News Release Archive

Reclamation to Intermittently Close Shasta Dam Road During Construction Work on Temperature Control Device

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, eccurtis@usbr.gov

For Release: July 31, 2015

SHASTA LAKE, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation will intermittently close Shasta Dam Road beginning Monday, August 3, through Friday, August 21, for construction work on the Shasta Temperature Control Device. The closures will take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. during weekdays only; Shasta Dam Road will be open during the weekends.

During those times when the road over Shasta Dam is closed, a security guard will re-route traffic to the service road at the bottom of the dam. Another guard will be stationed at the service road entrance to direct traffic across the road. The construction work will have no impact on the Shasta Dam tour program or other recreation at Shasta Reservoir.

The work will consist of installing waterproof “curtains” on the TCD to act as a barrier between water in Shasta Reservoir and the TCD’s closed middle gates. The curtains will minimize leakage of warm surface water into the TCD shutter structure to help meet Sacramento River temperature targets in late summer and early fall. The targets, which require cooler water to be released from lower in Shasta Reservoir, are critical for returning Chinook salmon, which are endangered. The curtains will be removed in the fall.

For information on Shasta Dam tours, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ncao/shasta/index.html.

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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.