Stevens Creek Reservoir

Stevens Creek Reservoir

Reservoir looking northeast towards the dam. From the Zinfandel Trail in Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve
Location Santa Clara County, California
Coordinates 37°17′38″N 122°04′47″W / 37.29399°N 122.07986°W / 37.29399; -122.07986Coordinates: 37°17′38″N 122°04′47″W / 37.29399°N 122.07986°W / 37.29399; -122.07986
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Stevens Creek
Primary outflows Stevens Creek
Basin countries United States
Surface area 92 acres (37 ha)
Water volume 3,138 acre·ft (3,871,000 m3)
Settlements none

Stevens Creek Reservoir is a reservoir located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains near Cupertino, California.

History

Stevens Creek Dam, which impounds the lake, was approved for construction by voters in 1934 and completed in 1935. The dam's height was raised 10 feet (3 m) in 1985, to its present height.[1] The Santa Clara Valley Water District owns the dam.[2]

Originally named Arroyo de San José Cupertino, Stevens Creek flows into the reservoir and out of the dam to San Francisco Bay. Stevens Creek and the reservoir are named after Captain Elijah Stephens who led the first wagon train across the Sierra Nevada in 1844 and settled in Cupertino.[1]

The reservoir is located in Stevens Creek County Park, with the Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve adjacent to its east on The Montebello Ridge also known as Black Mountain.

Fishing

Bluegill, Koi, Asian Carp, Largemouth Bass, Crappie and other species of fish live in the reservoir. It can be fished only with a permit unless under the age of 16. However it is strictly catch and release because of problems with the concentration of mercury in the water.

Stevens Creek County Park

Stevens Creek County Park is[3] is one of 28[4] Santa Clara County Parks. The 1,077-acre (436 ha) park surrounds the reservoir, and an entrance lies three miles from Interstate 280. Six miles of trails connect with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's Fremont Older Open Space Preserve.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Stevens Creek Reservoir". Santa Clara Valley Water District. 2002. Retrieved 2006-06-12.
  2. "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  3. "Stevens Creek County Park. Parks and Recreation.". County of Santa Clara. June 12, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-28. Stevens Creek Park is located along Stevens Canyon Road and Mt. Eden Road in the foothills between Saratoga and Cupertino...
  4. "Welcome to all 28 wild and wonderful parks of Santa Clara County. Parks and Recreation.". County of Santa Clara. Retrieved 2014-09-06.


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