Courtright Dam
| Company type | Reservoir |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power generation, Recreation |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Headquarters | Fresno County , United States |
| Products | Water storage, Hydroelectric power generation, Recreation |
| Owner | Pacific Gas and Electric |
Courtright Reservoir is a reservoir located in Fresno County, California, positioned at an elevation of 8,170 feet (2,490 m) within the Sierra National Forest of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies adjacent to both the John Muir Wilderness and Dinkey Lakes Wilderness areas.
This reservoir was created by the construction of the rock-fill Courtright Dam on Helms Creek. The dam, which reaches a height of 315 feet (96 m) from its crest to the streambed, was completed in and is under the ownership of Pacific Gas and Electric. In 1984, the Helms Pumped Storage Powerhouse was installed, allowing water to be pumped from Wishon Reservoir up to Courtright Reservoir.<ref>The facility’s main purpose is generating hydroelectric power.
Primarily, Courtright Reservoir functions as the upper reservoir for the Helms Pumped Storage Plant, with Wishon Reservoir downstream serving as both the lower reservoir and principal water supply. During periods of high electricity demand, water is released from Courtright through the 1,212 MW Helms Power Plant into Wishon Reservoir. Conversely, when electricity demand decreases, water is pumped back to Courtright using reversible turbine technology. The Helms Power Plant is situated approximately 1,000 feet (300 m) below ground within granite rock near Wishon Lake, similar in design to Southern California Edison’s Eastwood Powerhouse.
The reservoir area offers a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, fishing, hiking, boating, swimming, rock climbing, and off-road vehicle use. Its granite domes are a popular destination for rock climbers, while the high elevation and clear night skies attract astronomers such as members of the Central Valley Astronomers group.
Visitors should be aware of certain health concerns associated with local wildlife: ticks in the region can carry tick-borne relapsing fever, and yellow-bellied marmots may harbor infectious Cryptosporidium parvum. Although elevated radiation levels have been detected due to the altitude, these are not deemed dangerous.