Kuhn dam
Kuhn
Kuhn is a privately owned dam located in San Jose, California, along the Tr Dry Creek. Built in 1947, this earth dam stands at a height of 67 feet and has a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is for water supply, serving both irrigation and domestic needs in the area. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources and Safety of Dams, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and functionality.
With a hazard potential rated as high, Kuhn is subject to regular inspections to assess its condition and ensure it meets safety standards. The most recent inspection in December 2020 deemed the dam to be in satisfactory condition. Although there are no spillways or outlet gates specified, the dam's structure and design are overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In the event of an emergency, it is crucial that an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place to mitigate risks and protect surrounding communities from potential inundation.
As a vital water resource in Santa Clara County, Kuhn plays a crucial role in water management and supply for the region. Climate change and variability in precipitation patterns highlight the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams like Kuhn to safeguard against potential risks and ensure reliable water distribution for agricultural and urban use. Enthusiasts in water resources and climate will find Kuhn's data and regulatory oversight to be an intriguing case study in dam management and the intersection of water supply with environmental stewardship.
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 Kuhn -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Hondo Nr San Jose Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe R Abv Hwy 101 A San Jose Ca | 34 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Ab Hwy 237 A Milipitas Ca | 17 cfs | → |
| Alameda C Ab Div Dam Nr Sunol Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Alameda C Bl Div Dam Nr Sunol Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Calaveras C Nr Sunol Ca | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kuhn.
Boat launches
- Mckean Road 22707-22725, San Jose
- Oak Glen Avenue 17655, Morgan Hill
- Uvas Road 15000-15208, Morgan Hill
- Santa Clara County
- Coyote Lake Road 10700-12746, Gilroy
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
Campgrounds
- Woodland Youth Camp
- Grant County Park
- Raymundo Campos
- Oak Knoll Group Area
- Youth Group Camp Area
- Frog Lake Camp
Track Kuhn 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 Kuhn
Where does the data for Kuhn 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 Kuhn.