Lake Van Arsdale
| Industry | Hydroelectric power generation, water management |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1905 |
| Fate | Ownership transferred to Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 1930 |
| Successor | Pacific Gas and Electric Company |
| Headquarters | Potter Valley , United States |
| Products | Hydroelectric power, water supply |
Lake Van Arsdale, also referred to as Van Arsdale Reservoir, is a man-made lake situated on the Eel River within California. It forms an integral component of the Potter Valley Project. Positioned in Mendocino County, roughly north of Potter Valley, this reservoir delivers water to consumers extending as far south as Marin County.
The reservoir's creation results from the impoundment of the Eel River by the Cape Horn Dam—also known as Van Arsdale Dam. Annually, about of water is redirected southward through an aqueduct tunnel to a generating station in Potter Valley, producing a maximum output of 9.4 MW of electrical power. After power generation, the water proceeds along the Powerhouse Canal and into the East Fork Russian River, eventually reaching Lake Mendocino, which supplies the Sonoma County Water Agency. The remainder of the river's flow continues downstream toward its outlet near Fortuna.
History
The Potter Valley Project's construction was initiated in 1905 by the Snow Mountain Water and Power Company. Completion of Cape Horn Dam occurred in , with operations commencing in 1908. Ownership transferred to Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 1930, which has maintained control since then.
Cape Horn Dam
Cape Horn Dam is a combination earth-fill and concrete gravity structure measuring 63 feet in height, 515 feet in length, and 10 feet in thickness. It contains approximately 40,000 cubic yards of material, with its crest situated at an elevation of 1,519 feet above sea level.