In this article we will discuss about biggest dams in America.
A dam is a structure built over a river or other watercourse to keep water in and store it.
Table of Contents
1. New Melones Dam
American state of California is home to the New Melones Dam, which is a dam on the Stanislaus River. The dam, which was finished in 1979, serves a number of functions, including flood control, irrigation, the production of hydroelectric power, and recreation.
It is one of the largest earth-filled dams in the western United States, rising 459 feet (140 metres) high.New Melones Lake, one of California’s biggest reservoirs, is created by the dam, which is 730 feet tall.
In addition to serving as a recreational location for boatin water for the neighborhood’s agricultural sectors. Additionally, the dam produces hydroelectric power and aids in controlling water flows in the Stanislaus River.
2. Oroville Dam
The Oroville Structure is a sizable constructed along the Feather River and finished in 1968. The Oroville Dam, which stands 770 feet tall, was the tallest dam in the United States when it was constructed (230 meters).
Nearly 200,000 people who lived downstream of the dam were evacuated as a result of significant damage to the dam’s main spillway in February 2017.
This was done out of concern that the dam might fail. After the spillway was fixed, the dam was deemed safe.
However, the disaster has sparked worries about the upkeep and safety of outdated dams in the US and elsewhere in the world.
3. New Don Pedro Dam
New Don Pedro Dam was built primarily for water storage and hydroelectric power generation, and it provides significant benefits to the region, including reliable electricity generation, water storage for irrigation and other uses, and flood control. At 770 feet (235 meters) tall, it is one of the taller dams in California.
The New Don Pedro Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Tuolumne River in Tuolumne County, California, in the United States. Turlock Irrigation District and Modesto Irrigation District jointly maintain the dam, which was finished in 1971.
4. Dworshak Dam
A concrete gravity dam called Dworshak Dam is situated on the North Fork of the Clearwater River in Idaho, USA. It was constructed between 1964 and 1973 and is primarily used to store water and produce hydroelectric power. A U.S. Senator from Idaho by the name of Leo Dworshak, the dam bears his name.
Although the Dworshak Dam was primarily constructed for the purpose of producing hydroelectric power, it also has flood control and water storage advantages. One of the tallest dams in the US, it stands at 717 feet (218 metres) tall.
The Clearwater River flow is controlled by the dam, which has also altered the downstream river’s water temperature and quality. This has a significant impact on the ecosystem in the area.
5. Glen Canyon Dam
A concrete arch dam, the Glen Canyon Dam is situated on the Colorado River in northern Arizona, USA. The Bureau of Reclamation, a division of the US Department of the Interior, is in charge of running the dam, which was finished in 1963.
One of the tallest dams in the US is Glen Canyon Dam, which is 710 feet (216 metres) tall. The Colorado River and the ecology it surrounds are significantly impacted by the dam because it controls the river’s flow and affects downstream water quality and temperature.
The dam also offers significant benefits for water storage and flood control, assisting in maintaining the southwestern United States’ water supply.
6. New Bullards Bar Dam
American state of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains contain the earthen Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River. It is run by the Yuba County Water Agency since the dam’s completion in 1970.
The New Bullards Bar Dam, a crucial part of the Yuba River development project, was constructed largely for the purposes of water storage and hydroelectric power generation.
The dam is noteworthy because it generates clean, renewable hydroelectric power, stores water for irrigation and domestic use, and helps control the Yuba River’s water flow.
7. Mossyrock Dam
In Lewis County, Washington, in the United States, on the Cowlitz River, there is a concrete gravity dam called Mossyrock Dam.
The Lewis County Public Utility District runs the dam, which was finished in 1968.Despite its advantages, Mossyrock Dam has been the subject of some debate and criticism, notably in relation to its effects on the environment and the ecosystem downstream.
To lessen its negative environmental effects and increase its overall effectiveness, the dam has undergone a number of alterations and upgrades.
8. Shasta Dam
Shasta Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Sacramento River in northern California, United States. It was completed in 1945 and is operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The dam serves mainly for water storage and hydroelectric power generation, and it is a key component of the Central Valley Project, one of the largest water and power systems in the United States.
The Sacramento River and the surrounding ecology are significantly impacted by the dam because it controls the river’s flow and affects downstream water quality and temperature.
The dam also offers significant benefits for water storage and flood control, assisting in maintaining a steady water supply for California’s expanding population.Shasta Dam is the fourth tallest dam in the United States at 602 feet (183 metres) high.
Shasta Dam, dwarfed only by Hoover and Grand Coulee dams when it was completed on the Sacramento River in 1945, is breathtaking not only for its great size, but for its majestic setting in the southern range of the Cascades.
Final Words
These are the biggest dams in the United States of America. Dams are used to store water to generate energy. Dams played a vital role in the development of America.