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
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

• Big Creek Hydroelectric Project
• Crane Valley Project

References