New Exchequer Dam

New Exchequer Dam
New Exchequer Dam and Lake McClure viewed from the air
CountryUnited States
LocationMariposa County, California
Coordinates37°35′10″N 120°16′10″W / 37.58611°N 120.26944°W / 37.58611; -120.26944
Construction began1964; 60 years ago (1964)
Opening date1967; 57 years ago (1967)
Owner(s)Merced Irrigation District
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete–faced rockfill[1]
ImpoundsMerced River
Height490 ft (150 m)[2]
Length1,220 ft (370 m)[2]
Elevation at crest879 ft (268 m)[2]
SpillwaysGated ogee crest
Reservoir
CreatesLake McClure
Total capacity1,024,600 acre-feet (1.2638 km3)[2]
Catchment area1,040.1 sq mi (2,694 km2)[1]
Surface area7,147 acres (2,892 ha)[1]
Maximum length29 mi (47 km)
Normal elevation867 ft (264 m)[2]
Power Station
Hydraulic head437 ft (133 m)
Installed capacity94.5 MW[3]
Annual generation279,065,000 KWh (2001–2012)[4]

New Exchequer Dam is a concrete–faced, rock-fill dam on the Merced River in central California in the United States. It forms Lake McClure, which impounds the river for irrigation and hydroelectric power production and has a capacity of more than 1,000,000 acre-feet (1.2 km3). The Merced Irrigation District (MID) operates the dam and was also responsible for its construction.

Built between 1964 and 1967, the dam replaced the old arch type Exchequer Dam and stands 490 feet (150 m) high. At the time of completion, it was the largest dam of its kind in the world. The dam is named for the town of Exchequer which now lies under the reservoir, while the reservoir is named for Wilbur F. McClure, the State Engineer of California during construction.[5]

  1. ^ a b c "New Exchequer–Lake McClure (EXC)". California Data Exchange Center. California Department of Water Resources. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Merced River Hydroelectric Project Relicensing". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Federal Register. 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  3. ^ "Appendix X: Hydropower and Electric Grid Analysis of Lower San Joaquin River Flow Alternatives" (PDF). Evaluation of San Joaquin Flow and Southern Delta Water Quality Objectives and Implementation. California State Water Resources Control Board. February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  4. ^ "California Hydroelectric Statistics & Data". California Energy Commission. Archived from the original on 2018-02-26. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference MIDhist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).