Los Angeles Reservoir is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 130 ft130 ft tall and 3,415 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 Los Angeles Reservoir
Los Angeles Reservoir 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 near Granada Hills.
The dam stands 130 feet tall and stretches 3,415 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 175 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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 11/03/2025.
At 130 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 | Granada Hills |
| River/Stream | San Fernando Cr |
| Coordinates | 34.29350, -118.48360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,415 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 175 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01081 |
| Federal ID | CA01081 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |