Pit 5 Dam

Pit 5 Dam is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric dam on the Pit River in Shasta County, northeastern California, about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Big Bend. It is part of the Pit 3-4-5 hydroelectric project owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Company.[4]

Pit 5 Dam
Location of Pit 5 Dam in California
CountryUnited States
LocationShasta County, California
Coordinates40°59′30″N 121°52′16″W[1]
PurposeHydroelectric
Opening date1944
Owner(s)PG&E
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsPit River
Height (foundation)58 ft (18 m)[2]
Length340 ft (100 m)[2]
Reservoir
CreatesPit 5 Reservoir
Total capacity330 acre⋅ft (410,000 m3)[2]
Pit 5 Powerhouse
Installed capacity160 MW[3]
Annual generation781,328,000 KWh (2001–2012)[3]

Specifications

The concrete gravity diversion dam is 58 feet (18 m) high and 340 feet (100 m) long.[2] It has a gated spillway controlled by four 50 ft × 26.3 ft (15.2 m × 8.0 m) steel wheel gates, and a 30 in (76 cm) diameter river outlet for regular releases. An intake structure diverts water into a 5,109-foot (1,557 m) long penstock to the Pit 5 Tunnel forebay reservoir, from which a second 23,149-foot (7,056 m) tunnel connects to the Pit 5 power station. There are four 40 MW generating units, each fed by a 1,380-foot (420 m)-long penstock.[5]

History

The dam and power station were authorized in 1942 and constructed as a wartime project, and the first power was generated on April 29, 1944.[6] Construction of the dam and power station dewatered a stretch of the Pit River known as the "Big Bend". When the projects were relicensed in 2007, a minimum 250 cu ft/s (7.1 m3/s) release[5] into the river was established, to provide recreation benefits such as boating and fishing, and to improve riparian habitat.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Pit Number 5 Diversion 97-107 Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1994-07-01. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  2. "Dam Name: Pit No. 5 Diversion". National Performance of Dams Program. Stanford University. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  3. "California Hydroelectric Statistics & Data". California Energy Commission. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  4. "Pit 3, 4, & 5 : P-233". Hydropower Reform Coalition. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  5. "Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Hydropower License: Pit 3, 4, 5 Hydroelectric Project". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Mar 2003. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  6. "Pit 5 Powerhouse" (pdf). US Spec. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  7. "Pit 1, and Pit 3, 4, and 5 Projects" (PDF). Hydropower Reform Coalition. 2009. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
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