Lake Almanor

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Almanor
image_lake = LakeAlmanor2.jpg
caption_lake = Lake Almanor from Johnson's Grade
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Plumas County, California
coords = coord|40.252778|N|121.160278|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CA|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = North Fork of the Feather River, Hamilton Branch, Benner and Last Chance creeks
outflow = North Fork of the Feather River
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area =
depth =
max-depth = convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
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Lake Almanor is a large artificial lake in northwestern Plumas County, in northeastern California. The reservoir has a capacity of 1,308,000 acre feet (1.6 km³) and a maximum depth of about 90 feet. It is formed by Canyon Dam on the North Fork of the Feather River, although Hamilton Branch, Benner and Last Chance creeks flow into the lake as well.

Creation

The dam is 130 feet tall and composed on hydraulic fill.

The present dam was constructed by Great Western Power, from 1926 to 1927, damming the North Fork of the Feather River and flooding the meadow-filled valley generally known as Big Springs. In the process, parts of the town of Prattville had to be moved to higher ground, while some structures were flooded over.

The dam is now owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. PG&E uses it for hydroelectricity production, but the lake is also a popular recreation area, with fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming and camping available. Almanor is named for the three daughters of Guy C. Earl, president of the electric company that created the lake in 1917: "Al"ice, "Ma"rtha and Elea"nor". 1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning by William Bright. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1998.] cite book|first=Erwin|last=Gudde| coauthors =William Bright |title=California Place Names|year=2004|edition=Fourth ed.|publisher=University of California Press|pages=p. 9|id=ISBN 0-520-24217-3]

Geography

The lake-front and immediate surroundings are, either officially or unofficially, divided into a series of regions:

* North Shore typically referring to the north-east shoreline and the campground of the same name.
* The Peninsula being the major east-side peninsula bisecting the lake and largely taken up by the Lake Almanor Country Club, the community of Almanor, and the more recent residential developments known as Bailey Creek and Foxwood.
* Hamilton Branch being the east-side community next south from the Peninsula, named for the river of the same name.
* East Shore being both the developed and undeveloped areas between Hamilton Branch and the dam itself.
* Canyon Dam the community just southeast of the dam.
* South Shore, the southwest shoreline taken up largely by PG&E managed campgrounds and undeveloped grounds;
* Prattville being the small resort community on the southwest shoreline; retains the same name as the town that was once in Big Meadows (now under-water).
* West Shore being on the upper southwest shore and more formally referred to as Lake Almanor West, itself an un-gated country-club.
* The generally nameless western shoreline from Lake Almanor West to the town of Chester, starting at Goose Bay and ending at the termination of the large diversion channel that mitigates high-waters in the Feather River above Chester.
* The northern shoreline from Chester, running northeast then southwest, and back to Hwy 36; includes the mouth of Benner and Last Chance Creeks and seasonal springs.

Much of the southern shore of the lake is in the Lassen National Forest, so recreation management is shared by PG&E and the United States Forest Service.

Large parts along the northern shore of the lake are seasonal pasture used for summer and fall cattle grazing; some areas of these grazing grounds are under-water in wetter years. The wetlands at the north end also serve as breeding grounds for a variety of migratory waterfowl, most prominently Canadian Geese and various species of ducks including mallard, teal, and widgeon. Other large birds to be viewed around the lake are heron, osprey, and occasionally bald eagles, which nest on the Peninsula and West Shore.

Power Production

There is no powerhouse at the dam. A tunnel (and finally a penstock) from the powerhouse intake tower, in the lake between Prattville and the Plumas Pines Resort, delivers water to the Butt Valley Powerhouse at the north end of Butt Valley Reservoir, which has a capacity of 41 MW. From there, the water is sent by tunnel to either Caribou 1 or Caribou 2 Powerhouse, which have capacities of 120 and 74 MW respectively. Caribou 2 is favored because it is newer and more efficient. Their tailraces flow into Belden Reservoir. A portion of the water goes through the 1.3-MW Oak Flat Powerhouse, which is located at the bottom on Belden Dam. The rest goes to the 125-MW Belden Powerhouse by another tunnel. The water is then released into Rock Creek Reservoir. All of these powerhouse facilities are presently (2008) owned and operated by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a major investor owned California utility.

References

*gnis|256197
*Bright, William. "1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning." University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1998.
* [http://www.pge.com/education_training/about_energy/hydroelectric_system/feather_river/about_2105.html Pacific Gas & Electric]
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lassen/recreation/almanor/ United States Forest Service]
* [http://www.wplives.com/frc/pge/index.html Western Pacific Lives]

ee also

*List of lakes in California
*List of reservoirs and dams in California