Santa Ynez Canyon
Santa Ynez Canyon is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Santa Ynez Canyon
Santa Ynez Canyon is a dam in Los Angeles, California. The dam is owned by City Of Los Angeles Department Of Water And Power (local government). It impounds the Tr Santa Ynez Can.
The dam stands 157 feet tall and stretches 455 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 356 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 10/28/2025.
At 157 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Tr Santa Ynez Can |
| Coordinates | 34.07250, -118.56740 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 157 ft |
| Dam Height | 157 ft |
| Dam Length | 455 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 356 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 356 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00100 |
| Federal ID | CA00100 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |