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	ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS:


		Site assessment conducted
		Reference Panel approved

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Shasta Dam, USA

Positive sustainability aspect

Water quality
A Temperature Control Device (TCD), with a unique selective withdrawal system routes water through California’s Shasta Powerhouse and maintains the required temperature for fish without restricting power generation.

Source: IEA Hydropower Implementing Agreement - Annex VIII.

	Overview		Details		Other Aspects		Further Information

Overview

Completed in 1945, Shasta Dam is a 183 metre tall, curved concrete gravity structure having a gated overflow spillway with a crest elevation of 316 meters above mean sea level. Shasta Dam impounds water from the Pit, McCloud, and upper Sacramento Rivers to form Shasta Lake, the largest reservoir in California.

Shasta Powerplant is located directly below the dam and comprises five turbine-generators with a combined rated capacity of 629 MW. Shasta is operated as a hydropeaking plant, releases varying hourly, daily and seasonally as a function of electricity and/or water demand. In addition to generating electricity, Shasta Dam controls floodwaters and stores surplus winter runoff for summer irrigation in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. Maintaining navigability and providing flows for fish conservation in the Sacramento River are also functions of Shasta Dam.

Scheme Specifications

Dam name
Scheme operator US Bureau of Reclamation	Size of scheme (MW) 629
Country United States of America	Catchment area 17,262.35 km²
River Sacramento	Effective reservoir capacity 5.52 x 10⁹ m³
Construction years 1938-1945 - original construction 1995-1996 - modified	Reservoir size 5.62 x 10⁹ m³

External recognition
The National Hydropower Association (NHA) presented Reclamation with a 2002 Hydro Achievement Award in the category of Technical solutions for its state-of-the-art Shasta Temperature Control Device (TCD).

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External recognition The National Hydropower Association (NHA) presented Reclamation with a 2002 Hydro Achievement Award in the category of Technical solutions for its state-of-the-art Shasta Temperature Control Device (TCD).

External recognition
The National Hydropower Association (NHA) presented Reclamation with a 2002 Hydro Achievement Award in the category of Technical solutions for its state-of-the-art Shasta Temperature Control Device (TCD).