![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Lake_Elsman.jpg/640px-Lake_Elsman.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Lake Elsman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lake Elsman is a 6,200-acre-foot (7,600,000 m3)[2] reservoir, created by an earthen dam called Austrian Dam[5] on Los Gatos Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California.[1] At several points it is over 140' deep[6] and its normal surface area is 96 acres.[1] It provides 12% of San Jose Water Works’ total water capacity in some years.[6] The lake and dam is owned by the San Jose Water Company,[6]
Quick Facts Location, Coordinates ...
Lake Elsman | |
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Location | Santa Clara County, California[2] |
Coordinates | 37°7′48″N 121°55′51″W |
Type | Earth[2] |
Primary outflows | Los Gatos Creek[2] |
Catchment area | 9.8 square miles (25 km2)[2] |
Basin countries | United States |
Managing agency | San Jose Water Agency[2] |
Built | 1950; 74 years ago (1950)[2] |
Surface area | 96 acres (39 ha)[2] |
Surface elevation | 1,119 feet (341 m)[3][4] |
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In 1988 and 1989, two earthquakes at M=5.3 and 5.4 respectively occurred at Lake Elsman that transferred stress that led to the 1989 M=6.9 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.[7]