Coyote dam
Coyote
Coyote Lake, also known simply as Coyote, is a significant water resource located in Santa Clara County, California. This public utility serves as a vital source of water supply for irrigation and general water supply purposes in the region. The dam, completed in 1936, stands at a height of 140 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 23,666 acre-feet.
Situated along the Coyote Creek, this earth dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area, with a drainage area of 120 square miles. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, yet its condition assessment remains satisfactory as of September 2017. With state regulation, inspection, and enforcement in place, the dam continues to operate effectively, ensuring the safety and reliability of the water supply for the community in Morgan Hill and beyond.
Despite its age, Coyote Dam remains a robust structure, supported by regular inspections and a comprehensive emergency action plan. Its strategic location within the Sacramento District underscores its importance in the region's water management system. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering marvel and ecological significance of Coyote Lake as it continues to serve as a critical water storage facility 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.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Coyote -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote C Bl Coyote Res Nr San Martin Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Nr Gilroy Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Llagas C Nr Gilroy | 12 cfs | → |
| Pacheco C Nr Dunneville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Pajaro R A Chittenden Ca | 43 cfs | → |
| Corralitos C A Freedom Ca | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coyote.
Boat launches
- Coyote Lake Road 10700-12746, Gilroy
- Oak Glen Avenue 17655, Morgan Hill
- Uvas Road 15000-15208, Morgan Hill
- Mckean Road 22707-22725, San Jose
- Pinto Lake City Park
- Rountree Lane Santa Cruz County
Campgrounds
- Coyote Lake County Park
- Madrone Soda Springs Camp
- Coit Horse Camp
- Blue Oak Horse Camp
- Lion Spring Camp
- Yerba Buena Camp
Fishing spots
Track Coyote 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 Coyote
Where does the data for Coyote 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 Coyote.