Iron Canyon Dam (National ID # CA00417) is a dam in Shasta County, California, United States.

Iron Canyon Dam
CountryUnited States
LocationShasta County, California
Coordinates41°02′30″N 121°59′06″W / 41.04180°N 121.98488°W / 41.04180; -121.98488
PurposePower
Opening date1965; 59 years ago (1965)
Operator(s)Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Dam and spillways
Type of damEarth fill dam
Height214 ft (65 m)
Length1,038 ft (316 m)
Reservoir
CreatesIron Canyon Reservoir
Total capacity24,300 acre⋅ft (30,000,000 m3)
Surface area510 acres (210 ha)

The earthen rockfill dam was constructed in 1965 by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for hydroelectric power, with a height of 214 feet (65 m) and a length of 1,038 feet (316 m) at its crest.[1] It impounds Iron Canyon Creek. The dam is owned and operated by PG&E. The downstream James Black Powerhouse, one of the largest in the company's system, produces 270 megawatts of power.[2]

Iron Canyon Reservoir

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The reservoir the dam creates, Iron Canyon Reservoir, is surrounded by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It has a water surface of 510 acres (210 ha), a shoreline of approximately 15 miles (24 km), and has a capacity of 24,300 acre-feet (30,000,000 m3).[1] Recreation includes fishing (for trout), hunting, camping,p and hiking.[3]

Water is diverted from the McCloud River at Lake McCloud about 20 miles (32 km) south of Mount Shasta, through a tunnel to Iron Canyon Reservoir, and then through another tunnel to the James B. Black Powerhouse, which outlets into the Pit River on the upper end of Pit Six Reservoir.

Climate

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Climate data for Coulterville, California
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 48
(9)
52
(11)
56
(13)
63
(17)
72
(22)
82
(28)
92
(33)
91
(33)
85
(29)
71
(22)
55
(13)
47
(8)
68
(20)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 31
(−1)
32
(0)
35
(2)
37
(3)
44
(7)
51
(11)
57
(14)
55
(13)
50
(10)
42
(6)
35
(2)
31
(−1)
42
(6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 13.8
(350)
13.2
(340)
11.9
(300)
6.2
(160)
4.0
(100)
1.3
(33)
0.2
(5.1)
0.2
(5.1)
0.8
(20)
4.5
(110)
8.4
(210)
14.8
(380)
79.3
(2,013.2)
Source: prism[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Iron Canyon Reservoir Camping". Archived from the original on 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  2. ^ "Iron Canyon Reservoir History". Archived from the original on 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  3. ^ "Shasta-Trinity National Forest - Iron Canyon Reservoir". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  4. ^ Climate and monthly weather https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/