Fed Study Shows Raising Shasta Dam Is Feasible

SHASTA LAKE (AP) — A new federal study shows that raising Shasta Dam to boost the state's water supply is feasible and economically justified.

The study by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released this week found that a height increase of 18.5 feet to the top of the 602-foot-high dam would increase storage capacity of Lake Shasta by 14 percent. It would also improve hydropower and salmon habitat.

But raising the dam also would mean some businesses and resorts would have to move. And it would cause flooding of lake-side religious sites of the Winnemem Wintu tribe.

Lake Shasta near Redding is the starting point for the federally run Central Valley Project. The system of reservoirs, canals and aqueducts funnels water to 3.2 million acres of farmland and supplies water to about 2 million Californians.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press)