Malibou Lake Club is an arch dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1923. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 190 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic arch section and the water level is illustrative.
About Malibou Lake Club
The primary purpose of Malibou Lake Club 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 Malibou Lake Mountain Club, Inc. (private). It impounds the Malibu Creek near Malibu.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 190 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 55 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 64 square miles. Completed in 1923, 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 03/19/2025.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Malibu |
| River/Stream | Malibu Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.10450, -118.75130 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Arch |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 190 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Drainage Area | 64 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Malibou Lake Mountain Club, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00739 |
| Federal ID | CA00739 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |