Calaveras Reservoir

Calaveras Reservoir is a reservoir located primarily in Santa Clara County, California with a small portion in Alameda County, California. Its dam, Calaveras Dam, used to be the largest earthfill dam in the world.

Poverty Ridge and Oak Ridge lie to the east of Calaveras Reservoir, Milpitas and Monument Peak lie to the west, Sunol lies to the far north, and Calaveras Creek and Los Buellis Hills lie to the south.

Calaveras Reservoir is fed mainly by Arroyo Hondo and Calaveras Creek. Lying in the Calaveras Valley, the region is a geological sensitive area with the Calaveras Fault running below it. Roads adjacent to the reservoir include Calaveras Road and Marsh Road, the latter which gained significant attention due to a murder which occurred there in the early 1980s.

The Calaveras Valley is rich and diverse in wildlife. Some of the most common animals include the deer, coyote, squirrel, turkey vulture, red-winged blackbird, yellow-billed magpie, red-tailed hawk, Brewer's blackbird, purple martin, barn swallow, Bullock's oriole, and warbler.

In the 1800s, the Calaveras Valley which the reservoir now fills was primarily an agricultural region known for its production of hay, strawberries, and tomatoes. Because of San Francisco's increasing demand for drinking water at the turn of the 20th century, the farmers in the region were forced to sell their land to the Spring Valley Water Company, who in turn sold it to the San Francisco Water Company. Although the first dam that was constructed collapsed due to engineering flaws, another dam was soon built. The flooding of the Calaveras Valley rapidly changed its sensitive hydrology and natural environment.

Today, the San Francisco Water Department owns most of the land surrounding the reservoir, which is usually leased to livestock companies for cattle ranching. Most of the land is closed to the public because of concerns over drinking water safety and quality. Recently, a legislators passed an act which will open the reservoir to boaters, fishers, and hikers under limited terms.

See also

• Milpitas, California
• Monument Peak
• Oak Ridge (California)
• Arroyo Hondo (Santa Clara County, California)
• Black Mountain (California)

References

This article is based mainly on information provided by :

• Loomis, Patricia. Milpitas: A Century of Little Cornfields
• The Milpitas Post

External links

• History of Calaveras Reservoir