Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announces it is refurbishing the spillway at Lower Bucks Lake this year and next. Campgrounds, day use areas and private camps on Lower Bucks Lake will remain open and accessible during construction. Reservoir levels will be within normal range.
Campers and visitors should be aware of construction vehicles and equipment along roads and construction noise. Work will occur from about 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and on occasional Sundays and public holidays if needed. Work commenced June 3 and will proceed through November, with a similar work schedule set for next year.
Half of the spillway will be removed and rebuilt this year; the same procedure will be conducted on the other half next year. The spillway has reached the end of its useful life, said PG&E, so the company is proactively replacing it.
Lower Bucks Lake is immediately downstream from the much larger Bucks Lake, which also will remain open during the project and fully available for recreation and camping. Bucks Lake’s level will not be directly impacted by the spillway project. The lakes are about 15 miles southwest of Quincy in the Plumas National Forest.
PG&E’s hydropower system is built along 11 river basins stretching about 400 miles. The system uses water from more than 100 reservoirs, mostly located in higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. PG&E’s 61 powerhouses produce about 3,800 megawatts of power.
Information provided by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
