundred and seventy five feet wide. The spillway sits at an elevation of 1,373 feet. the dam was completed with three 40-foot wide by 30-foot high spillway gates. These spillway gates are located in the middle section of the dam crest. The maximum operating level of the water is at fourteen hundred feet. The intake to the tunnel leading to the Big Creek No. 4 Powerhouse is located on the face of the dam to the right of the spillway gates. The intake has trash racks and is divided into two rectangular openings, which can be closed.

Hydrology

Many facilities in the Big Creek project underwent re-licensing and development due to its supposed impact on the water basin. Permitting in 2004 evaluated impacts to the hydrology and ecology of the basin. The hydrology study methods that were conducted for the re-licensing and subsequent development were; evaluating the existing hydrology flows and levels at all gauged river and stream locations, diversions, conduits, lakes, and reservoirs. Estimating and evaluating the unimpaired hydrology at stream and river gauge locations. Finally, comparing the differences between the estimated unimpaired and evaluated impaired hydrology and ecology of the basin. In order to see the impacts of the Southern California Edison's Big Creek Hydroelectric Project on the basin they had to compared data from at least twenty years. They took a look at creeks upstream from the hydroelectric project and monitored the levels and flows These were compared to creeks downstream from the hydroelectric project to form an analysis of the impacts from the whole system to the basin. The results concluded that median monthly high spring flows decreased 87% in most rivers and streams and 99% in some locations. One‐day maximum flows decreased up to 99% in all streams except two smaller tributaries. Many facilities underwent development to make them more efficient and create less of an impact to the hydrology and ecology of the basin.

Hydroelectricity

In 1948, starting with an expansion of Powerhouse No. 3. In July 1949, construction began on Redinger Dam and the Big Creek Powerhouse No. 4. By 1951, these facilities were completed, forming the lowermost section of the Big Creek project. Powerhouse No.4 came online in June of 1951.

A turbine generator unit was installed at the dam to recover energy from water released through the dam for in-stream flow purposes. The turbine is a horizontal shaft, hydraulic reaction turbine rated at five hundred horsepower with a design head of two hundred and twenty- two feet and spins at a rate of twelve hundred revolutions a minute (RPM). This turbine is connected to a three hundred and fifty kilo-watt (kW) generator that feeds into the local twelve kilo-volt (kV) distribution system.

Recreation

To get to Redinger Lake take highway 41 northbound from Fresno to road 200 (North Fork turnoff). Continue east through road 225 (Italian Bar Road). Turn right and travel 3.8 miles. Turn right again on Road 235 and continue 2.1 miles to Redinger Lake.

Redinger Lake offers plenty of recreation opportunities. The lake offers a public boat launching ramp. Water and jet skiing are popular at lake Redinger. Kayakers will find miles of shoreline to explore.

Camping in the area is restricted to an open area near the dam. Although services are limited there is no charge to camp there and no campfires are permitted.

Fishing is the main attraction towards Redinger lake. There is year round fishing on the lake. The main game includes German Brown Trout and the Eastern Brook Trout. Smaller game include Small Mouth Bass Bluegill Bass and catfish.

References

1. “Sierra National Forest - Recreation.” Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands - Buffalo Gap National Grassland, www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5308924.
2. “Redinger Lake, Central California.” Redinger Lake, findlakes.com/redinger_lake_california~ca00440.htm.
3. “Redinger Lake and Dam.” Redinger Lake and Dam | Revive the San Joaquin, www.revivethesanjoaquin.org/content/redinger-lake-and-dam.
4. California, State of. “Water Quality Certification Program.” State Water Resources Control Board, www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/water_quality_cert/big_creek/big_creek_2017.shtml.
5. “Redinger Lake – Total Escape.” Total Escape Classic Desktop, www.totalescape.com/outside/lakes/redinger-lake/#.WuuLBogvw2w.
6. Caruso, B. S. “HYDROLOGIC MODIFICATION FROM HYDROELECTRIC POWER OPERATIONS IN A MOUNTAIN BASIN.” Freshwater Biology, Wiley/Blackwell (10.1111), 16 Dec. 2011, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rra.1609.
7. Baumsteiger, Jason, and Andres Aguilar. “Impact of Dams on Distribution, Population Structure, and Hybridization of Two Species of California Freshwater Sculpin ( Cottus).” SpringerLink, Springer, Dordrecht, 31 Jan. 2014, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-014-0574-3.
8. Hydropower Team Trip Report (June 18-20, 2003). www.bing.com/cr?IG=C4CA5D3F22014082B54B6D5F2A2600FF&CID=004B553C5E9F630F15945EDA5F926230&rd=1&h=BXaVJ5ysXDFYp68LzRK90u62-xV6nDEssyXB6D2Y74Y&v=1&r=https://www.usbr.gov/mp/sccao/storage/docs/phase1_rpt_fnl/tech_app/11_temperance_flat_app_a3-b2b.pdf&p=DevEx.LB.1,5369.1.