Dinkey Creek (California) Explained

Dinkey Creek
Map:Kings River watershed.png
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:California
Length:29.2miles[1]
Discharge1 Location:near Balch Camp[2]
Discharge1 Min:1.56cuft/s
Discharge1 Avg:182.4cuft/s[3]
Discharge1 Max:4320cuft/s
Source1:Sierra Nevada
Source1 Coordinates:37.1456°N -119.0664°W[4]
Source1 Elevation:10152feet
Mouth:North Fork Kings River
Mouth Location:Balch Camp
Mouth Coordinates:36.9022°N -119.1225°W
Mouth Elevation:1240feet
Basin Size:132sqmi
Tributaries Left:Bear Creek, Deer Creek
Tributaries Right:Cow Creek, Rock Creek, Bull Meadow Creek

Dinkey Creek is a large stream in the southern Sierra Nevada, in Fresno County, California. The creek is 29.2miles long,[1] flowing undammed 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 originates in the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, along the Three Sisters peaks, at an elevation of 10152feet 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 1240feet.[4]

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 380feet high rock fill dam with a spillway at elevation 5710feet, a 90000acre feet reservoir, and two separate 60 megawatt power stations.[11] Construction would have also included 7.9miles of power tunnels, and four vertical shafts, and a 4.5miles long diversion tunnel in hard, massive, granitic rock.[12] The Dinkey Creek Inn in the community of Dinkey Creek is also located at 5710feet 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]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Hydrography Dataset via National Map Viewer. U.S. Geological Survey. 2017-10-10. 2021-01-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20210129064211/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/. dead.
  2. Web site: USGS Gage #11218000 Dinkey Creek at mouth, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1920–1937. 2017-10-10.
  3. Web site: USGS Gage #11218000 Dinkey Creek at mouth, CA. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System. 1920–1937. 2017-10-10.
  4. 270877. Dinkey Creek. 1981-01-19. 2017-10-10.
  5. Web site: United States Geological Survey (USGS) . United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Dogtooth Peak, California quad . TopoQuest . 2017-10-10.
  6. Web site: United States Geological Survey (USGS) . United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Dinkey Creek, California quad . TopoQuest . 2017-10-10.
  7. Web site: United States Geological Survey (USGS) . United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Sacate Ridge, California quad . TopoQuest . 2017-10-10.
  8. Web site: Cultural Fire on the Mountain: An Introduction to Native Cultural Burning. Aldern, Jared Dahl. KCET. 2016-10-03. 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. Web site: Dinkey Creek. Kings River Conservation District. 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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