Upper San Fernando is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1921. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 82 ft82 ft tall and 1,740 ft long, taller than 97% 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 Upper San Fernando
Upper San Fernando 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 San Fernando Cr.
The dam stands 82 feet tall and stretches 1,740 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 78 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,848 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1921, the structure is over a century 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 11/03/2025.
At 82 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 Cr |
| Coordinates | 34.30280, -118.49360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,740 ft |
| Year Completed | 1921 (105 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,848 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,848 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 78 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 | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00086 |
| Federal ID | CA00086 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |