new don dam new don dam known simply embankment dam miles northeast california dam completed years construction replace concrete arch dam serves mainly irrigation water storage flood control production foothills sierra nevada new don dam owned operated feet tall dam tenth highest reservoir sixth largest artificial lake california original dam named old mining town turn takes background shortly formation mid acquired water rights secure water supply combined square mile km2 service area selling revenue bonds totaling million irrigation districts began construction don dam known old half miles present location new don dam completion foot concrete gravity arch dam highest dam world forming acre foot reservoir surface area acres dam hydroelectric plant later expanded delivered power october expanding constructing new dam altogether seriously considered 1940s existing dam store year supply water valley farmers guarantee drought enlarged provide bank water storage prolonged capture spring runoff provide increased flood control proponent high dam city san_francisco sought share water decided cooperate irrigation districts construct new dam tentative studies high dam later dropped plans favor sites construction overwhelming majority voters mid service areas san_francisco approved bond issues finance construction new dam irrigation districts hoped complete dam concerns dam impact decreasing populations king salmon temporary stop project fact year licensed irrigation districts ahead new don million primary construction contract dam awarded august saw dam site chief engineer reported said tough crack clearing dam site began immediately addition construction access roads camp construction workers construction dam service began week later august september work began diversion tunnel allow river bypass construction site foot tunnel fully excavated march following year lined reinforced concrete august september foot constructed diversion tunnel began carry flow dam site dried foundations excavated bedrock cracks rock injected called dental concrete stabilize foundation construction embankment began september hydraulic fill method dam massive concrete emergency completed january severe flooding january destroyed construction site bridges putting work month schedule cleanup proceeded rapid pace placing material dam core commenced february months fleet massive ton dump trucks delivered constant stream dirt rock site dam wall rose average rate half feet day workforce peaked men december service completed embankment finally topped material clearing acres future reservoir site relocation roads ran diversion tunnel closed water began rise rising lake submerged old dam april inundated town jacksonville june powerhouse completed august lengthy delays setbacks sheer scale generators pipes gates construction individual components heavy truck delivering sections sank trailer bed road crushed driver inadvertently snapping chains held load place total cost new don dam project including site preparations reservoir clearing road dam formally dedicated crowd people dedication ceremonies speech san_francisco mayor beef hosted design usage rising feet foundations feet new don massive earth rock fill structure containing cubic yards material foot long dam feet wide crest feet wide base high water releases controlled sets gates set internal gates diversion tunnel release cubic feet second hollow jet valve base dam discharge cubic feet second service controlled foot radial gates capacity cubic feet second finally emergency foot long concrete overflow structure discharge cubic feet second hydroelectric plant base dam generators capable producing combined share mid receives generators capacity included original design dam additional generator incorporated plant generates average million hours electricity year equal average output cities receive large share power supplies capacity acre feet acre feet reserved flood control acre feet available irrigation municipal water supply hydroelectric generation flood control reservation smallest major california allows water stored power generation resulted inadequate flood protection dam released cubic feet second times capacity downstream acre feet considered dead storage lowest point water released generate power elevation feet service crest reservoir miles long area acres miles shoreline maximum elevation reservoir crest emergency feet sea level construction dam anticipated large size scenic location reservoir coupled proximity urban centers large tourist draw plan forth develop reservoir recreational activities entailed construction picnic areas boat ramps landing strip hiking trails including islands lake popular summer destination attracting visitors year future development year old completed finished construction dam forms reservoir upper focus longstanding environmental controversies united_states history proponents dam removal including president suggest raising new don dam replace storage lost draining increasing height new don feet add acre feet reservoir storage capacity replacing storage new tunnels built deliver water net loss hydroelectric generation note san_francisco entitled acre feet water stored allocation overruled senior water rights irrigation districts dry years currently investigating feasibility constructing large pumped storage hydroelectric plant lake don order better meet peaking power demands releasing extra water new don dam proposed involve building foot high dam canyon adjacent lake creating reservoir capacity acre feet water pumped new reservoir power generated new don dam periods low electricity demand high demand water released generating facility september poor economic conditions project hold indefinitely
New Don Pedro Dam