Lake Spaulding Dam[1] (National ID # CA00358) is a dam in Nevada County, California.

Lake Spaulding Dam from Emigrant Gap vista point off Interstate 80
Yuba River watershed
Lake Spaulding Dam overflowing in 1914

Owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric for hydroelectric power generation, the 275-foot (84 m)-high dam was designed by John R. Freeman and completed in 1913 (111 years ago) (1913).[2][3]

It impounds the South Fork of the Yuba River, which originates near Donner Pass. At the time of construction it was the highest dam in California,[4] and one of ten PG&E hydroelectric facilities.[5] A temporary camp called Camp Spaulding, California was established to house workers on the dam during its construction.

Lake Spaulding, the reservoir created by the dam, has a capacity of 74,773 acre-feet (92,231,000 m3)[2] and supports recreational camping, boating, fishing, and underwater diving.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lake Spaulding 97-029 Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (H-M)" (PDF). California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  3. ^ "Biographical Memoir of John Ripley Freeman, 1855–1932" (PDF). National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  4. ^ Cassier's engineering monthly, Volumes 43-44, page 107
  5. ^ The Electric journal, Volume 12, by Electric Club, Westinghouse Club, page 265
  6. ^ "Spaulding Lake : Sierra Outdoor Recreation©". Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
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39°19′38″N 120°38′34″W / 39.32714°N 120.64287°W / 39.32714; -120.64287