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]
| Kerckhoff Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of Kerckhoff Dam in California | |
| Location | Fresno County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°07′41″N 119°31′31″W / 37.12806°N 119.52528°W |
| Purpose | Flood control, Electricity, Recreation |
| Opening date | 1920 |
| Owner(s) | Pacific Gas & Electric |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete arch |
| Impounds | San Joaquin River |
| Height | 114 ft (35 m)[1] |
| Length | 495 ft (151 m)[2] |
| Elevation at crest | 994.5 ft (303.1 m)[2] |
| Dam volume | 22,000 cu yd (17,000 m3)[2] |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Kerckhoff Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 4,252 acre⋅ft (5,245,000 m3)[1] |
| Catchment area | 1,460 sq mi (3,800 km2)[2] |
| Power Station | |
| Turbines | 3x 12.667 MW at Powerhouse No. 1 1x 155.0 MW at Powerhouse No. 2[1] |
| Installed capacity | 193 MW[1] |
| Annual generation | 579,100,000 KWh[1] |
| Website https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5308921 | |
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
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d "Station Meta Data: Kerckhoff Dam". California Data Exchange Center. California Department of Water Resources. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
- ^ "Kerckhoff Lake, Powerhouse, and Dam". Revive the San Joaquin. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
- ^ "Historical Perspective: The amazing life of William G. Kerckhoff". 30 August 2015.