Fairmont is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1912. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 121 ft121 ft tall and 4,300 ft long, taller than 98% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Fairmont
The primary purpose of Fairmont is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (local government). It impounds the Antelope Valley near Lancaster.
The dam stands 121 feet tall and stretches 4,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 172 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,507 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1912, 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 09/30/2025.
At 121 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 |
| Nearest City | Lancaster |
| River/Stream | Antelope Valley |
| Coordinates | 34.70490, -118.42740 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 121 ft |
| Dam Height | 121 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,507 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,507 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 172 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00071 |
| Federal ID | CA00071 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |