Ler Franklin
Ler Franklin is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ler Franklin
The primary purpose of Ler Franklin 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 Franklin Canyon near Beverly Hills.
The dam stands 103 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 920 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1922, 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 11/25/2025.
At 103 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 | Beverly Hills |
| River/Stream | Franklin Canyon |
| Coordinates | 34.09470, -118.41200 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 103 ft |
| Dam Height | 103 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 920 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 920 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 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 | 11/25/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00075 |
| Federal ID | CA00075 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |