| La Yesca Dam | |
| Name Official: | Presa Yesca |
| Location Map: | Mexico |
| Coordinates: | 21.1972°N -104.0956°W |
| Country: | Mexico |
| Location: | La Yesca |
| Status: | O |
| Purpose: | Power, river regulation |
| Construction Began: | 2007 |
| Opening: | 6 November 2012 |
| Cost: | US$768 million |
| Owner: | Federal Electricity Commission |
| Dam Type: | Embankment, concrete-face rock-fill |
| Dam Height: | 2200NaN0 |
| Dam Length: | 6280NaN0 |
| Dam Volume: | 119000000NaN0 |
| Dam Elevation Crest: | 5790NaN0 |
| Dam Crosses: | Río Grande de Santiago |
| Spillway Type: | Service, gate-controlled channel |
| Spillway Capacity: | 159150NaN0 |
| Res Capacity Total: | 25000000000NaN0 |
| Res Capacity Active: | 13920000000NaN0 |
| Res Catchment: | 515900NaN0 |
| Res Surface: | 33.40NaN0[1] |
| Res Elevation: | 5750NaN0 |
| Plant Commission: | 2012 |
| Plant Type: | Conventional |
| Plant Turbines: | 2 x 375 MW Francis-type |
| Plant Capacity: | 750 MW |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 1,210 GWh (planned) |
La Yesca Dam is an embankment dam on the Santiago River 900NaN0 northwest of Guadalajara on the border of Mexico's Nayarit and Jalisco states. Construction on the dam began in 2007 after Empresas ICA was awarded the main construction contract. The dam was inaugurated by President Felipe Calderón on 6 November 2012.[2] The dam supports a 750 MW hydroelectric power station and is part of the Hydroelectric System Santiago.[3] Its construction will improve the regulation of water flow and subsequently power generation downstream at the El Cajón and Aguamilpa Dams.[4]
The La Yesca Dam is a 2200NaN0 tall and 6280NaN0 long concrete-face rock-fill embankment type with 119000000NaN0 of fill. The dam's crest elevation is 5790NaN0 above sea level and it sits at the head of a 515900NaN0 catchment area. On the dam's left bank is a spillway controlled by six radial gates. The maximum discharge of the spillway is 159150NaN0. The dam's reservoir has a capacity of 25000000000NaN0 of which 13920000000NaN0 can be used for generating electricity. The reservoir has a surface area of 33.40NaN0 and a normal elevation of 5750NaN0. The power station contains two 375 MW Francis turbine generators producing an estimated annual generation of 1,210 GWh.[1]