# Pit 5 Dam > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pit_5_Dam > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pit_5_Dam.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_5_Dam > Source revision: 1300895377 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox dam | name = Pit 5 Dam | name_official = | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map = California | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = Location of Pit 5 Dam in California | location_map_alt = | coordinates = {{coord|40|59|30|N|121|52|16|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}{{cite gnis|type=retired|id=1663662|name=Pit Number 5 Diversion 97-107 Dam|date=1994-07-01|accessdate=2018-04-28}} | country = United States | location = [Shasta County](/source/Shasta_County), [California](/source/California) | purpose = Hydroelectric | status = | construction_began = | opening = 1944 | demolished = | cost = | builder = | owner = [PG&E](/source/Pacific_Gas_%26_Electric_Company) | operator = | dam_type = | dam_crosses = [Pit River](/source/Pit_River) | dam_height_foundation = {{convert|58|ft|m|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://npdp.stanford.edu/data_access/international_dams_view.php?editid1=NPDPUSA0004286#|title=Dam Name: Pit No. 5 Diversion|publisher=Stanford University|work=National Performance of Dams Program|date=|accessdate=2018-04-28}} | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{convert|340|ft|m|abbr=on}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = | spillway_count = | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = | res_name = Pit 5 Reservoir | res_capacity_total = {{convert|330|acre feet|m3|abbr=on}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive = | res_catchment = | res_surface = | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Pit 5 Powerhouse | plant_coordinates = | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_hydraulic_head = | plant_turbines = | plant_pumpgenerators = | plant_pumps = | plant_capacity = 160 [MW](/source/Megawatt) | plant_capacity_factor = | plant_efficiency = | plant_storage_hours = | plant_annual_gen = 781,328,000 [KWh](/source/Kilowatt_hour) (2001–2012){{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=2018-04-26|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}} | plant_annual_gen_year = | website = | extra = }} '''Pit 5 Dam''' is a [run-of-the-river hydroelectric](/source/Run-of-the-river_hydroelectricity) [dam](/source/dam) on the [Pit River](/source/Pit_River) in [Shasta County](/source/Shasta_County), northeastern [California](/source/California), about {{convert|2|mi|km}} south of [Big Bend](/source/Big_Bend%2C_California). It is part of the Pit 3-4-5 hydroelectric project owned by [Pacific Gas & Electric Company](/source/Pacific_Gas_%26_Electric_Company).{{cite web|url=https://www.hydroreform.org/projects/pit-3-4-5-p-233|title=Pit 3, 4, & 5 : P-233|publisher=Hydropower Reform Coalition|date=|accessdate=2018-04-28}} ==Specifications== The concrete [gravity](/source/Gravity_dam) [diversion dam](/source/diversion_dam) is {{convert|58|ft|m}} high and {{convert|340|ft|m}} long. It has a gated spillway controlled by four {{convert|50|x|26.3|ft|m|abbr=on}} steel wheel gates, and a {{convert|30|in|cm|abbr=on}} diameter river outlet for regular releases. An intake structure diverts water into a {{convert|5109|ft|m|adj=on}} long penstock to the Pit 5 Tunnel forebay reservoir, from which a second {{convert|23149|ft|m|adj=on}} tunnel connects to the Pit 5 power station. There are four 40 [MW](/source/megawatt) generating units, each fed by a {{convert|1380|ft|m|adj=on}}-long penstock.{{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}} ==History== The dam and power station were authorized in 1942 and constructed as a wartime project, and the first power was generated on April 29, 1944.{{cite web|url=https://www.usspec.com/view-project-profiles/pit-5-powerhouse/|title=Pit 5 Powerhouse|publisher=US Spec|format=pdf|date=|accessdate=2018-04-28}} Construction of the dam and power station dewatered a stretch of the Pit River known as the "Big Bend". When the projects were relicensed in 2007, a minimum {{convert|250|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} release into the river was established, to provide recreation benefits such as boating and fishing, and to improve riparian habitat.{{cite web|url=https://www.hydroreform.org/sites/default/files/Pit_FINAL_0_0.pdf|title=Pit 1, and Pit 3, 4, and 5 Projects|publisher=Hydropower Reform Coalition|year=2009|format=PDF|accessdate=2018-04-28|archive-date=2017-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525111658/http://www.hydroreform.org/sites/default/files/Pit_FINAL_0_0.pdf|url-status=dead}} ==See also== *[List of dams and reservoirs in California](/source/List_of_dams_and_reservoirs_in_California) ==References== {{reflist}} Category:Dams in California Category:Dams in the Sacramento River basin Category:Gravity dams Category:Dams completed in 1944 Category:Pacific Gas and Electric Company dams --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pit 5 Dam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_5_Dam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_5_Dam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.