Almaden Valley dam
Almaden Valley
Almaden Valley, located in San Jose, California, is home to a significant water supply infrastructure that plays a crucial role in providing irrigation and water supply to the surrounding areas. The dam in Almaden Valley, completed in 1965, stands at a height of 38 feet and has a hydraulic height of 36.3 feet. With a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet, the dam helps regulate water flow and manage water resources in the region, particularly for Tr Alamitos Creek.
Maintained by public utility owners and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for dam safety, Almaden Valley Dam is designated as having a high hazard potential. Despite this designation, the dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory, with the last inspection conducted in September 2020. Emergency action plans are in place, ensuring preparedness in case of any unforeseen events. The presence of this dam underscores the importance of water resource management and the critical role it plays in climate resilience and sustainable water supply practices in the region.
Almaden Valley serves as a vital hub for water resource management in Santa Clara County, California, showcasing the intersection of infrastructure, water supply, and environmental stewardship. The dam's role in ensuring water availability for irrigation and supply purposes highlights the importance of proactive maintenance and regulatory oversight in safeguarding water resources. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the presence of structures like the Almaden Valley Dam underscores the need for ongoing monitoring, assessment, and risk management to ensure the resilience of water supply systems in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Almaden Valley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saratoga C A Saratoga Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe R Abv Hwy 101 A San Jose Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Soquel C A Soquel Ca | 15 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Ab Hwy 237 A Milipitas Ca | 14 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo R A Big Trees Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Bl Coyote Res Nr San Martin Ca | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Almaden Valley.
Boat launches
- Mckean Road 22707-22725, San Jose
- Oak Glen Avenue 17655, Morgan Hill
- Uvas Road 15000-15208, Morgan Hill
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
- Pinto Lake City Park
- Coyote Lake Road 10700-12746, Gilroy
Campgrounds
- Uvas Canyon County Park
- Camp Loma (Future Farmers Of America)
- West Ridge Trail Camp
- Woodland Youth Camp
- Grant County Park
- Raymundo Campos
Fishing spots
- Calero Reservoir
- Campbell Perc Pond
- Lexington Reservoir
- Uvas Reservoir
- Lake Ranch Reservoir
- Anderson Lake
More reservoirs
Track Almaden Valley in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Almaden Valley
Where does the data for Almaden Valley come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Almaden Valley.