San Felipe Ranch dam
San Felipe Ranch
San Felipe Ranch, located in San Jose, California, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1959 for the primary purpose of water supply. The dam stands at a height of 49 feet and has a hydraulic height of 43 feet, with a storage capacity of 64 acre-feet. Situated on the Tr San Felipe Creek, the dam covers a surface area of 4 acres and serves for irrigation and water supply in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and regulated by the Safety of Dams agency, San Felipe Ranch dam has a low hazard potential and is considered to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in 2017. The dam has undergone regular inspections, with the last one conducted in December 2020, and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols. Despite its modest size and capacity, the dam plays a crucial role in providing a reliable water source for agricultural and domestic use in the area.
With its strategic location and vital function in water supply, San Felipe Ranch serves as a key infrastructure for ensuring water security in Santa Clara County. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the role this dam plays in supporting local irrigation needs and maintaining a sustainable water supply in the region, highlighting the importance of effective dam management and regulatory oversight in adapting to changing climate conditions.
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 San Felipe Ranch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Hondo Nr San Jose Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Bl Coyote Res Nr San Martin Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe R Abv Hwy 101 A San Jose Ca | 37 cfs | → |
| Alameda C Ab Div Dam Nr Sunol Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Alameda C Bl Div Dam Nr Sunol Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Ab Hwy 237 A Milipitas Ca | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near San Felipe Ranch.
⚓ Boat launches
- Mckean Road 22707-22725, San Jose
- Oak Glen Avenue 17655, Morgan Hill
- Uvas Road 15000-15208, Morgan Hill
- Coyote Lake Road 10700-12746, Gilroy
- Santa Clara County
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track San Felipe Ranch 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 San Felipe Ranch
Where does the data for San Felipe Ranch 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 San Felipe Ranch.