Williams dam
Williams
Williams Dam, located in Los Gatos, California, is a gravity type dam built in 1895 with a height of 69 feet and a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet on the Los Gatos Creek. Managed by a Public Utility, the dam serves the primary purpose of water supply for the region. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources and is subject to regular inspections, with the last assessment in September 2020 showing satisfactory condition and low hazard potential.
Despite its age, Williams Dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management in Santa Clara County. With a drainage area of 5.7 square miles and a surface area of 3 acres, the dam contributes to the water supply needs of the surrounding area. In the event of an emergency, the dam is equipped with an Emergency Action Plan to ensure public safety and has designated emergency contacts to coordinate response efforts.
Located in a region susceptible to droughts and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, the maintenance and monitoring of Williams Dam are crucial for ensuring water security in the area. As a key infrastructure for water supply, the dam's continued operation and adherence to safety regulations are essential for mitigating risks and adapting to the challenges posed by a changing climate.
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 Williams -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Soquel C A Soquel Ca | 15 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo R A Big Trees Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo R A Santa Cruz Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| Saratoga C A Saratoga Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| Corralitos C A Freedom Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe R Abv Hwy 101 A San Jose Ca | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Williams.
Boat launches
- Mckean Road 22707-22725, San Jose
- Oak Glen Avenue 17655, Morgan Hill
- Uvas Road 15000-15208, Morgan Hill
- Pinto Lake City Park
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
- Rountree Lane Santa Cruz County
Campgrounds
- Camp Loma (Future Farmers Of America)
- West Ridge Trail Camp
- Uvas Canyon County Park
- Cityteam Camp May Mac
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- New Brighton State Beach
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Gold Creek To Three Pools (Opal Creek Run)
- Boy Scout Camp To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
- Headwaters South Fork Little Sur To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
- Headwaters North Fork Little Sur To Boy Scout Camp
More reservoirs
Track Williams 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 Williams
Where does the data for Williams 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 Low 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 Williams.