Almaden
Almaden is an earth dam located in Santa Clara County, California, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Almaden
Almaden is a dam in Santa Clara, California. The dam is owned by Santa Clara Valley Water District (public utility). It impounds the Alamitos Creek near San Jose.
The dam stands 110 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 62 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/19/2025.
At 110 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Santa Clara |
| Nearest City | San Jose |
| River/Stream | Alamitos Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.16460, -121.82800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 110 ft |
| Dam Height | 110 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 62 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Santa Clara Valley Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00289 |
| Federal ID | CA00289 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |