Big Creek Dam No. 4

Big Creek Dam No. 4 is a concrete dam located in Fresno County, California, built in 1913. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Big Creek Dam No. 4

The primary purpose of Big Creek Dam No. 4 is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Southern California Edison Company (private). It impounds the Big Creek near Big Creek.

The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 287 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 107 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/21/2022.

At 75 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.

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Low HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateCalifornia
CountyFresno
Nearest CityBig Creek
River/StreamBig Creek
Coordinates37.20338, -119.24144

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeConcrete
NID Height75 ft
Dam Height75 ft
Dam Length287 ft
Year Completed1913 (113 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage100 acre-ft
Max Storage100 acre-ft
Normal Storage60 acre-ft
Surface Area4 acres
Drainage Area107 sq mi
Max Discharge11,000 cfs
Spillway TypeControlled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeHydroelectric
OwnerSouthern California Edison Company
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection09/21/2022
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDCA00430
Federal IDCA00430
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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