New Exchequer Dam
| New Exchequer Dam | |
|---|---|
New Exchequer Dam and Lake McClure viewed from the air | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Mariposa County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°35′10″N 120°16′10″W / 37.58611°N 120.26944°W |
| Construction began | 1964 |
| Opening date | 1967 |
| Owner(s) | Merced Irrigation District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete–faced rockfill |
| Impounds | Merced River |
| Height | 490 ft (150 m) |
| Length | 1,220 ft (370 m) |
| Elevation at crest | 879 ft (268 m) |
| Spillways | Gated ogee crest |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake McClure |
| Total capacity | 1,024,600 acre-feet (1.2638 km3) |
| Catchment area | 1,040.1 sq mi (2,694 km2) |
| Surface area | 7,147 acres (2,892 ha) |
| Maximum length | 29 mi (47 km) |
| Normal elevation | 867 ft (264 m) |
| Power Station | |
| Hydraulic head | 437 ft (133 m) |
| Installed capacity | 94.5 MW |
| Annual generation | 279,065,000 KWh (2001–2012) |
New Exchequer Dam is a concrete–faced, rock-fill dam on the Merced River in central California in the United States. It forms Lake McClure, which impounds the river for irrigation and hydroelectric power production and has a capacity of more than 1,000,000 acre-feet (1.2 km3). The Merced Irrigation District (MID) operates the dam and was also responsible for its construction.
Built between 1964 and 1967, the dam replaced the old arch type Exchequer Dam and stands 490 feet (150 m) high. At the time of completion, it was the largest dam of its kind in the world. The dam is named for the town of Exchequer which now lies under the reservoir, while the reservoir is named for Wilbur F. McClure, the State Engineer of California during construction.