James J. Lenihan Dam - Los Gatos, CA
Posted by: 
DougK
N 37° 12.091 W 121° 59.394
10S E 589638 N 4117705
The Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos, California, is created by the James J. Lenihan Dam. Lenihan was a Santa Clara Valley Water District Director.
Waymark Code: WM7EFN
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 10/14/2009
Views: 2
James John Lenihan was a commissioner for 36 years with the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD). He was first elected Board Director from 1960-1968 to what was then known as the Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation District. From 1968-1997 he was elected Board Director to the Santa Clara Valley Water District, representing District 5, and served as chairman in 1976, 1981, 1987, and 1994.
Lenihan was also an gubernatorial appointee to the California Water Commission, the Governor's Central Valley Project Advisory Committee and to the state-federal task force for the proposed Auburn Dam. When Lenihan retired from the SCVWD in 1997, a resolution was adopted naming the dam at Lexington Reservoir in his honor.
In addition to time spent with SCVWD, Lenihan spent forty years in the insurance business as an agent, broker, vice president and president.
Formerly called the Lexington Dam, the Lenihan Dam is a 1,000-foot think earthen dam which forms the
Lexington Reservoir on the Los Gatos Creek. This dam is operated by the SCVWD and has created the third largest water reservoir in Santa Clara County. The water behind the dam becomes drinking water by percolating into the ground and ultimately increasing the amount of well water available.