Ler San Fernando
Ler San Fernando is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1918. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ler San Fernando
The primary purpose of Ler San Fernando is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Los Angeles Department Of Water And Power (local government). It impounds the San Fernando Creek.
The dam stands 125 feet tall and stretches 1,840 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 224 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,843 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1918, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/03/2025.
At 125 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| River/Stream | San Fernando Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.28530, -118.48120 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,840 ft |
| Year Completed | 1918 (108 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,843 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,843 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 224 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,324 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00076 |
| Federal ID | CA00076 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |