Dinkey Creek (California)

Dinkey Creek is a large stream in the southern Sierra Nevada, in Fresno County, California. The creek is 29.2 miles (47.0 km) long,[2] flowing undamed in a southerly direction through the Sierra National Forest. It is a tributary of the North Fork Kings River, in turn part of the Kings River system which drains into the de-watered Tulare Lake bed.

Dinkey Creek
Map of the Kings River watershed, including Dinkey Creek
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Physical characteristics
SourceSierra Nevada
 • coordinates37°08′44″N 119°03′59″W[1]
 • elevation10,152 ft (3,094 m)
MouthNorth Fork Kings River
 • location
Balch Camp
 • coordinates
36°54′08″N 119°07′21″W[1]
 • elevation
1,240 ft (380 m)
Length29.2 mi (47.0 km)[2]
Basin size132 sq mi (340 km2)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationnear Balch Camp[3]
 • average182.4 cu ft/s (5.16 m3/s)[4]
 • minimum1.56 cu ft/s (0.044 m3/s)
 • maximum4,320 cu ft/s (122 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftBear Creek, Deer Creek
 • rightCow Creek, Rock Creek, Bull Meadow Creek

Dinkey Creek originates in the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, along the Three Sisters peaks, at an elevation of 10,152 feet (3,094 m) above sea level.[5] It initially flows southwest, dropping over Dinkey Falls, then turning south a short distance below Dinkey Dome. It then flows past the community of Dinkey Creek and receives its largest tributary, Deer Creek, from the left.[6] The creek empties into the North Fork Kings River near Balch Camp,[7] at an elevation of 1,240 feet (380 m).[1]

The creek was named in 1863 by a group of hunters who were attacked there by a grizzly bear. The hunters' dog, Dinkey, tried to fight the bear, but was fatally injured. One of the men was then able to grab his gun and shoot the bear. They named the nearby stream Dinkey Creek to honor the dog's bravery.[8]

Dinkey Creek Hydroelectric Project

A hydroelectric project was proposed by the Kings River Conservation District (KRCD)([9] in 1978 on Dinkey Creek, but was canceled just two months before the start of construction in 1986 because PG&E withdrew from the power purchase agreement. That was caused in part by delays caused by environmental litigation challenging parts of the plan, as well as a dispute between PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission over related environmental issues.[10]

The KRCD's "Dinkey Creek Hydroelectric Project" would have consisted of a 380-foot (120 m) high rock fill dam with a spillway at elevation 5,710 ft (1,740 m), a 90,000 acre⋅ft (110,000,000 m3) reservoir, and two separate 60 megawatt power stations.[11] Construction would have also included 7.9 miles (12.7 km) of power tunnels, and four vertical shafts, and a 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long diversion tunnel in hard, massive, granitic rock.[12] The Dinkey Creek Inn in the community of Dinkey Creek is also located at 5,710 ft (1,740 m) elevation. According to the Bureau of Reclamation; "Adverse environmental impacts would be expected in all categories assessed – botany, wildlife, aquatic biology and water quality, recreation, and land use. In particular, a reservoir at Dinkey Creek would fundamentally alter the existing recreation-based community." [13]


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See also

References
  1. "Dinkey Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  2. "National Hydrography Dataset via National Map Viewer". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  3. "USGS Gage #11218000 Dinkey Creek at mouth, CA". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1920–1937. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  4. "USGS Gage #11218000 Dinkey Creek at mouth, CA". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1920–1937. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  5. United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Dogtooth Peak, California quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  6. United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Dinkey Creek, California quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  7. United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Sacate Ridge, California quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  8. Aldern, Jared Dahl (2016-10-03). "Cultural Fire on the Mountain: An Introduction to Native Cultural Burning". KCET. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  9. http://www.fresnolafco.org/documents/staff-reports/Public%20Review%20MSRs/KRCD%20MSR.pdf KINGS RIVER CONSERVATION DISTRICT review - fresnolafco.org "The Kings River Conservation District was formed in 1951 by a special act of the Legislature ([...]the “KRCD Act”) for the acquisition, construction, maintenance and operation of works and property for the purposes of the district.... The District is an independent special district which has a separate board of directors not governed by other legislative bodies (either a city council or a county board of supervisors). ...The District contains about 1,311,163 acres (2,049 sq. mi.) in Fresno, Kings and Tulare Counties. The District does not directly control water releases from Pine Flat Dam but participates with the Kings River Water Association (KRWA) to make cooperative decisions on irrigation releases." The KRWA is also involved in most other major decisions. ...Budget: $13,127,924." The District website is at www.krcd.org. Retrieved 2019-03-24
  10. http://www.krcd.org/_pdf/Kings_River_Handbook_2009.pdf Fifth Printing by Kings River Conservation District (KRCD). see page 13 —Dinkey hydro project cancellation "caused in part by delays caused by environmental litigation" Retrieved 2019-03-22
  11. "Dinkey Creek". Kings River Conservation District. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  12. https://cedb.asce.org/CEDBsearch/record.jsp?dockey=0055656 CIVIL ENGINEERING DATABASE The Effect of Geology on the Dinkey Creek Project, by Arthur B. Arnold, Bechtel Civil Inc, San Francisco, CA, USA, John P. Sollo, Bechtel Civil Inc, San Francisco, CA. USA. Retrieved 2019-03-23
  13. https://www.usbr.gov/mp/sccao/storage/docs/phase1_rpt_fnl/tech_app/02_dinkey_creek.pdf Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation, Dinkey Creek Reservoir - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Jun 13, 2002 "...adverse impacts to fisheries and fishing-oriented recreation resources. A reduction in flow, particularly during spring and summer when rainbow trout are spawning and the young are growing, could affect physical habitat availability. Changes in water temperature below the dam could adversely impact trout and the dam would impede migration." Retrieved 2019-03-23
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