Cherry Flat dam
Cherry Flat
Cherry Flat, also known as Cherry Flat Reservoir, is a local government-owned water supply structure located in San Jose, California. Built in 1936, this earth dam stands at a height of 60 feet and has a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet. Situated along the Penitencia Creek, the reservoir covers a surface area of 25 acres and serves multiple purposes, including water supply and recreation.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Cherry Flat is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. Despite being classified as a high hazard potential structure, the dam is in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in September 2017. With a primary purpose of providing water supply, Cherry Flat ensures the region has a reliable source of water while also offering recreational opportunities for the community.
With its close proximity to San Jose and its importance in water management for the area, Cherry Flat Reservoir plays a crucial role in ensuring water security and resource management in Santa Clara County. Encompassing the beauty of the surrounding landscape and contributing to the local ecosystem, Cherry Flat stands as a testament to the vital intersection between water resources, infrastructure, and climate resilience in California.
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.
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cherry Flat.
⚓ Boat launches
- Mckean Road 22707-22725, San Jose
- Santa Clara County
- Lake Elizabeth Boat Ramp
- Chelsea Drive 5094, Newark
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
- Palo Alto Boat Launch
⛺ Campgrounds
- Grant County Park
- Woodland Youth Camp
- Oak Knoll Group Area
- Youth Group Camp Area
- Raymundo Campos
- Sky Camp (Upper)
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Cherry Flat 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 Cherry Flat
Where does the data for Cherry Flat 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 Cherry Flat.