Almaden Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Almaden Reservoir |
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March 2008
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 Almaden Reservoir
Location in California
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| Location | Santa Clara County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°09′45″N 121°50′08″W / 37.16250°N 121.83556°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Larrabee Gulch, Barret Canyon, Herbert Creek, and Jacques Gulch |
| Primary outflows | Alamitos Creek |
| Catchment area | 12.5 sq mi (32 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | Santa Clara Valley Water District |
| Max. length | 4,000 ft (1,200 m) |
| Max. width | 600 ft (180 m) |
| Surface area | 62 acres (250,000 m2) |
| Water volume | 2,000 acre-feet (2,500,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 617 feet (188 m) |
Almaden Reservoir is an artificial lake in the hills south of San Jose, California in the United States. It borders on the 4,163-acre (1,685 ha) Almaden Quicksilver County Park, which provides limited fishing ("catch-and-release"), picnicking, hiking, and horseback riding activities. Swimming and boating are not permitted in the reservoir.
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has issued a "Do Not Eat" advisory for any fish caught in Almaden Reservoir due to elevated levels of mercury.
History
The reservoir was formed by the Almaden Dam, built in 1936 across Alamitos Creek near the community of New Almaden. Its waters reach the San Francisco Bay by way of the Guadalupe River. It is one of the smaller reservoirs owned by the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
Almaden Dam
Almaden Dam is an earthen dam 110 feet (34 m) high and 500 feet (150 m) long containing 250,000 cubic yards (190,000 m3) of material. Its crest is 615 feet (187 m) above sea level.
