Los Gatos Weekly-Times file photograph
Opponents of the construction of Lexington Dam supported their position with this photograph of a crack in the soil in the Santa Cruz Mountains made by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
The 1906 earthquake and fire that destroyed San Francisco caused little or no damage to Los Gatos proper, but the mighty fissure shown in today's photograph was a warning of what Mother Nature could do when she became angry.
Los Gatos Weekly-Times records say of today's photo: "This crack was made by the earthquake of April 18, 1906, at Burrell, a small community in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Los Gatos. The town of Los Gatos suffered no earthquake damage in 1906."
Opponents of the building of Lexington Dam at Windy Point in the 1950s used this photograph to argue their side.
The Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation District proposed the dam, which was designed to back up water in "percolation" ponds to conserve the water that came from the mountains.
Building of the dam was championed by California state Sen. Herbert Jones, a Los Gatos resident.
Lloyd E. Smith, publisher of the Los Gatos Times, addressed the Town Council, saying that the dam would be built despite opposition, and he felt that the town should take steps to ensure its safety.
Everyone had an opinion. "Earthfilled" was the way to go. "No. Concrete dams are best," some said. And there was a third opinion: "Don't build the dammed thing, period. Keep lovely Los Gatos Creek in its primitive condition." Proponents of the third view were shot down by those who recalled that in heavy-rain years, acres of water ran nearly to the top of the triple-arched stone Main Street bridge. There was also the argument that farmers and other residents were badly hurt by water spreading over the valley floor in search of routes to San Francisco Bay.
Opponents of earth dams pointed out that something as small as rodent holes allowed water to start its probing in earth dams.
Ah, that must mean that a cement dam was the answer. Nay, not so. A failed cement dam was cited. The earth anchoring both sides of the ridged structure was submitted to strenuous tests and passed. But someone forgot to test the embracing soil in water. The dam's probing water pulled an end run, and the concrete slab spun on its axis like a toy.
As we know, Lexington Dam with spillway was built, creating an orderly flow of water. It turned out to be a visual treat and a recreational facility.
Lexington Dam held firm during the Loma Prieta earthquake of Oct. 17, l989 that so devastated the town.
The dam was named for the tiny town of Lexington, a twin city with Alma along the Southern Pacific Railroad line to Santa Cruz and located in what today is the basin of Lexington Reservoir.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, November 6, 1996.
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