rainwater from Swiss, Montebello and Stevens creeks. The water stored in the reservoir is released into Stevens Creek for groundwater recharge just like the water from other valley reservoirs is released into Los Gatos Creek, the Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek.
The water seeps (percolates) from the creek bed and the earth's layers before reaching underground aquifers. This percolation helps clean the water before it reaches the underground storage basin.
The creek and reservoir were named for Captain Elisha Stephens who lived on the creek around the present day Blackberry Farm between 1848 and 1864. Stephens farmed the property growing Mission grapes, fruit trees and black berries. By 1864, Stephens sold his property, claiming that "it's gittin' jist too crowded, too durn civilized," and moved to Bakersfield in Kern County.
When the creek's name was renamed from Arroyo San Josepha de Cupertino to Stevens Creek, Stephens' name was inadvertently misspelled.
Rainbow trout provide the most popular fishery at Stevens Creek. The Department of Fish and Game stocks the reservoir with a total of 8,000 pounds of rainbows in November, December, March, April and May, according to Sid Poe at the DFG's Silverado Fisheries Base in Yountville.
Although DFG planters provide most of the action at Stevens Creek, Glenn Fukomoto at Fisherman's Warehouse in San Jose, noted that some wild fish and holdover rainbows are found in Stevens Creek above the reservoir.
The best area to bank fish for rainbows is the area around the dam. However, exercise caution because walking down the face of the concrete dam can be dangerous if you don't watch your step. The corners of the dam provide the best public shore fishing access for trout, since it is much easier to land the fish there than to pull them up the dam face.
Anglers fool the rainbows with Berkley Power Bait and nightcrawlers on sliding sinker rigs, noted Fukomoto. Trollers pulling minnow imitation lures and nightcrawlers behind flashers and nightcrawlers also nail lots of trout during the fall and winter months.
The DFG also stocks the lake with channel catfish during the summer months, but the lake has a good population of resident cats. "One local finds outstanding action on big catfish while fishing with a half anchovy during the summer," said Fukomoto. "On one trip, he caught three catfish weighing 14, 16-1/2 and 21-1/2 pounds at the reservoir one year ago."
Justin Guzman, also from Fishermen's Warehouse, and his fishing buddy, Dave Wood, caught catfish ranging from 5 to 15 pounds in early October 2005. "We only averaged one to two fish per trip, but they were all quality channel cats," said Guzman. "It was much slower this season than last year, when we averaged 3 to 5 fish per trip. We caught the fish using cut mackerel on sliding sinker rigs."
Largemouth bass fishing is best at Stevens Creek in the spring, although these fish can be caught all year long. Float tube fishing with spinnerbaits, jigs and plastic worms is the most effective method, since the reservoir has steep canyon walls on the south end where some of the best bass fishing can be found.
"There are underwater humps on the lake where the bass congregate, so use a depth finder on your float tube or boat to locate them," Fukomoto tipped. "The largest fish I've heard out taken on the lake weighed 8-1/2 pounds, but you can see large fish in the 8 to 10 pound range often chase trout into shore," said Fukomoto.
When I visited the reservoir on the afternoon of Friday, November 18, the trout fishing was spotty. Roger Whitter of Menlo Park landed two rainbow trout to 12 inches fishing green Power Bait, while Rob Lutge caught two rainbows on Power Bait. However, most of the anglers didn't hook any trout that afternoon.
The lake also has solid bluegill and black crappie populations. "There are tons of bluegill for young anglers to catch at Stevens Creek during the spring and summer," said Fukomoto. "Use red worms, mini-crawlers and other small baits under bobbers." For the crappie, fish Mini Jigs and other small jigs in the lake's brush piles and below the cliffs.
The lake even plays host to a few white sturgeon in the 4 to 6 foot range, probably illegally planted by local residents. One angler landed a sturgeon over 50 pounds two years ago while trout fishing, noted Fukomoto. For more information about fishing Stevens Creek Reservoir, call Fishermen's Warehouse in San Jose at (408) 873-0113.
With the exception of planted rainbows, mot anglers catch and release their fish at Stevens Creek. State and local health officials advise anglers to limit their intake of fish caught from the reservoir following testing showing elevated levels of mercury and PCBs in fish. The contaminants are not detected in the water, but are present in smaller organisms consumed by fish.
"Although mercury is found in sediment and in fish, it has never been detected in our drinking water resources," said Walt Wadlow, Water Utility Enterprise COO for the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
According to a study released by regional water regulators, some 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.
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department recommends that women of childbearing age and children under the age of 18 eliminate largemouth bass from their diets, and limit themselves to one meal a month of carp, black crappie and/or channel catfish. Older women and men are advised to limit their intake of largemouth bass and/or channel catfish to no more than once a month, and to limit carp and/or black crappie meals to four or less per month.
The source of mercury in Stevens Creek appears to be atmospheric and naturally occurring, based on local geologic formations. Mercury in high concentrations is a threat to human health, affecting the brain and nervous system. The principal danger lies in eating too much fish caught from the reservoirs and San Francisco Bay, although there are no documented cases of mercury poisoning from eating California sport fish.
The other contaminant found in local fish, PCBs, are a group of more than 200 industrial chemicals that can cause a wide variety of adverse health effects. Although PCB manufacturing ended in 1977, the chemicals remain in the environment for years.
Stevens Creek Reservoir Facts
Location and Size: The 95 acre Stevens Creek Reservoir is located in the 1,042-acre Stevens Creek Park in the Santa Cruz Mountain foothills of Santa Clara County. The 1,095-acre Upper Stevens Creek Park adjoins Stevens Creek Park.
Fishing: is open year round for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill and black crappie. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset.
Boating regulations: Electric motor and non-power boating is permitted. No gas motors are allowed. All vessels must be off the water one half hour before sunset. Current boater registration is required for all watercraft. Numbers and stickers must be properly displayed. All vessels required a lake use fee; pay prior to going on the water.
Picnicking: Shoreline picnic facilities are available at the very popular Lakeshore Picnic area. Six beautifully shaded first-come, first-served picnic areas are scattered throughout the park. A responsible adult (with picnic items) must be present in order to hold a picnic table. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Parking stalls may not be saved.
Group Picnicking: Three group picnic areas are available by reservation for weddings, ceremonies or other group functions. Please call (408) 355-2201, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, Monday through Friday, or make reservations in person at the Parks Administration Office in Vasona Park, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other activities: No swimming or wading is allowed. Hikers, bikers and equestrians may enjoy a variety of single-track and multi-use trails. Solitude may be found along many of the trails that connect with the Mid-Peninsula Open Space Fremont Older Preserve.
Information: County of Santa Clara, Parks and Recreation Department, 298 Garden Hill Drive, Los Gatos, California, 95032-7699, (408) 355-2200, Reservations (408) 355-2201, Fisherman's Warehouse, Cupertino, (408) 873-0113.
