Vasona Reservoir

Reservoir in Los Gatos, California
37°14′48″N 121°57′54″W / 37.2466667°N 121.96500°W / 37.2466667; -121.96500[1]TypeReservoirPrimary inflowsLos Gatos Creek[2]Primary outflowsLos Gatos CreekCatchment area44.2 sq mi (114 km2)[3]Basin countriesUnited StatesManaging agencySanta Clara Valley Water DistrictSurface area57 acres (23 ha)Water volume495 acre⋅ft (611,000 m3)References[3][1][2]

Vasona Reservoir is an artificial lake located in Los Gatos, California, United States. A 152-acre (62 ha) county park surrounds the reservoir[4] and provides limited fishing[5][6] ("catch and release"), picnicking, and informal play activities. Although swimming is not allowed,[7] human-powered boating is permitted in the reservoir.[8]

History

The reservoir was formed by the Vasona Percolating Dam, built in 1935 (89 years ago) (1935) across Los Gatos Creek.[9] It is the smallest reservoir owned by the Santa Clara Valley Water District.[10]

Albert August Vollmer, who came to the area in 1887, named the area after a pony he had had as a child.[9]

Vasona Dam

Vasona Dam is an earthen dam 34 feet (10 m) high and 1,000 feet (300 m) long. Its crest is 307 feet (94 m) above sea level.[3] New gates were installed in the dam in 1997.[9]

Vasona Lake County Park

Vasona Lake County Park[4] is one of 28 Santa Clara County Parks.[11] The 152-acre (62 ha) park surrounds the reservoir, with Oak Meadow Park adjacent to the west. The reservoir offers fishing for black bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill.[4][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Vasona Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b "Los Gatos Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ a b c "Listing of Jurisdictional Dams in California" (PDF). California Department of Water Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  4. ^ a b c "Vasona Lake County Park". County of Santa Clara. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  5. ^ Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. "Mercury and PCBs Found In County Reservoirs". Retrieved 2017-07-05. ... fish sampled from Anderson and Stevens Creek reservoirs-as well as from eight other reservoirs in the Bay Area-exceeded human health guidelines for methylmercury, an organic form of mercury, and for polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, a group of industrial chemicals.
  6. ^ Admin, OEHHA (2014-12-30). "Vasona Lake and Camden Ponds". OEHHA. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  7. ^ "Santa Clara County Parks: Swimming Restrictions". County of Santa Clara. Retrieved 2017-07-05. Swimming or wading is NOT permitted in County Parks.
  8. ^ "Boating Guidelines". Los Gatos - Saratoga Community Recreation and Education. Retrieved 2017-07-06. Hours of Operation: Weekends (Saturday & Sunday) April 16th- October 8th, 2017 / 11:00am-6:00pm - last rental at 5:00pm ; Weekdays (Monday - Friday) May 29th - August 25th, 2017 - 11:00am-5:00pm - last rental at 4:00pm
  9. ^ a b c "Vasona Dam and Reservoir". Santa Clara Valley Water District. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  10. ^ "Santa Clara Valley Water District: List of Reservoirs". Archived from the original on 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  11. ^ "Welcome to all 28 wild and wonderful parks of Santa Clara County. Parks and Recreation". County of Santa Clara. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  12. ^ "Sport Fishing Licenses and Report Cards". California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 2017-07-05. Every person must have the appropriate report card(s) in possession while fishing; including those who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as individuals under 16 years of age, persons fishing or diving on free fishing days, and anglers fishing from a public pier in ocean waters.


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