Elderberry Forebay

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Elderberry Forebay
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Elderberry Forebay
Location Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates 34°34′19″N118°38′16″W / 34.5719°N 118.6379°W / 34.5719; -118.6379 [1] Coordinates: 34°34′19″N118°38′16″W / 34.5719°N 118.6379°W / 34.5719; -118.6379 [1]
Type Reservoir
Primary inflows West Branch California Aqueduct
Primary outflows Castaic Creek
Catchment area 81.6 square miles (211 km2) [2]
Basin  countries United States
Surface area450 acres (180 ha) [2]
Water volume28,400 acre⋅ft (35.0×10^6 m3) [2]
Surface elevation1,519 feet (463 m) [1]
References [1] [2]

Elderberry Forebay is a small reservoir in Los Angeles County, California, which serves as the pumping forebay of the Castaic Power Plant. It located at the upper end of the larger Castaic Lake and is separated from the lake by Elderberry Forebay Dam at its southern edge. Entering the northern end of the forebay is the west branch of the California Aqueduct, which connects the forebay to Pyramid Lake through the Angeles Tunnel. [2] [3]

A component of the California State Water Project, the reservoir was partitioned from Castaic Lake in 1974 to store water for pumped-storage hydroelectricity generation. [2] [3] During on-peak energy-demand hours, water flows 7.5 miles (12.1 km) from Pyramid Lake through the Angeles Tunnel and then on to the turbines of the Castaic Power Plant, producing electricity. From there, the water flows into Elderberry Forebay. During off-peak hours (including nighttime and Sundays), water is pumped from the forebay, back through the tunnel and into Pyramid Lake. [3]

See also

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Elderberry Forebay Dam is a dam located in the Sierra Pelona Mountains of northwestern Los Angeles County, California. The dam partitions Elderberry Forebay from Castaic Lake. It forms the headwater reservoir for Castaic Power Plant, a pumped-storage hydroelectricity generation facility. The dam was completed in 1974 as part of the California State Water Project.

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Castac or Castaic is an unincorporated, rural community near the city of Santa Clarita in Southern California. It can also refer to:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Elderberry Forebay". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (A-G)" (PDF). California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Castaic Lake" (PDF). California Department of Water Resources . Retrieved November 1, 2013.