Shasta Dam only by Hoover Dam on the Colorado – as well as the highest man-made structure in California. It was also the second most massive concrete dam measured by volume, exceeded only by Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington. An anonymous workman reportedly said, "Old Shasta's about the secondest dam there is." When the dam was completed, chief engineer Frank Crowe is known to have declared, "Look at that Shasta Dam. That dam will stand there forever holding back the river. And that powerhouse will keep right on turning out juice until somebody discovers how to make power
Portugués Dam is filled and the dam tested, it is expected to be operational in early 2015. The Portugués Dam is a high and long single-centered roller-compacted concrete thick arch. Containing of roller-compacted concrete, it is thick at its base and thick at its crest. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway center-left side, over the river bed; below the dams crest of above sea level. The center of the dam straddles an intake and outlet structure which will draw water from behind the dam and discharge it into the river valley. During excavation, a Pre-Columbian era ceremonial plaza ("batey" or ball court)