Foothill Park
Foothill Park is an earth dam located in Santa Clara County, California, built in 1988. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Foothill Park
The primary purpose of Foothill Park is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Palo Alto (local government). It impounds the Tr Los Trancos Cr near Palo Alto.
The dam stands 86 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 67 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 years old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/25/2025.
At 86 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Palo Alto |
| River/Stream | Tr Los Trancos Cr |
| Coordinates | 37.36330, -122.17770 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Palo Alto |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/25/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00868 |
| Federal ID | CA00868 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |