| All-american Canal |
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Although not part of the All-American Canal System, Senator Wash Reservoir serves as an off-stream regulating reservoir for the canal. It is located two miles (3 km) above Imperial Dam and can store 13,800 acre-feet (17,000,000 m³) of water. Water is pumped into the reservoir when the flow at Imperial Dam exceeds diversion requirements. In addition to Senator Wash, the Imperial Irrigation District has ten other regulating reservoirs with a combined capacity of 3,300 acre-feet (4,000,000 m³). Imperial Dam's reservoir was not intended for water storage and filled with sediment soon after it was built. Currently, it can only hold about 1,000 acre-feet (1,200,000 m³) and requires periodic dredging to keep the diversion channel open. The Colorado River carries an enormous amount of sediment. The sediment is removed at desilting basins so that it will not fill in the canal. Eight Hydroelectric power plants have been constructed along drops in the All-American Canal system. Drops 1 through 5, Pilot Knob, East Highline and Double Weir are located on the All-American Canal. Another power plant, Turnip, is located on the Central Main Canal branch. The power plants are all relatively small and have a combined capacity of 58 MW. Electricity generation is dictated by water delivery needs. There is also a 7.2 MW Pumped Storage plant at Senator Wash Dam. Water from the Senator Wash Reservoir is released when water needs exceed flows at Parker Dam . Runoff from the farmland irrigated by the All-American Canal make up most of the flows in the Alamo River and New River, both of which drain into the Salton Sea , providing 85% of its water. The rest is from smaller rivers and drainage systems. If not for the All-American Canal, the Salton Sea would have dried up long ago. Unfortunately, the runoff carries fertilizers, pesticides and salts into the sea. EXTERNAL RESOURCES
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