O M G !
The dam is going to break.
Well, not really, but you wouldn’t know it by the staggering array of federal, state and local agency representatives flocking to the Crane Valley Dam.
Over one-hundred years old and still amazing, the Crane Valley project is a unique and rather interesting part of Bass Lake that few have made acquaintance.
I have been to most of the project, but this year I was able to see all the powerhouses and diversions. Here are a few of my views of the project.
Inside the Crane Valley Powerhouse below the dam at Bass Lake.
These facilites haven’t undergone much change. What will change is the dam.
The inspector from FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) is given the grand tour of anything and everything.
Old in design and construction, water flows through the project via a series of pipes, penstocks, and ditches.
Oil and water don’t mix. One stop along the tour is to inspect the handling and management of oil within the facilities.
I won’t see many more FERC inspections, but I’m glad I did get to see the old Crane Valley Project this year. I expect it will be generating megawatts and lake recreation for the next 100 years.