Higuera is an earth dam located in Santa Clara County, California, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 525 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Higuera
The primary purpose of Higuera 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 Green Earth Liang's Inc. (private). It impounds the So Calera Cr near Milpitas.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 525 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 65 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 06/03/2025.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Milpitas |
| River/Stream | So Calera Cr |
| Coordinates | 37.45990, -121.89420 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 525 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Green Earth Liang's Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00687 |
| Federal ID | CA00687 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |