| Stevens Creek Reservoir | |
|---|---|
 View fromZinfandel Trail, June 2008 | |
  Stevens Creek Reservoir  Stevens Creek Reservoir | |
| Location | Santa Clara County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°17′38″N122°04′47″W / 37.29399°N 122.07986°W /37.29399; -122.07986 |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Stevens Creek |
| Primary outflows | Stevens Creek |
| Catchment area | 17.5 sq mi (45 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | Santa Clara Valley Water District |
| Surface area | 92 acres (37 ha) |
| Water volume | 3,138 acre⋅ft (3,871,000 m3) |
| Settlements | none |
Stevens Creek Reservoir is anartificial lake located in the foothills of theSanta Cruz Mountains nearCupertino, California. A 1,063-acre (430 ha) county park surrounds the reservoir[1] and provides limited fishing[2][3] ("catch and release"), picnicking, hiking, and horseback riding activities. Although swimming is not allowed,[4] non-power boating (such as by kayak) is allowed for certain parts of the year. No powered boats or jet skis are allowed. All vessels must be inspected for invasiveQuagga mussels prior to launch.[1]
TheCalifornia Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has issued a safe eating advisory for any fish caught in Stevens Creek Reservoir due to elevated levels of mercury.[5]
The reservoir was formed by the Stevens Creek Dam, built in 1935 (90 years ago) (1935) acrossStevens Creek.[6] It is one of the smaller reservoirs owned by theSanta Clara Valley Water District.[7]
Originally named Arroyo de San José Cupertino,Stevens Creek flows into the reservoir and out of the dam toSan Francisco Bay. Stevens Creek and the reservoir are named after CaptainElijah Stephens, who led the firstwagon train across theSierra Nevada in 1844 and settled in Cupertino.[6]
Stevens Creek Dam is an earthen dam 132 feet (40 m) high and 1,080 feet (330 m) long. Its crest is 554 feet (169 m) above sea level. In 1985, the dam's height was raised 10 feet (3.0 m) to its present height with the addition of 231,000 cubic yards (177,000 m3) of material.[8]
Stevens Creek County Park[1] is one of 28Santa Clara County Parks.[9] The 1,063-acre (430 ha) park surrounds the reservoir, with thePicchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve adjacent to its east on the Montebello Ridge (also known asBlack Mountain). An entrance to the park lies three miles fromInterstate 280. Six miles of trails connect with theMidpeninsula Regional Open Space District'sFremont Older Open Space Preserve.
Bluegill,koi,common carp,largemouth bass,crappie,white catfish, native landlockedsteelhead, and other species of fish live in the reservoir.[1] A few illegally stockedwhite sturgeon[10] have even been caught as recently as 2021, including one weighing over 50lbs in 2010. It can be fished only with a permit unless under the age of 16.[11]
While regulations permit the taking of fish,DFW recommendscatch and release because of problems with the concentration ofmercury andPCBs in the water.[3][12] The reservoir was historically stocked with farmed rainbow trout for recreational purposes, but this practice was discontinued after elevated levels ofmethylmercury were assessed. Fishing for trout at the reservoir is frowned upon since holdovers are likely endangered native steelhead.
Mercury has been found to accumulate in Almaden, Calero, Guadalupe, Anderson and Stevens Creek Reservoirs at levels that make the fish unsafe to eat.
... 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.
Swimming or wading is NOT permitted in County Parks.
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.
