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Terminus Dam

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132: 453:, Terminus Dam's primary purpose is flood control; consequently, the reservoir is usually maintained at a very low level, except in late spring and early summer when it is used to store snowmelt runoff from the Sierra Nevada. The dam provides flood protection for 500,000 acres (2,000 km) of farmland and 300,000 people along the lower Kaweah River. Shortly after its completion, the dam and reservoir were put to the test by record floods in December 1966, during which Terminus, Success and 29: 409: 442: 420:, which was considered inadequate to pass the probable maximum flood on the Kaweah River. In 2001 work began to enlarge the spillway channel and between 2003 and 2004 six fusegates were installed in the spillway channel, raising the maximum elevation of the reservoir by 21 ft (6.4 m). The fusegates, invented and patented by 485:(KWh) per year. The KRPA planned to expand this capacity by a further 9 MW, which would allow for the generation of an additional 9.2 million KWh, but construction has not yet started as of March 2020. In February 2020, the KRPA filed to transfer their operating license to Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, the US subsidiary of 460:
Water releases from Terminus Dam are made based on agricultural demand when flood control releases are not required. Snowmelt runoff stored in Lake Kaweah are released at high rates between May and late July-early August during the peak of the irrigation season. The water serves multiple local water
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The project increased the storage capacity of Lake Kaweah by more than 40,000 acre⋅ft (0.049 km), to its current capacity of 185,600 acre⋅ft (0.2289 km), and ensured the capability of Terminus Dam to pass a flood of up to 300,000 cu ft/s (8,500 m/s). The dam is now
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for Hydroplus, subsidiary of GTM Entrepose, are the largest in the world, and are designed to open automatically by water pressure when Lake Kaweah reaches dangerously high levels. The design was chosen because it would provide cost savings over conventional options such as a concrete or gated
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In 1948, with plans for the dam on the Kaweah River nearly complete, an archaeological survey of the future reservoir site revealed an unusually rich selection of Native American artifacts. Many of these were removed by the
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Together with the three other major dams in the Tulare basin, Terminus Dam contributed to the desiccation of Tulare Lake, once one of the largest wetland regions in the United States.
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from a plant built in 1992 by the Kaweah River Power Authority (KRPA), which is jointly managed by TID and KDWCD. Electricity generated here is distributed by
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Dams prevented a collective $ 81.9 million of damages. Between 1962 and 2012, Terminus Dam has prevented $ 373,225,000 of flood-related damages.
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districts such as the Tulare Irrigation District (TID) and Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District (KDWCD), as well as urban areas including
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Construction of Terminus Dam started in the late 1950s and was completed in 1962. The dam was dedicated along with the
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255 ft (78 m) high and 2,375 ft (724 m) long. The reservoir has a maximum capacity of 185,600 
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authorized the USACE to build Terminus Dam as part of a system to provide flood protection for the Tulare basin.
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Kaweah River Basin Investigation, California, Tulare County and King County: Environmental Impact Statement
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Kaweah River Basin Investigation, California, Tulare County and King County: Environmental Impact Statement
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had reduced this to 143,200 acre⋅ft (0.1766 km) according to a study conducted in 1977.
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In the 1990s the USACE began studies for a project to increase the capacity of the dam's
1213: 874:"Floods of December 1966 in the Kern-Kaweah Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California" 430: 382:'s Interagency Archaeological Salvage Program before the beginning of work on the dam. 267: 223: 1494: 1398: 1208: 482: 481:(MW), upgraded from its original capacity of 17 MW, and generates roughly 40 million 394: 347: 335: 315: 307: 273: 57: 49: 1393: 1287: 1229: 454: 303: 161: 408: 694:
Terminus Reservoir: Geology, Paleontology, Flora & Fauna, Archeology, History
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Terminus Reservoir: Geology, Paleontology, Flora & Fauna, Archeology, History
1459: 1340: 1297: 1162: 386: 363: 331: 208: 1433: 1355: 1307: 390: 339: 311: 53: 873: 84: 71: 351: 1131: 441: 354:(0.2289 km) of water, although it usually sits at much lower levels. 478: 417: 260: 975: 954: 529: 1001:"Kaweah River Power Authority selling hydro plant to Canadian operator" 450: 1094:
The Fall and Rise of the Wetlands of California's Great Central Valley
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California Energy Commission Agricultural Peak Load Reduction Program
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View of the reservoir area, drawn down for flood control in September
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The fusegates at Terminus Dam are tested by high water in 2005
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The dam and Lake Kaweah as seen from the visitor center along
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Historic Tulare County: A Sesquicentennial History, 1852-2002
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Terminus Dam is one of four dams built on the rivers of the
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about 15 mi (24 km) from the western boundary of
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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 14436-000
528:. Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District. Archived from 287:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Lake Kaweah / Terminus Dam
927:"Case Study: Kaweah River Power Authority and Tulare ID" 824:"The Fusegate System Reaches New Heights in California" 849:"Lake Kaweah Adds Safety, Capacity with Big Fusegates" 1506:
Buildings and structures in Tulare County, California
798:"They might be giants - Terminus dam's new Fusegates" 665:"Native Occupation of the Terminus Reservoir Region" 477:. The power plant currently has a capacity of 20.09 1452: 1354: 1306: 1228: 1169: 266: 253: 245: 240: 232: 222: 214: 204: 199: 191: 183: 175: 167: 157: 147: 142: 126: 118: 100: 63: 41: 21: 759:. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1996. p. 243. 745:. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1996. p. 138. 712: 710: 690:"The Inter-Agency Archeological Salvage Program" 619:"California Hydroelectric Statistics & Data" 621:. California Energy Commission. Archived from 1147: 600:. U.S. Government Printing Office. 2012-08-28 8: 1045:National Archives and Records Administration 195:7,000,000 cu yd (5,400,000 m) 1123:Daily data for Terminus Dam and Lake Kaweah 881:Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1870-C 1511:United States Army Corps of Engineers dams 1154: 1140: 1132: 1125:- California Department of Water Resources 1118:U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Lake Kaweah 957:. Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District 724:. California Department of Water Resources 718:"Terminus Dam (TRM) Reservoir Information" 570:. California Department of Water Resources 366:basin, located at the southern end of the 27: 18: 780:"Patents by Inventor Francois Lemperiere" 504:List of dams and reservoirs in California 641: 639: 520: 518: 514: 588: 586: 584: 558: 556: 554: 552: 550: 548: 546: 822:Kocahan, Hasan T.; Suter, Norbert F. 218:185,600 acre⋅ft (0.2289 km) 7: 429:capable of completely controlling a 326:and 20 mi (32 km) east of 1015:from the original on March 14, 2020 228:561 sq mi (1,450 km) 1096:. University of California Press. 1051:from the original on July 19, 2022 872:Dean, Willard W.; Scott, Kevin M. 802:Water Power & Dam Construction 14: 903:"Lake Kaweah Celebrates 50 Years" 346:(USACE) in 1962, Terminus is an 130: 16:Dam in California, United States 722:California Data Exchange Center 568:California Data Exchange Center 342:water supply. Completed by the 999:Lindt, John (March 11, 2020). 901:Ritchie, Ashley (2012-05-09). 1: 847:Rosta, Paul B. (2004-01-19). 978:. Tulare Irrigation District 696:. U.S. National Park Service 671:. U.S. National Park Service 344:U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 184:Elevation at crest 136:U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1011:: Mineral King Publishing. 106:; 62 years ago 1542: 526:"Recent District Projects" 475:Southern California Edison 380:U.S. National Park Service 179:2,375 ft (724 m) 469:. The dam also generates 372:Flood Control Act of 1944 280: 236:1,945 acres (787 ha) 26: 1526:Dams in the Tulare Basin 1248:Marble Fork Kaweah River 1243:Middle Fork Kaweah River 1163:Tulare Basin hydrography 883:. U.S. Geological Survey 487:Ontario Power Generation 187:750 ft (230 m) 1336:South Branch Tule River 1331:North Branch Tule River 1258:South Fork Kaweah River 1238:North Fork Kaweah River 1189:Middle Fork Kings River 1092:Garone, Philip (2011). 853:Engineering News-Record 389:, further south on the 255:Installed capacity 171:255 ft (78 m) 1516:Dams completed in 1962 1321:Middle Fork Tule River 1253:East Fork Kaweah River 1184:South Fork Kings River 1179:North Fork Kings River 1073:Brewer, Chris (2004). 499:Central Valley Project 446: 413: 268:Annual generation 119:Construction cost 85:36.41694°N 119.00389°W 1444:South Fork Kern River 1326:South Fork Tule River 1316:North Fork Tule River 1047:. February 28, 2020. 444: 411: 324:Sequoia National Park 149:Type of dam 138:, Sacramento District 1219:Rodgers Crossing Dam 564:"Terminus Dam (TRM)" 246:Commission date 90:36.41694; -119.00389 1465:California Aqueduct 422:François Lempérière 224:Catchment area 215:Total capacity 81: /  1501:Dams in California 1389:Golden Trout Creek 1369:Buena Vista Slough 976:"District Profile" 447: 414: 404:Spillway expansion 368:San Joaquin Valley 1521:Earth-filled dams 1488: 1487: 1470:Friant-Kern Canal 1429:Little Kern River 1409:Kern River Slough 1404:Kern River Canyon 1384:Connecting Slough 1103:978-0-52094-849-5 293: 292: 233:Surface area 143:Dam and spillways 101:Opening date 1533: 1364:Buena Vista Lake 1278:St. John's River 1156: 1149: 1142: 1133: 1107: 1088: 1061: 1060: 1058: 1056: 1040:Federal Register 1031: 1025: 1024: 1022: 1020: 996: 987: 986: 984: 983: 972: 966: 965: 963: 962: 951: 945: 944: 942: 941: 931: 923: 917: 916: 914: 913: 898: 892: 891: 889: 888: 878: 869: 863: 862: 860: 859: 844: 838: 837: 835: 834: 828: 819: 813: 812: 810: 809: 794: 788: 787: 776: 770: 767: 761: 760: 753: 747: 746: 739: 733: 732: 730: 729: 714: 705: 704: 702: 701: 686: 680: 679: 677: 676: 661: 655: 652: 646: 643: 634: 633: 631: 630: 615: 609: 608: 606: 605: 590: 579: 578: 576: 575: 560: 541: 540: 538: 537: 522: 471:hydroelectricity 330:. The dam forms 289: 134: 114: 112: 107: 96: 95: 93: 92: 91: 86: 82: 79: 78: 77: 74: 31: 19: 1541: 1540: 1536: 1535: 1534: 1532: 1531: 1530: 1491: 1490: 1489: 1484: 1448: 1374:Canebrake Creek 1350: 1302: 1263:Lime Kiln Creek 1224: 1165: 1160: 1129: 1114: 1104: 1091: 1085: 1072: 1069: 1064: 1054: 1052: 1033: 1032: 1028: 1018: 1016: 1005:The Sun-Gazette 998: 997: 990: 981: 979: 974: 973: 969: 960: 958: 953: 952: 948: 939: 937: 929: 925: 924: 920: 911: 909: 900: 899: 895: 886: 884: 876: 871: 870: 866: 857: 855: 846: 845: 841: 832: 830: 826: 821: 820: 816: 807: 805: 796: 795: 791: 778: 777: 773: 768: 764: 755: 754: 750: 741: 740: 736: 727: 725: 716: 715: 708: 699: 697: 688: 687: 683: 674: 672: 663: 662: 658: 653: 649: 644: 637: 628: 626: 617: 616: 612: 603: 601: 592: 591: 582: 573: 571: 562: 561: 544: 535: 533: 524: 523: 516: 512: 495: 439: 406: 360: 318:, located near 285: 284: 192:Dam volume 110: 108: 105: 89: 87: 83: 80: 75: 72: 70: 68: 67: 37: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1539: 1537: 1529: 1528: 1523: 1518: 1513: 1508: 1503: 1493: 1492: 1486: 1485: 1483: 1482: 1477: 1472: 1467: 1462: 1456: 1454: 1450: 1449: 1447: 1446: 1441: 1436: 1431: 1426: 1421: 1416: 1411: 1406: 1401: 1396: 1391: 1386: 1381: 1376: 1371: 1366: 1360: 1358: 1352: 1351: 1349: 1348: 1343: 1338: 1333: 1328: 1323: 1318: 1312: 1310: 1304: 1303: 1301: 1300: 1295: 1290: 1285: 1280: 1275: 1270: 1268:Paradise Creek 1265: 1260: 1255: 1250: 1245: 1240: 1234: 1232: 1226: 1225: 1223: 1222: 1216: 1214:Pine Flat Lake 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1175: 1173: 1167: 1166: 1161: 1159: 1158: 1151: 1144: 1136: 1127: 1126: 1120: 1113: 1112:External links 1110: 1109: 1108: 1102: 1089: 1083: 1068: 1065: 1063: 1062: 1026: 988: 967: 946: 918: 893: 864: 839: 814: 789: 784:Justia Patents 771: 769:Garone, p. 194 762: 748: 734: 706: 681: 656: 654:Garone, p. 193 647: 635: 610: 580: 542: 513: 511: 508: 507: 506: 501: 494: 491: 483:kilowatt hours 438: 435: 405: 402: 359: 356: 291: 290: 278: 277: 270: 264: 263: 257: 251: 250: 247: 243: 242: 238: 237: 234: 230: 229: 226: 220: 219: 216: 212: 211: 206: 202: 201: 197: 196: 193: 189: 188: 185: 181: 180: 177: 173: 172: 169: 165: 164: 159: 155: 154: 151: 145: 144: 140: 139: 128: 124: 123: 120: 116: 115: 102: 98: 97: 65: 61: 60: 43: 39: 38: 32: 24: 23: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1538: 1527: 1524: 1522: 1519: 1517: 1514: 1512: 1509: 1507: 1504: 1502: 1499: 1498: 1496: 1481: 1478: 1476: 1473: 1471: 1468: 1466: 1463: 1461: 1458: 1457: 1455: 1451: 1445: 1442: 1440: 1437: 1435: 1432: 1430: 1427: 1425: 1422: 1420: 1417: 1415: 1412: 1410: 1407: 1405: 1402: 1400: 1399:Lake Isabella 1397: 1395: 1392: 1390: 1387: 1385: 1382: 1380: 1377: 1375: 1372: 1370: 1367: 1365: 1362: 1361: 1359: 1357: 1353: 1347: 1344: 1342: 1339: 1337: 1334: 1332: 1329: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1319: 1317: 1314: 1313: 1311: 1309: 1305: 1299: 1296: 1294: 1291: 1289: 1286: 1284: 1283:Kaweah Canyon 1281: 1279: 1276: 1274: 1271: 1269: 1266: 1264: 1261: 1259: 1256: 1254: 1251: 1249: 1246: 1244: 1241: 1239: 1236: 1235: 1233: 1231: 1227: 1220: 1217: 1215: 1212: 1210: 1209:Pine Flat Dam 1207: 1205: 1202: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1194:Roaring River 1192: 1190: 1187: 1185: 1182: 1180: 1177: 1176: 1174: 1172: 1168: 1164: 1157: 1152: 1150: 1145: 1143: 1138: 1137: 1134: 1130: 1124: 1121: 1119: 1116: 1115: 1111: 1105: 1099: 1095: 1090: 1086: 1084:1-89361-940-0 1080: 1077:. HPN Books. 1076: 1071: 1070: 1066: 1050: 1046: 1042: 1041: 1036: 1030: 1027: 1014: 1010: 1006: 1002: 995: 993: 989: 977: 971: 968: 956: 950: 947: 935: 928: 922: 919: 908: 904: 897: 894: 882: 875: 868: 865: 854: 850: 843: 840: 825: 818: 815: 803: 799: 793: 790: 785: 781: 775: 772: 766: 763: 758: 752: 749: 744: 738: 735: 723: 719: 713: 711: 707: 695: 691: 685: 682: 670: 666: 660: 657: 651: 648: 645:Brewer, p. 55 642: 640: 636: 625:on 2018-02-26 624: 620: 614: 611: 599: 595: 589: 587: 585: 581: 569: 565: 559: 557: 555: 553: 551: 549: 547: 543: 532:on 2011-04-09 531: 527: 521: 519: 515: 509: 505: 502: 500: 497: 496: 492: 490: 488: 484: 480: 476: 472: 468: 464: 458: 456: 452: 443: 436: 434: 432: 431:70-year flood 426: 423: 419: 410: 403: 401: 398: 396: 395:Sedimentation 392: 388: 383: 381: 375: 373: 369: 365: 357: 355: 353: 349: 348:earthfill dam 345: 341: 337: 336:flood control 333: 329: 325: 321: 317: 316:United States 313: 309: 308:Tulare County 305: 301: 297: 288: 283: 279: 275: 271: 269: 265: 262: 258: 256: 252: 248: 244: 241:Power Station 239: 235: 231: 227: 225: 221: 217: 213: 210: 207: 203: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 178: 174: 170: 166: 163: 160: 156: 152: 150: 146: 141: 137: 133: 129: 125: 121: 117: 103: 99: 94: 66: 62: 59: 58:United States 55: 51: 50:Tulare County 47: 44: 40: 36: 30: 25: 20: 1394:Isabella Dam 1346:Lake Success 1293:Terminus Dam 1292: 1288:Mineral King 1230:Kaweah River 1204:Kings Canyon 1199:Dinkey Creek 1128: 1093: 1074: 1053:. Retrieved 1038: 1029: 1017:. Retrieved 1004: 980:. Retrieved 970: 959:. Retrieved 949: 938:. Retrieved 933: 921: 910:. Retrieved 907:KMPH Visalia 906: 896: 885:. Retrieved 880: 867: 856:. Retrieved 852: 842: 831:. Retrieved 817: 806:. Retrieved 804:. 2004-02-16 801: 792: 783: 774: 765: 756: 751: 742: 737: 726:. Retrieved 721: 698:. Retrieved 693: 684: 673:. Retrieved 668: 659: 650: 627:. Retrieved 623:the original 613: 602:. Retrieved 597: 572:. Retrieved 567: 534:. Retrieved 530:the original 459: 448: 427: 415: 399: 384: 376: 361: 320:Three Rivers 304:Kaweah River 296:Terminus Dam 295: 294: 281: 162:Kaweah River 122:$ 24 million 46:Three Rivers 22:Terminus Dam 1480:White River 1460:Tulare Lake 1379:Clear Creek 1341:Success Dam 1298:Lake Kaweah 1273:Horse Creek 1171:Kings River 1067:Works cited 829:. Hydroplus 387:Success Dam 364:Tulare Lake 332:Lake Kaweah 276:(2001–2012) 272:40,894,000 209:Lake Kaweah 88: / 76:119°00′14″W 64:Coordinates 1495:Categories 1475:Mill Creek 1439:Rock Creek 1434:Poso Creek 1419:Lake Evans 1356:Kern River 1308:Tule River 1221:(proposed) 1009:Exeter, CA 982:2013-07-23 961:2013-07-23 955:"About Us" 940:2013-07-23 912:2013-07-23 887:2013-07-23 858:2013-07-23 833:2013-07-23 808:2013-07-23 728:2013-07-23 700:2013-07-23 675:2013-07-23 629:2018-04-26 604:2022-07-19 574:2013-07-23 536:2013-07-24 510:References 425:spillway. 391:Tule River 340:irrigation 312:California 73:36°25′01″N 54:California 1424:Lake Webb 1414:Kern Lake 479:megawatts 437:Functions 200:Reservoir 153:Earthfill 35:Route 198 1055:July 19, 1049:Archived 1019:July 19, 1013:Archived 493:See also 455:Isabella 418:spillway 158:Impounds 127:Owner(s) 42:Location 463:Visalia 451:dry dam 358:History 352:acre⋅ft 328:Visalia 314:in the 302:on the 282:Website 205:Creates 109: ( 1100:  1081:  467:Tulare 259:20.09 176:Length 168:Height 1453:Other 930:(PDF) 877:(PDF) 827:(PDF) 449:As a 298:is a 1098:ISBN 1079:ISBN 1057:2022 1021:2022 465:and 338:and 334:for 249:1992 111:1962 104:1962 306:in 300:dam 274:KWh 1497:: 1043:. 1037:. 1007:. 1003:. 991:^ 932:. 905:. 879:. 851:. 800:. 782:. 720:. 709:^ 692:. 667:. 638:^ 596:. 583:^ 566:. 545:^ 517:^ 489:. 310:, 261:MW 56:, 52:, 48:, 1155:e 1148:t 1141:v 1106:. 1087:. 1059:. 1023:. 985:. 964:. 943:. 915:. 890:. 861:. 836:. 811:. 786:. 731:. 703:. 678:. 632:. 607:. 577:. 539:. 113:)

Index


Route 198
Three Rivers
Tulare County
California
United States
36°25′01″N 119°00′14″W / 36.41694°N 119.00389°W / 36.41694; -119.00389

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Type of dam
Kaweah River
Lake Kaweah
Catchment area
Installed capacity
MW
Annual generation
KWh
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Lake Kaweah / Terminus Dam
dam
Kaweah River
Tulare County
California
United States
Three Rivers
Sequoia National Park
Visalia
Lake Kaweah
flood control
irrigation
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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