Santa Anita Debris Basin
Santa Anita Debris Basin is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1960. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Santa Anita Debris Basin
The primary purpose of Santa Anita Debris Basin is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Los Angeles County Department Of Public Works (local government). It impounds the Santa Anita Wash.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 955 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 09/22/2025.
At 56 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Santa Anita Wash |
| Coordinates | 34.17140, -118.02390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 955 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | Los Angeles County Department Of Public Works |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01155 |
| Federal ID | CA01155 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |