Pit 3 Dam

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox dam | name = Pit-3 Dam | name_official = Pit Number Three Dam | image = Pit3dam.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Satellite view | location_map = California | location_map_size = 230px | location_map_caption = Location of Pit-3 Dam in California | coordinates = {{coord|41|01|18|N|121|40|33|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | country = United States | location = Shasta County, California | construction_began = | opening = | cost = | owner = Pacific Gas and Electric Company<ref name="findlakes">{{cite web|url=http://findlakes.com/main.php?pit%20number%20three|title=Lake Britton, northwest California|publisher=FindLakes|date=|accessdate=2010-11-13}}</ref> | operator = | dam_type = | dam_length = {{convert|494|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="license"/> | dam_height = {{convert|130|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="license"/> | dam_width_crest = {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="findlakes"/> | dam_width_base = {{convert|110|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="findlakes"/> | dam_volume = | dam_crosses = Pit River | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = | res_name = Lake Britton | res_capacity_total = {{convert|41877|acre feet|m3|abbr=on}}<ref name="license"/> | res_catchment = {{convert|4700|sqmi|km2}}<ref name="findlakes"/> | res_surface = {{convert|1265|acre|km2}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydroreform.org/california/hydroguide/pit-river-watershed|title=Pit River Watershed|publisher=California Hydropower Reform Coalition|date=|accessdate=2010-11-13}}</ref> | res_max_depth = | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_turbines = | plant_hydraulic_head = {{convert|600|ft|m}}<ref name="license"/> | plant_capacity = 69.9 MW<ref name="license"/> | plant_annual_gen = 333,606,000 KWh (2001–2012)<ref name="California Hydro Statistics">{{cite web|url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/almanac/renewables_data/hydro/index.php|title=California Hydroelectric Statistics & Data|publisher=California Energy Commission|date=|accessdate=2018-04-27|archive-date=2018-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226135225/http://www.energy.ca.gov/almanac/renewables_data/hydro/index.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> | plant_type = R | website = | extra = }}

'''Pit-3 Dam''' (also known as '''Pit Number Three Dam''' and '''Dam Number Three''') is a hydroelectric dam on the Pit River in northern California in the United States. It forms Lake Britton, and is owned by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

==Specifications== Pit 3 is a curved concrete gravity dam with a height of {{convert|130|ft|m|abbr=on}} and length of {{convert|494|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The dam has a gated spillway with three steel gates and three inflatable rubber gates.<ref name="license"/>{{rp|6}} An intake structure at the dam diverts water into a {{convert|19|ft|adj=on}} diameter, {{convert|21203|ft|m|adj=on}} long tunnel that connects to the Pit 3 hydroelectric plant. There are three 23.3 MW generators, for a total capacity of 69.9 MW.<ref name="license"/>{{rp|6}}

Lake Britton, formerly known as Pit 3 Reservoir, has a maximum water level of {{convert|2737.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}; however, the lake is usually kept below {{convert|2736.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} to avoid flooding parts of McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park.<ref name="license"/>{{rp|279}} The gross storage capacity is {{convert|41877|acre feet|m3}} and the usable (active) storage is {{convert|14443|acre feet|m3}}.<ref name="license"/>{{rp|6}}

The lake level changes on a weekly basis with greater drawdowns during the weekdays for power generation, and refilling on the weekends.<ref name="license"/>{{rp|9}} In addition to generating power at the Pit 3 hydroelectric station, the reservoir also helps regulate water flowing through the Pit 4 and Pit 5 stations downstream.

The dam is the place where Pacific Crest Trail crosses the Pit River.<ref name="license">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LO00AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA308|title=Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Hydropower License: Pit 3, 4, 5 Hydroelectric Project|publisher=Federal Energy Regulatory Commission|date=Mar 2003|accessdate=2018-04-28}}</ref>{{rp|279}}

==History== Construction was completed in {{start date and age|1925|p=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rountree |first=Marilyn |url=http://shastacountyhistory.com/powerhouses |title=Hydroelectric Dams and Powerhouses |publisher=Shasta County History |date= |accessdate=2010-11-13}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Image:Lake_Britton.jpg|thumb|left|Lake Britton.]]

Category:Dams in California Category:Dams on the Pit River Category:Gravity dams Category:Pacific Gas and Electric Company dams Category:Buildings and structures in Shasta County, California Category:Dams completed in 1925 Category:1925 establishments in California