News Release Archive

Reclamation to Clean Trash Racks at Nimbus Dam Powerplant; Water Released through Spillway Gates

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: July 24, 2009

On Monday, July 27 at about 9 a.m., through Tuesday, July 28, at about 4 p.m., the release of about 4,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) that would typically flow through the Nimbus Powerplant will instead be released to the lower American River through the Nimbus Dam spillway and will be visible to the public. The total scheduled release of 5,000 cfs will not change because 500 cfs will continue to flow through two penstocks.

This operation is required to clean the trash racks on the Nimbus Dam Powerplant penstocks. The trash racks located in front of the penstocks prevent debris from entering the turbines.

The penstock cleaning will have no adverse effect on water deliveries, but hydropower production will be impacted. For questions, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100, or e-mail lwirth@usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.