Sepulveda Dam
Sepulveda Dam is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sepulveda Dam
The primary purpose of Sepulveda Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Los Angeles District (federal). It impounds the Los Angeles River near Los Angeles.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 15,440 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 27,563 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 152 square miles. Completed in 1941, 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 05/25/2023.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Los Angeles |
| River/Stream | Los Angeles River |
| Coordinates | 34.16796, -118.47177 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 15,440 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 27,563 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 27,563 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 152 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 99,540 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Los Angeles District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/25/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA10025 |
| Federal ID | CA10025 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |