Lake Elsman is a reservoir, created by an Embankment dam called Austrian Dam on Los Gatos Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California.[ At several points it is over 140' deep][ and its normal surface area is 96 acres.] It provides 12% of San Jose Water Works’ total water capacity in some years.[ The lake and dam is owned by the San Jose Water Company,]
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.
Austrian Dam
Construction of the Austrian Dam was completed in 1950.[ Beneath the reservoir are the remains of the settlements of Austrian Gulch and Germantown.] The dam is more than long and high.[ The dam was damaged in the Loma Prieta quake.] The performance of Austrian Dam during that earthquake reinforces concerns about damage to the tops of earth dams by earthquakes.[
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See also
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List of dams and reservoirs in California
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List of lakes in California