Anderson is a rockfill dam located in Santa Clara County, California, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 240 ft240 ft tall and 1,380 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Anderson
The primary purpose of Anderson 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 Coyote Creek near Morgan Hill.
The dam stands 240 feet tall and stretches 1,380 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,240 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 89,073 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 193 square miles. Completed in 1950, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/27/2025.
At 240 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 | Morgan Hill |
| River/Stream | Coyote Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.16760, -121.63080 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 240 ft |
| Dam Height | 240 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,380 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 89,073 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 89,073 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 89,073 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,240 acres |
| Drainage Area | 193 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 95,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Santa Clara Valley Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00294 |
| Federal ID | CA00294 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |