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Rosendin Park, View of Anderson Lake, 7/20/21 by Ronald Horii
Anderson Reservoir in Morgan Hill is the largest reservoir in Santa Clara County when it's full. It has been drained to build new outlet tunnels and replace the dam. (See the links below). The lake has been closed to recreational use. The boat launch ramp and dam are closed, as well as the picnic area below the dam and trails leading up to the dam. That's the way most people visit the reservoir and dam. However, there is a back door. Most of the Rosendin Park area is still open. The dam and reservoir can be seen from it. However, it can now only be accessed by going on a long, slow trip on private Holiday Drive through the Holiday Lake Estates neighborhood. The road is accessible to the public, and there's a public entrance to the park there. The nearby residents use it as their neighborhood park, but it is lightly used by visitors. I've been to Rosendin Park many times, when the lake had lots of water in it (see the link to my Anderson Lake pictures). I went on 7/20/21 to see what it looks like now. The difference is dramatic. Anderson is at only 3% of its maximum capacity. It's at what they call "deadpool" level, the lowest level they can drain the lake with the existing drain system. It still has about 3,000 acre-feet in it, which is about the maximum capacity of Stevens Creek Reservoir, so it's not totally empty. Here are pictures of the reservoir from Rosendin Park, as well as the flora and fauna in the park.
Links:
My Anderson Lake pictures: http://www.rhorii.com/#AndersonLake
Anderson Lake County Park and map: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/AndersonLake.aspx
Anderson Lake County Park map: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Documents/Anderson%20Lake%20Guide%20Map.pdf
Valley Water's announcement about the closure of Anderson Lake: https://www.valleywater.org/news-events/news-releases/santa-clara-county-recreation-areas-around-anderson-dam-and-reservoir-set
Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project:
https://www.valleywater.org/project-updates/2012-c1-anderson-dam-seismic-retrofit
Anderson Reservoir drained to 3 percent capacity:
https://morganhilltimes.com/anderson-reservoir-drained-to-3-percent-capacity/
Santa Clara Valley Water District breaks ground on 1,700-foot-long tunnel at Anderson Dam: https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/07/07/photos-santa-clara-valley-water-district-breaks-ground-on-1700-foot-long-tunnel-at-anderson-dam/
Anderson Reservoir in Morgan Hill is the largest reservoir in Santa Clara County when it's full. It has been drained to build new outlet tunnels and replace the dam. (See the links below). The lake has been closed to recreational use. The boat launch ramp and dam are closed, as well as the picnic area below the dam and trails leading up to the dam. That's the way most people visit the reservoir and dam. However, there is a back door. Most of the Rosendin Park area is still open. The dam and reservoir can be seen from it. However, it can now only be accessed by going on a long, slow trip on private Holiday Drive through the Holiday Lake Estates neighborhood. The road is accessible to the public, and there's a public entrance to the park there. The nearby residents use it as their neighborhood park, but it is lightly used by visitors. I've been to Rosendin Park many times, when the lake had lots of water in it (see the link to my Anderson Lake pictures). I went on 7/20/21 to see what it looks like now. The difference is dramatic. Anderson is at only 3% of its maximum capacity. It's at what they call "deadpool" level, the lowest level they can drain the lake with the existing drain system. It still has about 3,000 acre-feet in it, which is about the maximum capacity of Stevens Creek Reservoir, so it's not totally empty. Here are pictures of the reservoir from Rosendin Park, as well as the flora and fauna in the park.
Links:
My Anderson Lake pictures: http://www.rhorii.com/#AndersonLake
Anderson Lake County Park and map: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/AndersonLake.aspx
Anderson Lake County Park map: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Documents/Anderson%20Lake%20Guide%20Map.pdf
Valley Water's announcement about the closure of Anderson Lake: https://www.valleywater.org/news-events/news-releases/santa-clara-county-recreation-areas-around-anderson-dam-and-reservoir-set
Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project:
https://www.valleywater.org/project-updates/2012-c1-anderson-dam-seismic-retrofit
Anderson Reservoir drained to 3 percent capacity:
https://morganhilltimes.com/anderson-reservoir-drained-to-3-percent-capacity/
Santa Clara Valley Water District breaks ground on 1,700-foot-long tunnel at Anderson Dam: https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/07/07/photos-santa-clara-valley-water-district-breaks-ground-on-1700-foot-long-tunnel-at-anderson-dam/
