Stevens Creek
Stevens Creek is an earth dam located in Santa Clara County, California, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Stevens Creek
The primary purpose of Stevens Creek 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 Santa Clara Valley Water District (public utility). It impounds the Stevens Creek near Cupertino.
The dam stands 132 feet tall and stretches 1,080 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 95 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,074 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/14/2025.
At 132 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Cupertino |
| River/Stream | Stevens Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.29830, -122.07540 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 132 ft |
| Dam Height | 132 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,080 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,074 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,074 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 95 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,697 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Santa Clara Valley Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00292 |
| Federal ID | CA00292 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |