Updated California Dams

What are the three main purposes of dams in California?

Flood management, water storage, and water transport.

How much of California's annual electricity is generated from hydropower dams?

About 15%.

How many federally and state-regulated dams are there in California?

1,472 dams.

What are the four main types of dams mentioned in the study material?

Concrete, timber, masonry, and earthen dams.

Why were dams built on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada?

To provide flood control and water supply to meet California’s variable water demands.

What percentage of California’s water originates in the northern third of the state?

About 70%.

What is the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1972?

A law that preserves a quarter of the state's undeveloped rivers in their natural state and prohibits dam construction except for local needs.

What are some modern alternatives to traditional dam storage?

Underground water storage and off-stream dams.

What is Proposition 1 (2014) known as, and what did it fund?

The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act; it provided $2.7 billion for reservoirs and groundwater storage.

Where is the Seven Oaks Dam located?

In the Santa Ana River, at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains.

How tall is Seven Oaks Dam, and when was it completed?

550 feet tall; completed in 1999.

What is the main purpose of the Seven Oaks Dam?

Flood protection for over 2 million residents in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

When was the Trinity Dam constructed, and what project is it part of?

Constructed in the 1950s; part of the Central Valley Project.

How did the Trinity Dam affect salmon populations?

It diverted water away from the Trinity River, leading to a decline in salmon populations.

What was the purpose of the Trinity River Fish Hatchery?

To boost declining fish populations affected by dam construction and water diversions.

When was Shasta Dam completed, and what is its main purpose?

Completed in 1945; it provides flood control and water storage as part of the Central Valley Project.

What percentage of Central Valley Project water does Shasta Dam store?

About 41%.

What was built to mitigate habitat loss caused by Shasta Dam?

The Coleman National Fish Hatchery and Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery.

Why is there controversy over raising Shasta Dam?

It could flood sacred tribal lands and parts of the McCloud River, a protected scenic river.

What is the San Luis Reservoir known for?

It is the nation’s largest off-stream reservoir.

Who operates the San Luis Reservoir?

Jointly by the Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources.

What recent project involves the San Luis Reservoir?

A $1 billion project to raise the B.F. Sisk Dam by 10 feet for additional storage, expected by 2032.

What distinction does the Oroville Dam hold?

It is the tallest dam in the United States.

What year was Oroville Dam completed?

1968

What is the Edward Hyatt Powerplant?

The hydroelectric power plant at Oroville Dam, capable of generating 819 megawatts.

What caused the 2017 Oroville Dam crisis?

Heavy rainfall damaged the main spillway, causing erosion and threatening the dam’s integrity.

What river does the New Melones Dam sit on?

The Stanislaus River.

Why was the construction of New Melones Dam controversial?

It flooded popular whitewater rapids and archaeological sites, sparking environmental opposition.

When was the Hoover Dam completed?

1936

What two states does Hoover Dam sit between?

Nevada and Arizona.

What river does Hoover Dam control?

The Colorado River.

What is Lake Mead?

The reservoir formed by Hoover Dam; the largest in the U.S. by capacity.

What agreement was signed in 2019 at Hoover Dam?

The Drought Contingency Plan to manage water shortages in the Colorado River Basin.