Green Verdugo

Green Verdugo is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionSatisfactoryBest of 4 ratings
Emergency action planOn file
Last inspection10/01/2025
Height118 ft
Built195373 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 118 ft
118 FT TEN-STORY BUILDINGMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

118 ft tall and 452 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 Green Verdugo

The primary purpose of Green Verdugo is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (local government). It impounds the Tr Tujunga Wash near Sun Valley, Los Angeles.

The dam stands 118 feet tall and stretches 452 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 99 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 10/01/2025.

At 118 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

StateCalifornia
CountyLos Angeles
Nearest CitySun Valley, Los Angeles
River/StreamTr Tujunga Wash
Coordinates34.25750, -118.33550

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height118 ft
Dam Height118 ft
Dam Length452 ft
Year Completed1953 (73 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage99 acre-ft
Max Storage99 acre-ft
Surface Area3 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerCity of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection10/01/2025
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDCA00096
Federal IDCA00096
More InfoState Dam Safety Program