Quiz on Dams in California

What is the primary purpose of dams?

• Water control and storage

• Electricity generation

• Flood management

• All of the above

How many federal and state regulated dams exist in California?

• 500

• 1,472

• 2,000

• 1,246

Which type of dam is most common in California?

• Gravity dams

• Embankment dams

• Roller compacted concrete dams

• Timber dams

What percentage of California’s electricity is generated by hydropower from dams?

• 5%

• 10%

• 15%

• 20%

What is one of the key roles of the Oroville Dam?

• Hydropower generation

• Storing floodwater

• Earthquake management

• Water recycling

What led to the development of a vast dam system in California?

• Earthquakes

• The Gold Rush

• Water storage and flood control needs

• Expansion of urban areas

Which California dam is the tallest in the United States?

• Hoover Dam

• Shasta Dam

• Trinity Dam

• Oroville Dam

Which river is associated with the proposed removal of dams to improve water quality and fisheries?

• Feather River

• Klamath River

• American River

• San Joaquin River

Which storage method is being increasingly used as an alternative to dams?

• Reservoirs

• Subsurface aquifers

• Hydroelectric plants

• Canals

Which legislation aimed to preserve free-flowing rivers in California?

• Clean Water Act

• California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

• Proposition 1

• Water Improvement Act