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103-549: The Feather River and its forks were a center of gold mining during the 19th century. Since the 1960s, the river has provided water to central and southern California, as the main source of water for the California State Water Project . Its water is also used for hydroelectricity generation. The average annual flow of the Feather River is more than 7 million acre feet (3.3 km). The Feather

206-555: A 8.66-mile (13.94 km) long conduit composed of ditch, flume, and tunnel sections, with a capacity of 125 cubic feet per second (3.5 m/s). Along with other facilities, such as Philbrook Reservoir, Hendricks Canal is part of the Toadtown development, which conveys water through the several canals and powerhouses. The water ultimately empties into Butte Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River. Another diversion dam on

309-688: A combined storage capacity of about 162,000 acre-feet (0.200 km ). Water released from the Upper Feather River system flows into Lake Oroville , which is formed by the Oroville Dam several miles above the city of Oroville . At 770 feet (230 m), Oroville is the tallest dam in the United States; by volume it is the largest dam in California. Authorized by an emergency flood control measure in 1957, Oroville Dam

412-554: A connection from Perris to Lake Skinner , further south. The original 1957 California Water Plan included provisions for dams on the Klamath, Eel, Mad and Smith Rivers of California's North Coast. Fed by prolific rainfall in the western Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains , these rivers discharge more than 26 million acre-feet (32 km ) to the Pacific each year, more than that of the entire Sacramento River system. The plan

515-546: A fraction of the facilities originally proposed. As a result, the project has only delivered an average of 2.4 million acre-feet (3.0 km ) annually, as compared to total entitlements of 4.23 million acre-feet (5.22 km ). Environmental concerns caused by the dry-season removal of water from the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta , a sensitive estuary region, have often led to further reductions in water delivery. Work continues today to expand

618-582: A large effect on the valley's hydrology. Indian Valley is the third important alluvial valley of the upper basin. It is located along lower Indian Creek, near its confluence with Lights Creek. By the end of the 19th century Indian Valley was considered the most important valley of Plumas County and its swampy land was developed into a prosperous agricultural landscape. Communities in Indian Valley include Greenville and Taylorsville . Two large endorheic lakes, Eagle Lake and Honey Lake , lie north of

721-493: A maximum width of 300 feet (91 m) and a maximum depth of 30 feet (9.1 m); some parts of the channel are capable of delivering more than 13,000 cu ft/s (370 m /s). The section of the aqueduct that runs through the San Joaquin Valley includes multiple turnouts where water is released to irrigate roughly 750,000 acres (300,000 ha) of land on the west side of the valley. The aqueduct enters

824-835: A pipeline known as the Central Coast Water Authority extension, completed in 1997, the Coastal Branch supplies water to Lake Cachuma , a 205,000 acre⋅ft (0.253 km ) reservoir on the Santa Ynez River . From the terminus of the main California Aqueduct at Tehachapi Afterbay, the West Branch carries water to a second reservoir, Quail Lake, via the Oso Pumping Plant. The water then runs south by gravity to

927-530: A tributary, and found a place where the whole surface was covered in feathers. They named it El Rio de las Plumas, River of the Feathers. The 1849 California Gold Rush brought a flood of prospectors and settlers to the region. The American and Indian Valleys were settled in the 1850s. In the Sierra Valley the first settlers arrived in 1852. The Western Pacific Railroad operated a railroad through

1030-591: Is Last Chance Creek's source. The total length from the mouth of the East Branch to the source of Last Chance Creek is about 89 miles (143 km). The total length of the Feather River from the source of Last Chance Creek to the Sacramento River is about 215 miles (346 km). The Middle Fork Feather River begins at 39°48′49″N 120°22′46″W  /  39.81361°N 120.37944°W  / 39.81361; -120.37944 , in southeastern Plumas County about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of Beckwourth , at

1133-551: Is a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant capable of producing 1,247 MW on peak demand. Together, Pyramid and Castaic Lakes form the primary storage for West Branch water delivered to Southern California. Water is supplied to municipalities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The East Branch takes water from Tehachapi Afterbay along the north side of the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains to

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1236-462: Is about 3,410 feet (1,040 m) in elevation and supports a population of about 6,500. The largest community is Quincy . Historically, American Valley was a floodplain, but settlers drained the wet meadows to create pasture for cattle and fields for hay production. Today the stream channels are deeply incised and floods rare. These alternations affected the valley's ecology. Beavers , which were once prevalent, were nearly eliminated. This in turn had

1339-435: Is joined by Philbrook Creek, which drains Philbook Reservoir to the east. From there the West Branch flows more directly south and leaves Lassen National Forest. It is joined by Fish Creek and Last Chance Creek (there are several streams named Last Chance Creek in the Feather River watershed). Downstream from Last Chance Creek a diversion dam draws off some of the West Branch's water. The diverted water flows into Hendricks Canal,

1442-510: Is mostly made up of buried pipeline. Pumping plants at Las Perillas, Badger Hill, Devil's Den, Bluestone, and Polonio Pass serve to lift the water over the California Coast Ranges . Once over the crest of the mountains, the water is reregulated in a series of small reservoirs numbered Tanks 1 through 5. The Coastal Branch was completed in 1994 following a severe drought that led to calls for importation of SWP water. Through

1545-471: Is mostly used for irrigation. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (the largest entitlement holder) pays $ 298 per acre-foot ($ 241 per 1,000 m ). This basically means that cities are subsidizing the cost of farm water, even though the cities also provided primary funding for the construction of the SWP. In the early 1970s, the SWP system still had a lot of "surplus" – water supply developed through

1648-453: Is one of the major tributaries of the Feather River system. It originates at 40°2′16″N 120°58′57″W  /  40.03778°N 120.98250°W  / 40.03778; -120.98250 , at the confluence of Indian Creek and Spanish Creek . Indian Creek is another long and important tributary, flowing from its source at 40°18′34″N 120°41′36″W  /  40.30944°N 120.69333°W  / 40.30944; -120.69333 , on

1751-686: Is part of the Feather River system. The creek is 47 miles (76 km) long, flowing through a series of small towns and farming valleys in a rural, mountainous area. The creek arises in the Diamond Mountains , in the Plumas National Forest about 7 miles (11 km) south of Susanville . It flows southeast into Antelope Lake, a reservoir impounded by Antelope Valley Dam . Below the dam it flows south to its confluence with Last Chance Creek , then flows west through

1854-596: Is unique in that two of its tributaries, the East Branch and Middle Fork, originate east of the Sierra Nevada in the Diamond Mountains and breach the crest of the Sierra as they flow west. The river rises in four main forks in the Sierra Nevada which unite as arms of the Lake Oroville reservoir in the foothills 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Oroville in eastern Butte County . In terms of drainage areas

1957-672: The Clifton Court Forebay , located northwest of Tracy on the southern end of the Delta. Here, the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant lifts water 224 feet (68 m) into the California Aqueduct . Completed in 1963, the eleven pump units can lift up to 10,670 cu ft/s (302 m /s) of water – upgraded in 1986 from its original capacity of 6,400 cu ft/s (180 m /s) across seven units. From here

2060-496: The Feather River Canyon and on into the middle arm of Lake Oroville. The Middle Fork's main stem length is about 95 miles (153 km), or about 129 miles (208 km) including Little Last Chance Creek. The total length of the Feather River from the source of Little Last Chance Creek to the Sacramento River is about 202 miles (325 km). The South Fork Feather River originates in southern Plumas County near

2163-415: The O'Neill Forebay reservoir west of Volta , where water can be pumped into a giant offstream storage facility, San Luis Reservoir , formed by the nearby B.F. Sisk Dam . San Luis Reservoir is shared by the SWP and the federal Central Valley Project ; here water can be switched between the California Aqueduct and Delta-Mendota Canal to cope with fluctuating demands. The SWP has a 50 percent share of

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2266-578: The Oroville-Thermalito Complex , which consists of two reservoirs, a Forebay and Afterbay, both used for hydroelectricity generation. Although the water diverted from the Feather for this purpose is returned to the river, the water of downstream canals do not, except in the form of irrigation return flows (agricultural waste water). Downstream of Oroville, the river's flow is sucked away by numerous irrigation canals that supply water to

2369-483: The Oroville-Thermalito Complex . The Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay support the 120 MW Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant, and the Thermalito Diversion Dam supports a smaller 3.3 MW powerplant. The entire system generates approximately 2.2 billion kilowatt hours per year, making up about a third of the total power generated by SWP facilities. From Oroville, a regulated water flow travels down

2472-664: The Pacific Flyway , making it an important seasonal home to migrating birds. Settlements in the valley include Loyalton , Sierraville , and Beckwourth , with Portola just west of Sierra Valley. The American Valley is located in the middle of the upper Feather basin. Spanish Creek and Greenhorn Creek join in the valley, and Spanish Creek flows north to join Indian Creek, forming the East Branch North Fork Feather River. American Valley

2575-595: The Pacific Gas and Electric Company . The West Branch Feather River flows by Stirling City and is joined by Big Kimshew Creek and the Little West Fork West Branch Feather River. Concow Creek, flowing southwest from Concow Reservoir, joins just before the West Branch empties into the northwest arm of Oroville Lake, near Paradise . The United States Forest Service manages over 80% of the Feather River's upper watershed, in

2678-533: The Peripheral Canal and Sites Reservoir, was to have been built beginning in the late 1970s and 1980s – but due to concerted opposition from Northern Californians, environmentalist groups and some economic interests, as well as the state's increasing debt, attempts to begin construction have all met with failure. Parties currently receiving SWP water are also opposed to its expansion, because water rates could be raised up to 300 percent to help pay for

2781-731: The Sacramento Valley , east of the Sutter Buttes , past Oroville and Yuba City – Marysville . The Feather receives the Yuba River from the east at Yuba City and the Bear River from the east 15 miles (24 km) south of Yuba City. It empties into the Sacramento River from the north, about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Sacramento. The North Fork Feather River begins in Feather River Meadows at

2884-726: The Silverwood Lake reservoir, which can hold 73,000 acre⋅ft (0.090 km ). From here it passes through a tunnel under the San Bernardino Mountains to the Devil Canyon Powerplant, the largest "recovery plant", or aqueduct power plant, of the SWP system. The water then flows 28 miles (45 km) through the Santa Ana Tunnel to Lake Perris , which can store up to 131,400 acre⋅ft (0.1621 km ). Water deliveries through

2987-619: The Thermalito pumped-storage plant . Most of this water is returned to the river further downstream via a tailrace canal. The maximum discharge at this stream gauge was 230,000 cubic feet per second (6,500 m/s), recorded on March 19, 1907. The minimum was 222 cubic feet per second (6.3 m/s), recorded on September 19, 1972. The riparian area of the Feather River supports a rich biodiversity of native flora and fauna . The Sierra Nevada reaches have considerable wild river features and steep gradients. In lower reaches, after joining of

3090-543: The 2.04 million acre-feet (2.52 km ) of storage available in San Luis Reservoir. South of the San Luis Reservoir complex, the aqueduct steadily gains elevation through a series of massive pumping plants. Dos Amigos Pumping Plant is located shortly south of San Luis, lifting the water 118 feet (36 m). Near Kettleman City , the Coastal Branch splits off from the main California Aqueduct. Buena Vista, Teerink and Chrisman Pumping Plants are located on

3193-471: The 60-mile (97 km) Trinity Tunnel into the Sacramento River, and thence to the canals and pump systems of the SWP. This would have provided between 5 and 10 million acre-feet (6.2 and 12.3 km ) of water each year for the SWP. The diversion of the North Coast rivers, however were dropped from the initial SWP program. In the mid-1960s, devastating flooding brought renewed interest in damming

Feather River - Misplaced Pages Continue

3296-602: The 78 MW William E. Warne Powerplant, located on the 180,000 acre⋅ft (0.22 km ) Pyramid Lake reservoir. The West Branch delivered about 537,000 acre⋅ft (0.662 km ) per year for the period 1995–2010. From Pyramid Lake, water is released through the Angeles Tunnel to the Castaic Power Plant on Elderberry Forebay and the 325,000 acre⋅ft (0.401 km ) Castaic Lake reservoir located north of Santa Clarita . Castaic Power Plant

3399-548: The Banks Pumping Plant pulls water from the Sacramento River southward across the Delta, it disrupts the normal flow direction of east to west that salmon smolt follow to the Pacific Ocean. Populations of salmon and steelhead trout have reached critically low levels in the decades after SWP water withdrawals began. The fish migration issue has become hotly contested in recent years, with rising support for

3502-631: The Bay Area diversions, the bulk of the SWP water – ranging from 1 to 3.7 million acre-feet (1.2 to 4.6 km ) per year – travels south along the western flank of the San Joaquin Valley through the California Aqueduct. The main section of the aqueduct stretches for 304 miles (489 km); it is composed mainly of concrete-lined canals but also includes 20.7 miles (33.3 km) of tunnels, 130.4 miles (209.9 km) of pipelines and 27 miles (43 km) of siphons. The aqueduct reaches

3605-665: The Bear. Smaller dams now also block other tributaries, including the Middle, South and North Forks of the Feather. The watershed's high mountain streams are often utilized in complex schemes for hydroelectricity generation, including the Pacific Gas and Electric Canyon Power Project on the North Fork, which uses water from Lake Almanor , and the Yuba Hydroelectric Project which taps the Middle and South Forks of

3708-741: The Colorado River. Historians largely attribute the success of the Burns-Porter Act and the State Water Project to major agribusiness lobbying, particularly by J.G. Boswell II of the J.G. Boswell cotton company. The bond was passed on an extremely narrow margin of 174,000 out of 5.8 million ballots cast. In 1966, the Metropolitan Water District passed Proposition W, a Southern California property tax bond to connect its regional water system to

3811-550: The Dos Rios dam would have reduced the record 72-foot (22 m) Eel River flood crest of 1964 by only 8 inches (20 cm) had it been in place. In 1980, the North Coast rivers were incorporated into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system, effectively eliminating the possibility of any projects to divert them. California WaterFix , is a planned twin forty-foot (12 m) tunnel project that would extend through

3914-559: The East Branch averaged 995,000 acre⋅ft (1.227 km ) per year from 1995 through 2012. The East Branch principally provides water for cities and farms in the Inland Empire , Orange County , and other areas south of Los Angeles. Through Lake Perris, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California receives a large portion of its water from the SWP. Water is also supplied to the San Diego Aqueduct through

4017-634: The Feather River Project, which proposed the damming of the Feather River , a tributary of the Sacramento River, for the same purpose. The Feather River was much more accessible than the North Coast rivers, but did not have nearly as much water. Under both of the plans, a series of canals and pumps would carry the water south through the Central Valley to the foot of the Tehachapi Mountains , where it would pass through

4120-475: The Feather River canyon. This route was selected because it leads to a low pass over the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Western Pacific California Zephyr trains used this route and had a feather in their logo to represent the river. Today, there is no scheduled passenger service along the Feather River Route. The present day California Zephyr, run by Amtrak , operates over Donner Pass. Since 1967,

4223-405: The Feather River's origin at the confluence of its four forks has been submerged under the waters of Lake Oroville , created by the construction of Oroville Dam in 1967. At about 770 feet (230 m) high, it is the tallest dam in the United States and wields nearly complete control over the flow of the Feather River by creating one of the largest reservoirs in California. The dam was built with

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4326-453: The Feather and Sacramento Rivers to the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta . North of Rio Vista , about 120,000 acre-feet (0.15 km ) per year is pumped into the 27.4-mile (44.1 km) North Bay Aqueduct , completed in 1988. The aqueduct delivers water to clients in Napa and Solano counties. The vast majority of the SWP water is drawn through the Delta's complex estuary system into

4429-716: The Genesee Valley and the town of Genesee . It turns north, passing through Indian Valley, where it receives Lights Creek and Wolf Creek and passes a few miles south of Greenville , then flows southwest past Indian Falls , where it joins Spanish Creek to form the East Branch North Fork Feather River . A short distance west of here, the East Branch joins the North Fork Feather River at Belden , about 35 miles (56 km) upstream of Lake Oroville . SR 89 follows

4532-578: The Metropolitan Water District and urban developers in Los Angeles. They claim it would eliminate the need to pull water directly through this sensitive region, reducing salinity intrusion and water quality problems during the dry season. The canal was included in the initial SWP planning, and the lack of the canal is among the principal reasons the SWP has never been able to deliver its full entitlement. Tunnel opponents believe

4635-642: The North Coast rivers. The Department of Water Resources formed the State-Federal Interagency Task Force with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers to develop plans for developing the rivers in the name of flood control – which would, incidentally, provide a way to divert some of their water into the SWP system. Although most of the proposed projects met their demise over political squabbles, one that persisted

4738-692: The Plumas-Sierra county line, at 39°46′48″N 120°52′26″W  /  39.78000°N 120.87389°W  / 39.78000; -120.87389 . It heads on the southwest slope of Pilot Peak, just north of Gibsonville Ridge and Bunker Hill Ridge. It flows west and southwest to Little Grass Valley Reservoir , an impoundment created by Little Grass Valley Dam . Below the dam the South Fork flows southwest between Mooreville Ridge and Lumpkin Ridge and enters Butte County. Just before entering Lake Oroville

4841-679: The Ponderosa Diversion Dam impounds the South Fork in the Ponderosa Reservoir. Below the dam the river becomes the south arm of Lake Oroville. The mouth of the South Fork is considered to be where the river empties into Ponderosa Reservoir, 39°32′55″N 121°16′39″W  /  39.54861°N 121.27750°W  / 39.54861; -121.27750 . The mouth was formerly located farther west at 39°33′5″N 121°25′20″W  /  39.55139°N 121.42222°W  / 39.55139; -121.42222 , until it

4944-504: The SWP's water delivery capacity while finding solutions for the environmental impacts of water diversion. The original purpose of the project was to provide water for arid Southern California, whose local water resources and share of the Colorado River were insufficient to sustain the region's growth. The SWP was rooted in two proposals. The United Western Investigation of 1951, a study by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation , assessed

5047-415: The Sacramento River during the wet season. The Los Banos Grandes reservoir was first proposed in 1983 and would have served a similar purpose to Sites. The 1.73 million acre-feet (2.13 km ) reservoir would have been located along the California Aqueduct several miles south of San Luis Reservoir, and would have allowed for the storage of water during wet years when extra water could be pumped from

5150-566: The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Pumped-storage hydroelectric plants would have been built between Los Banos Grandes and the existing Los Banos flood control reservoir, and between that reservoir and the aqueduct. The current status of Los Banos Grandes remains uncertain, as the DWR has been unable to appropriate funding since the 1990s. The existing SWP facilities are collectively known as Stage I. Stage II, which includes such works as

5253-524: The Sierra Valley, where it divides into two distributary channels. Other tributaries that join to form the Middle Fork in the Sierra Valley include Carman Creek, Fletcher Creek, Turner Creek, Berry Creek, Hamlin Creek, Sierraville Creek, and Smithneck Creek. Flowing west through the mountains from its source in the Sierra Valley the Middle Fork is joined by Big Grizzly Creek, which drains Lake Davis to

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5356-579: The South Arm Rice Creek, forming the North Fork Feather River. The North Fork's length is about 100 miles (160 km), or about 111 miles (179 km) including Rice Creek. The total length of the Feather River from the source of Rice Creek to the Sacramento River is about 184 miles (296 km). From its source in Feather River Meadows the North Fork flows east. A tributary emerges from Buzzard Springs and flows into

5459-423: The South Fork about 3%. There are several important valleys in the otherwise mountainous upper basin. The Sierra Valley comprises an area of about 590 square miles (1,500 km) is located where a number of tributaries come together to form the Middle Fork. The valley's elevation is nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 m). It is known as the largest high-alpine valley in the continental United States. It also lies along

5562-509: The Stump Ranch Marsh Area, where it joins the North Fork, which then flows southeast to Lake Almanor , a reservoir created by Canyon Dam. Below Canyon Dam the North Fork flows generally southwest through the Sierra Nevada, receiving the East Branch North Fork Feather River near Belden . The North Fork continues flowing south below the East Branch confluence. Bucks Creek, which drains Bucks Lake near Bucks Lake, California , joins from east. The North Fork flows southeast into Butte County, becoming

5665-408: The Tehachapi Tunnel to reach Southern California. Calls for a comprehensive statewide water management system (complementing the extensive, but primarily irrigation-based Central Valley Project ) led to the creation of the California Department of Water Resources in 1956. The following year, the preliminary studies were compiled into the extensive California Water Plan, or Bulletin No. 3. The project

5768-408: The USGS. The North Fork Feather River drains 2,156 square miles (5,580 km)—1,131 square miles (2,930 km) for the North Fork itself and 1,025 square miles (2,650 km) for East Branch North Fork. The average discharge for the two streams is about 1,930 cubic feet per second (55 m/s) for the North Fork, and 1,000 cubic feet per second (28 m/s) for the East Branch. The East Branch

5871-463: The West Branch Feather River near Magalia , called the Magalia 73 Dam, conveys water into the Upper Miocene Canal, which runs to Kunkle Reservoir and the Lime Saddle Powerhouse on Lake Oroville. From the powerhouse water is carried by the Middle Miocene Canal to the Coal Canyon Powerhouse and on into the Oroville-Thermalito Complex . The Miocene Canal and Lime Saddle Powerhouse are part of the DeSabla Regional Bundle of hydroelectric facilities operated by

5974-464: The Yuba River. Water diversions, especially from Lake Oroville, has reduced the streamflow of the Feather River. The USGS has operated a stream gage downriver of Oroville Dam since 1902. The river's average annual discharge between 1902 and 1967, before the dam was built, was 5,834 cubic feet per second (165.2 m/s). From 1969 to 2009 the average flow is 1,086 cubic feet per second (30.8 m/s), mainly due to diversion for power generation at

6077-399: The agricultural businesses of the lower Feather River valley. The heavy usage of water from the river has reduced its flow significantly. The Feather's main tributaries, the Yuba and the Bear, are also impounded by large dams that provide irrigation water and flood control. New Bullards Bar Dam and Englebright Dam are located on the Yuba, and Rollins Dam and Camp Far West are situated on

6180-452: The canal being built. Since the 1980s, there has been interest in creating a large off-stream reservoir in the Sacramento Valley. Water "skimmed" off high winter flows in the Sacramento River would be pumped into a storage basin in the western side of the valley known as Sites Reservoir. The reservoir would hold about 1.8 million acre-feet (2.2 km ) of water to be released into the Sacramento River during low-flow periods, boosting

6283-429: The center of the Delta, 150 feet (46 m) below ground. Earlier designs called for a Peripheral Canal to skirt the Delta to the east. The tunnels would draw water from the Sacramento River to bypass the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, a vast estuary and agricultural region consisting of over 700 miles (1,100 km) of tidal waterways. Supporters of the canal and tunnel have included the Central Valley farmers and

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6386-521: The construction of Oroville Dam, which was running unused to the Pacific Ocean because the water delivery infrastructure for Southern California had not yet been completed (and when it was, southern California was slow to use the water). The surplus water was given for irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley instead. Because the water would only be a temporary supply, farmers were advised to use it for seasonal crops (such as alfalfa or hay) rather than permanent crops such as orchards. Nevertheless, many farmers used

6489-417: The construction of the Peripheral Canal, which would divert water around the Delta, restoring the natural flow direction. Water use and environmental problems associated with the SWP led to the creation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program (CALFED) in 1994. The primary goals are to improve quality of SWP water while preventing further ecological damage in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. In January 2014, after

6592-439: The construction project would do extensive damage to the sensitive Delta ecosystem, farms and communities. Opponents also believe there will be long-term damage to the Delta ecosystem from fresh water being removed prior to flushing through the Delta and flowing more naturally to the San Francisco Bay. Governor Jerry Brown had supported a ballot initiative approving the canal in the early 1980s, and stated his intention to finish

6695-603: The cost. As a result, SWP capacity falls short by an average of 2 million acre-feet (2.5 km ) each year; contractors only occasionally receive their full shares of water. The disparity of costs to the project's various constituents has been a frequent source of controversy. Although the overall average cost of SWP water is $ 147 per acre-foot ($ 119 per 1,000 m ), agricultural users pay far less than their urban counterparts for SWP water. The Kern County Water Agency (the second largest SWP entitlement holder) pays around $ 45–50 per acre-foot ($ 36–41 per 1,000 m ) of SWP water, which

6798-433: The feasibility of interbasin water transfers in the Western United States. In California, this plan contemplated the construction of dams on rivers draining to California's North Coast – the wild and undammed Klamath , Eel , Mad and Smith River systems – and tunnels to carry the impounded water to the Sacramento River system, where it could be diverted southwards. In the same year, State Engineer A.D. Edmonston proposed

6901-427: The first 2.23 million acre-feet (2.75 km ) of water, began in 1960. Northern Californians opposed the measure as a boondoggle and an attempt to steal their water resources. In fact, the city of Los Angeles – which was to be one of the principal beneficiaries – also opposed the project; locals saw it as a ploy by politicians in the other Colorado River basin states to get Los Angeles to relinquish its share of

7004-405: The forks, there is also significant habitat; near Yuba City , for example, there are extents of the river with numerous valley oak trees with understory of wild grape . The Feather River stonecrop ( Sedum albomarginatum ) is a rare plant endemic to the Feather River watershed. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for

7107-414: The harsh winters. The Washoe hunted in the upper Feather River basin, especially in Long Valley, Sierra Valley, and Mohawk Valley. There is evidence of Paiute and Washoe settlements in the Long Valley area. In 1836, John Marsh , Jose Noriega and a company of men, went on an exploration of Northern California. They felled trees, made dugout canoes, and ascended the Sacramento River. They proceeded up

7210-470: The initial allocation for 2015 was give on December 1, 2014. †Background color denotes facility shared with Central Valley Project . *This is the portion of total capacity of San Luis Reservoir allocated to SWP; the total capacity is 2,041,000 acre⋅ft (2,518,000 dam ) Indian Creek (Plumas County, California) Indian Creek is a major stream in the southern Cascade Range and northern Sierra Nevada of Plumas County, California and

7313-722: The junction of Rice Creek and South Arm Rice Creek, 40°21′47″N 121°27′5″W  /  40.36306°N 121.45139°W  / 40.36306; -121.45139 . The names and confluence locations of the streams in this area were changed by the Board on Geographic Names in 1927. USGS topographic maps , as of 1995, are mislabeled for South Arm, North Arm Rice Creek, Rice Creek and North Fork Feather River. Rice Creek, labeled North Arm Rice Creek on USGS topo maps, flows south from its source at Cold Boiling Lake, 40°27′24″N 121°29′4″W  /  40.45667°N 121.48444°W  / 40.45667; -121.48444 , in Lassen Volcanic National Park , through Crumbaugh Lake, and south to join

7416-405: The largest is the North Fork, which drains about 60% of the entire upper Feather River watershed. The Middle Fork is the second largest, draining about 32% of the upper basin. The South Fork and the West Branch are much smaller, each drains less than 5% of the upper basin. The main stem Feather River begins at Oroville Dam, the outlet of Lake Oroville. From there the river flows generally south across

7519-439: The main aqueduct near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley near Bakersfield . The aqueduct then reaches A.D. Edmonston Pumping Plant , which lifts the water 1,926 feet (587 m) over the Tehachapi Mountains that separate the San Joaquin Valley from Southern California. It is the highest pump-lift in the SWP, with a capacity of 4,480 cu ft/s (127 m /s) across fourteen units. Initial construction of Edmonston

7622-465: The moderately dry year of 2012 and the record California drought of 2013, the Department of Water Resources announced that the SWP would be making zero deliveries that year, the first time in the project's history, due to dangerously low snowpack and reservoir levels. On April 18, 2014, the Department of Water Resources increased the SWP allocation back to five percent and that level remained until

7725-489: The mountains above Lake Oroville. The alluvial valleys in this area are mostly privately owned and used for livestock grazing and hay production. In terms of drainage area, the North Fork Feather River is the largest, accounting for about 60% of the total basin above Lake Oroville. The Middle Fork drains about 32% of the upper basin. Other forks and tributaries drain much smaller areas—the West Fork accounts for about 5%, and

7828-567: The mountains' 3,500-foot (1,100 m) crest. In 1973, the pumps and the East and West branches of the aqueduct were completed, and the first water was delivered to Southern California. A Peripheral Canal , which would have carried SWP water around the vulnerable and ecologically sensitive Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta , was rejected in 1982 due to environmental concerns. The Coastal Branch, which delivers water to coastal central California,

7931-477: The new state project. In 1961, ground was broken on Oroville Dam , and in 1963, work began on the California Aqueduct and San Luis Reservoir . The first deliveries to the Bay Area were made in 1962, and water reached the San Joaquin Valley by 1968. Due to concerns over the fault -ridden geography of the Tehachapi Mountains, the tunnel plan was scrapped; the water would have to be pumped over

8034-665: The north end of the Sierra Valley . It is formed by the joining of a number of tributaries that merge in an inverted river delta wetland with a complex network of irrigation ditches and drains called the Sierra Valley Channels. A number of creeks merge in the Sierra Valley, the longest of which is Little Last Chance Creek, which originates at 40°1′9″N 120°13′15″W  /  40.01917°N 120.22083°W  / 40.01917; -120.22083 and flows south through Frenchman Lake and Last Chance Valley to

8137-747: The north. Then the river flows through Portola and Delleker in the Humbug Valley. Sulphur Creek joins in the Mohawk Valley at Clio . Continuing west, the Middle Fork passes between Graeagle and Blairsden and further downstream south of Sloat in Long Valley. At Sloat, Long Valley Creek and Polar Creek enters the Feather. The Feather then enters a long and deep gorge. It is joined by numerous small tributaries. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses near Onion Valley Creek. The Middle Fork turns to flow southwest and south, through Bald Rock Canyon and

8240-459: The northern arm of Lake Oroville. Before Oroville Dam was built the mouth of the North Fork was located at 39°33′20″N 121°28′0″W  /  39.55556°N 121.46667°W  / 39.55556; -121.46667 . After the North Fork's mouth was inundated by Lake Oroville the North Fork's mouth was changed to be at 39°43′27″N 121°28′19″W  /  39.72417°N 121.47194°W  / 39.72417; -121.47194 , according to

8343-419: The plan's early stages after strong opposition from locals and concerns about the potential impact on the salmon in North Coast rivers. The California Water Plan would have to go ahead with the development of the Feather River alone, as proposed by Edmonston. The Burns-Porter Act of 1959 provided $ 1.75 billion of initial funding through a bond measure . Construction on Stage I of the project, which would deliver

8446-517: The production and flexibility of California's water management system, yielding 470,000 to 640,000 acre⋅ft (0.58 to 0.79 km ) of new water per year. This project is being seriously considered by the Department of Water Resources, as California's water system is expected to face serious shortfalls of 2 million acre-feet (2.5 km ) per year by 2020. However, the project has been criticized for its high cost, and potential disruption of fish migration when large amounts of water are drawn from

8549-535: The project in its tunnel form during his second governorship (2011-2019). His successor, Gavin Newsom , has also supported the project. Supporters of the tunnel argue that water being drawn from the southern intakes creates problems for wildlife and changes the natural flow in these areas, which would be corrected by drawing water from farther north. Supporters also claim that the California levees are also vulnerable to earthquakes and directing water away from them protects

8652-549: The purpose of preventing the frequent floods that often inundated this part of the Sacramento Valley, and to store water for agricultural uses downstream during the dry season. The dam is the principal feature for the California State Water Project , storing water for more than 23 million people and 750,000 acres (300,000 ha) of farmland in Central and Southern California Directly downstream from Oroville Dam lies

8755-596: The reservoirs. Fishermen expressed concerns over the impact of the dams on the salmon runs of North Coast rivers, especially the Klamath – the largest Pacific coast salmon river south of the Columbia River . The project would have eliminated 98 percent of the salmon spawning grounds on the Klamath. California Governor Ronald Reagan refused to approve the Dos Rios project, citing economic insensibility and fraudulent claims made by project proponents. The flood control benefits, for example, were largely exaggerated;

8858-513: The south slopes of Diamond Mountain, south and west, through Indian Valley and north of American Valley. Impounded at Antelope Dam , Indian Creek then joins Spanish Creek to form the East Branch North Fork Feather River. The longest tributary of Indian Creek is Last Chance Creek, which rises in eastern Plumas County at 40°0′47″N 120°12′10″W  /  40.01306°N 120.20278°W  / 40.01306; -120.20278 , south of Honey Lake , and flows generally west, joining Indian Creek at

8961-484: The supply of water. Delta farmers, communities, and commercial salmon and bass fishermen are especially concerned about the tunnel. However, some Delta scientists disagree. The new proposed canal would transport 1 million acre-feet (1.2 km ) of water to Silicon Valley , southern California and the majority of it would be directed to the Central Valley , a location with political influence and interest in

9064-741: The upper Feather River basin, across the Diamond Mountains. Historically, the Maidu were the main Native American inhabitants of the upper Feather River basin's American, Indian, and Sierra Valleys. Maidu villages were located in the Big Meadows area, now inundated by Lake Almanor, and in American Valley where Quincy is now located. The Maidu migrated to the Sierra Valley in the spring and summer, but did not stay during

9167-561: The upper and lower sections of Feather River based on levels of mercury found in fish caught from this water body. California State Water Project The California State Water Project , commonly known as the SWP , is a state water management project in the U.S. state of California under the supervision of the California Department of Water Resources . The SWP is one of the largest public water and power utilities in

9270-655: The water flows briefly south along the California Aqueduct to the 4,800 acre⋅ft (0.0059 km ) Bethany Reservoir . The South Bay Pumping Plant supplies the South Bay Aqueduct , which has delivered water west to Alameda County since 1962 and Santa Clara County since 1965. The aqueduct carries a maximum of 188,000 acre⋅ft (0.232 km ) per year. Up to 77,100 acre⋅ft (0.0951 km ) of this water can be stored in Lake Del Valle , an offstream reservoir located near Livermore . South of

9373-618: The water provided by the project is used for urban areas and industry in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area , and 30% is used for irrigation in the Central Valley . To reach Southern California, the water must be pumped 2,882 feet (878 m) over the Tehachapi Mountains , with 1,926 feet (587 m) at the Edmonston Pumping Plant alone, the highest single water lift in

9476-629: The water supply available for SWP entitlement holders and improving water quality in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. This project has previously arisen in several forms, including proposals for a Glenn Reservoir or the Glenn-Colusa Complex on nearby streams, which would also have been receiving reservoirs for water sent east through the Dos Rios Project's Grindstone Tunnel or other transfers from North Coast rivers. With its large storage capacity, Sites Reservoir would increase

9579-414: The water to develop new permanent crops, creating a dependency on SWP water that is technically part of Southern California's entitlement, This is now causing tensions as Southern California continues to increase its use of SWP water, decreasing the amount of surplus available to the system, especially in years of drought. In dry years, water pumped from the Delta creates a hazard to spring-run salmon . As

9682-535: The western end of Genesee Valley. From its source at the Indian and Spanish Creeks confluence, the East Branch North Fork flows west past Twain and joins the North Fork near Belden. The East Branch's main stem length is about 18 miles (29 km). Indian Creek is about 52.5 miles (84.5 km) long, and Last Chance Creek is about 45 miles (72 km) long. The East Branch's most distant headwater

9785-530: The world, providing drinking water for more than 27 million people and generating an average of 6,500 GWh of hydroelectricity annually. However, as it is the largest single consumer of power in the state itself, it has a net usage of 5,100 GWh. The SWP collects water from rivers in Northern California and redistributes it to the water-scarce but populous cities through a network of aqueducts, pumping stations and power plants. About 70% of

9888-520: The world. The SWP shares many facilities with the federal Central Valley Project (CVP), which primarily serves agricultural users. Water can be interchanged between SWP and CVP canals as needed to meet peak requirements for project constituents. The SWP provides estimated annual benefits of $ 400 billion to California's economy. Since its inception in 1960, the SWP has required the construction of 21 dams and more than 700 miles (1,100 km) of canals, pipelines and tunnels, although these constitute only

9991-542: Was basically a variation of a contemporary Bureau of Reclamation project, the Klamath Diversion . A series of dams in these watersheds would shunt water through interbasin transfers into the Klamath River system. The centerpiece of the project would be a 15-million-acre-foot (19 km ) reservoir on the Klamath River – the largest man-made lake in California – from where the water would flow through

10094-525: Was built between 1961 and 1967 with the reservoir filling for the first time in 1968. Lake Oroville has a capacity to store approximately 3.54 million acre-feet (4.37 km ) of water which accounts for 61 percent of the SWP's total system storage capacity, and is the single most important reservoir of the project. Water stored in Lake Oroville is released through the 819 MW Edward Hyatt pumped-storage powerplant and two other hydroelectric plants downstream of Oroville Dam, which together make up

10197-608: Was completed in 1974, with the last three units installed in the 1980s. Once reaching the crest of the Tehachapis, the aqueduct runs through a series of tunnels to the Tehachapi Afterbay, where its flow is partitioned between West and East Branches. The Coastal Branch diverts about 48,000 acre⋅ft (0.059 km ) per year from the California Aqueduct to parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The aqueduct stretches for 143 miles (230 km), and

10300-673: Was completed in 1997. The Feather River , a tributary of the Sacramento River , provides the primary watershed for the State Water Project. Runoff from the Feather River headwaters is captured in Antelope , Frenchman , and Davis reservoirs, which impound tributaries of the North and Middle forks of the Feather River. Collectively referred to as the Upper Feather River Lakes, these three reservoirs provide

10403-410: Was intended for "the control, protection, conservation, distribution, and utilization of the waters of California, to meet present and future needs for all beneficial uses and purposes in all areas of the state to the maximum feasible extent." California governor Pat Brown would later say it was to "correct an accident of people and geography". The diversion of the North Coast rivers was abandoned in

10506-829: Was inundated by Lake Oroville. The total stream distance from the head of the South Fork to the juncture with the Middle Fork in Lake Oroville is 44.5 miles (71.6 km). The 46.4-mile-long (74.7 km) West Branch Feather River , sometimes called the West Fork Feather River, has a drainage area that is small but slightly larger than that of the South Fork. It originates in Butte County at 40°4′40″N 121°25′24″W  /  40.07778°N 121.42333°W  / 40.07778; -121.42333 , in Lassen National Forest . It flows southwest through Snag Lake and by Coon Hollow, after which it

10609-698: Was the Dos Rios Project on the Eel River system, which would have involved constructing a gigantic dam on the Middle Fork of the Eel River, diverting water through the Grindstone Tunnel into the Sacramento Valley. Supporters of this project cited the disastrous Christmas flood of 1964 and the flood control benefits Dos Rios would provide to the Eel River basin. The Klamath and Dos Rios diversions were heavily opposed by local towns and Native American tribes, whose land would have been flooded under

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