Shasta Dam is a curved gravity concrete dam (National ID No. CA10186) on the Sacramento River above Redding, California built between 1938 and 1945. The dam is 602 ft (183 m) high and 3,460 ft (1,055 m) long, with a base width or thickness of 543 ft (165.5 m). The reservoir created behind Shasta Dam is known as Shasta Lake and is a popular recreational boating area.

Shasta Dam is part of the Shasta and Trinity River Division of the Central Valley Project initially started with funds provided by the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 (49 Stat. 115), authorized in December 1935; the Shasta and Trinity Division was authorized in August 1955. The original site, named Kennett after a nearby railroad station, was selected by the state of California as part of its 1933 Central Valley Project. However, unable to finance the construction of the project, the state turned to the Federal government for aid. The purpose of the Central Valley Project is that of water conservation and Shasta Dam was constructed primarily to protect the California Central Valley from water shortages and floods. The dam now provides flood control, irrigation and domestic water supply, electrical power generation, opportunities for recreation, and water quality enhancement.

There is a hydroelectric power plant at the base of the dam. The plant has a head of 100 m (330 ft) and its five Francis turbines have a combined capacity of 610 MW. It is the fourth largest hydroelectric plant in California, and the largest non-pumped-storage plant. Water to drive the turbines flows through 5 penstocks 15 feet in diameter, each large enough to permit passage to a school bus. To drive each turbine at full–generator load 85 tons of water are needed per second. Power is generated at 13,800 volts and is stepped up to 230,000 volts for transmission to Californian consumers

In September 2004, legislation was passed to research the raising of the Shasta Dam. Supporters such as Senator Dianne Feinstein feel that the need for water is urgent. Opponents such as the Winnemem Wintu tribe feel that this is a dangerous plan for the environment and that other water conservation techniques can be better researched.

Trivia

• Shasta Dam is higher than the Washington Monument and its spillway is three times the height of Niagara Falls.
• It contains enough concrete to build a sidewalk 3 feet wide, 4 inches thick around the world at the Equator. Shasta’s hydroelectric power plant, located just below the dam, is one of the biggest in California.

External links

• Shasta Dam, Bureau or Reclamation, U.S. Dept. of the Interior
• Shasta Dam Virtual tour

Dams in California | Hydroelectric power plants in the United States

Shasta-Talsperre