Williams is a gravity dam located in Santa Clara County, California, built in 1895. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 69 ft69 ft tall and 87 ft long, taller than 96% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Williams
The primary purpose of Williams 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 San Jose Water Company (public utility). It impounds the Los Gatos Creek.
The dam stands 69 feet tall and stretches 87 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1895, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/23/2025.
At 69 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Santa Clara |
| River/Stream | Los Gatos Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.12120, -121.90680 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 69 ft |
| Dam Height | 69 ft |
| Dam Length | 87 ft |
| Year Completed | 1895 (131 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | San Jose Water Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00679 |
| Federal ID | CA00679 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |