Haines Canyon Debris Dam
Haines Canyon Debris Dam is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Haines Canyon Debris Dam
The primary purpose of Haines Canyon Debris Dam 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 Usace - Los Angeles District (federal). It impounds the Haines Creek near Glendale.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/18/2022.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Glendale |
| River/Stream | Haines Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.26047, -118.27727 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | USACE - Los Angeles District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10004 |
| Federal ID | CA10004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |