Coyote Percolation dam
Coyote Percolation
Coyote Percolation is a vital water resource infrastructure located in San Jose, California, along the Coyote Creek. Built in 1934, this buttress dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, serving primarily for irrigation and water supply purposes. With a satisfactory condition assessment and high hazard potential, Coyote Percolation is under state regulation and inspection to ensure its safety and functionality.
Managed by a public utility, this dam plays a crucial role in water management for the Santa Clara County region. Its location within the Sacramento District and close proximity to urban areas like San Jose highlight the importance of balancing water supply needs with environmental sustainability. The dam's last inspection in April 2020 revealed its satisfactory condition, but ongoing monitoring and maintenance are essential to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
With a history dating back to the early 20th century, Coyote Percolation continues to be a key component of the local water infrastructure. As climate change impacts water resources and availability, the importance of maintaining and upgrading dams like Coyote Percolation to meet evolving needs and standards becomes increasingly crucial. As a strategic water supply asset in California, this dam serves as a testament to the ongoing efforts to manage water resources effectively in the face of 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 Coyote Percolation -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe R Abv Hwy 101 A San Jose Ca | 37 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Bl Coyote Res Nr San Martin Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Saratoga C A Saratoga Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Hondo Nr San Jose Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Ab Hwy 237 A Milipitas Ca | 13 cfs | → |
| Alameda C Ab Div Dam Nr Sunol Ca | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coyote Percolation.
⚓ 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
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
- Pinto Lake City Park
⛺ Campgrounds
- Woodland Youth Camp
- Grant County Park
- Uvas Canyon County Park
- Raymundo Campos
- Camp Loma (Future Farmers Of America)
- Frog Lake Camp
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Coyote Percolation 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 Percolation
Where does the data for Coyote Percolation 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 Percolation.