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 a large, man-made lake located in the hills south of San Jose, in California, United States. It's called an artificial lake because it was created by building a dam.
The reservoir is right next to the Almaden Quicksilver County Park, which is a huge natural area. At the reservoir and park, you can enjoy activities like picnicking, hiking, and riding horses. You can also go fishing, but it's "catch-and-release" only. This means you have to put the fish back in the water after you catch them.
It's important to know that swimming and boating are not allowed in Almaden Reservoir. Also, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has given a special warning. They advise people not to eat any fish caught in Almaden Reservoir. This is because the fish have higher levels of mercury, a natural substance that can be harmful if too much is eaten.
History of Almaden Reservoir
Almaden Reservoir was created a long time ago, in 1936. It was formed when a structure called the Almaden Dam was built. The dam was constructed across a stream called Alamitos Creek, near the community of New Almaden.
The water from Almaden Reservoir eventually flows into the San Francisco Bay. It gets there by traveling through the Guadalupe River. The reservoir is one of several managed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, which helps provide water for the area. It's one of the smaller reservoirs they oversee.
All About Almaden Dam
The Almaden Dam is an important part of the reservoir. It's an earthen dam, which means it's made mostly of compacted earth and rock.
Here are some facts about the dam:
- It stands about 110 feet (34 m) (about 33 meters) high.
- It stretches about 500 feet (150 m) (about 152 meters) long.
- The dam contains a huge amount of material, around 250,000 cubic yards (190,000 m3) (about 191,000 cubic meters).
- The very top of the dam, called its crest, is about 615 feet (187 m) (about 187 meters) above sea level.
