Yarnell Debris Basin
Yarnell Debris Basin is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1963. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Yarnell Debris Basin
The primary purpose of Yarnell Debris Basin is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by City Of Los Angeles Department Of Water And Power (local government). It impounds the Tr Bull Canyon.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 77 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 11/17/2025.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| River/Stream | Tr Bull Canyon |
| Coordinates | 34.30550, -118.48630 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,290 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00099 |
| Federal ID | CA00099 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |