Hansen Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hansen Dam |
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 Location of Hansen Dam in United States San Fernando Valley
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| Country | United States |
| Location | San Fernando Valley |
| Coordinates | 34°15′38″N 118°23′08″W / 34.26047°N 118.38556°W |
| Purpose | Flood control |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1939 |
| Opening date | 1940 |
| Owner(s) |  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Tujunga Wash |
| Height | 97 feet (30 m) |
| Length | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 74,100 acre⋅ft (91,400,000 m3) |
| Website Corps Lakes Gateway - Hansen Dam |
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The Hansen Dam is a special wall built to control floods in the northeastern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California. It's located in the Lake View Terrace neighborhood. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built this dam in 1940. It was named after Homer and Marie Hansen, who owned a horse ranch there in the 1800s.
Today, the Hansen Dam Recreation Center is a popular spot. It's located in the area behind the dam, which is designed to hold floodwaters.
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Where is Hansen Dam?
Hansen Dam and its lake are found along the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley. They are built on a waterway called Tujunga Wash. This wash starts between the San Gabriel Mountains and Verdugo Mountains.
The dam is about 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream from where Big Tujunga Creek and Little Tujunga Creek-Wash meet. The dam creates a large reservoir that can hold a lot of water. This reservoir is sometimes called Hansen Lake.
The main parts of the dam, like the spillway and water outlets, are in the middle of the dam's rock wall. This wall curves slightly, connecting the hills on both sides. The dam is southeast of the city of San Fernando.
History of Hansen Dam
Why the Dam Was Built
A very big flood hit Los Angeles in 1938. This flood caused a lot of damage along the Tujunga Wash and where it meets the Los Angeles River. This event made people realize they needed to control the city's creeks and rivers.
In 1939, because of repeated floods and the damage they caused, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started building the dam. They worked with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. These groups had been thinking about flood control since 1915, after earlier floods.
The Corps acquired the land from Homer and Marie Hansen to build the dam. After one year of construction, the dam was finished. It cost over $11 million at that time. The dam is 2 miles (3.2 km) long and 97 feet (30 m) high. Its main job is to control runoff and floodwaters.
How the Dam Works
When there are big storms or floods, the dam is designed to catch water in its reservoir. The dam also helps save water for the city. It can release water onto special areas south of the dam. Here, the water soaks into the ground, refilling the city's underground water supply.
Over time, dirt, sand, and other debris from floods built up in the reservoir. This reduced how much water the dam could hold. In 1981, there was a plan to make the dam taller instead of removing all the built-up material. This plan didn't happen.
Now, the Corps regularly removes sediment and plants to keep the dam working at full capacity.
Early Recreation
In the mid-1940s, people started to see the Hansen Dam area as a great place for fun. Thousands of visitors came each year. In 1952, they built Holiday Lake for swimming, boating, and fishing. However, by 1991, this lake was completely filled with sediment and was no longer used.
Hansen Dam Recreation Area
The Hansen Dam Recreation Center and Park offer many fun activities. The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks runs these facilities. Most parts of the park can be reached from Highways 5 and 210.
What to Do at the Park
The park has a moderate-sized lake that is filled with clean drinking water. You can go fishing or boating here. The lake is open all year, but it might close during bad weather or for special events.
There is also a smaller swimming lake. This lake has filtered and chlorinated water and can hold up to 2,800 swimmers. Lifeguards from the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks watch over all three lakes in the area.
The recreation center and park also have:
- Picnic tables and barbecue pits
- Play areas for children
- Baseball fields and soccer fields
Nature and Trails
The park has trails for horseback riding and walking. These trails connect to others in the nearby Angeles National Forest. There's also a walking path along the top of the dam.
The natural areas include chaparral (a type of shrubland) and riparian areas (along rivers). The basin is a large open space for Los Angeles. A big part of the area is kept natural to protect habitats and the many different animals and plants.
Efforts are being made to restore the natural areas of Hansen Dam Park. This involves removing invasive plants and bringing back native plants. Hansen Dam Park is planned to be an important hub for trails in the proposed National Park Service Rim of the Valley Corridor.
Discovery Cube Los Angeles
The Discovery Cube Los Angeles is located at the northwest corner of the recreation area. It opened in November 2014. It's like a sister museum to the Discovery Cube Orange County.
Its goal is to get young people excited about learning. It uses hands-on exhibits to encourage new ideas and creativity. The science programs and activities are part of a bigger effort to help kids learn about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). They also teach about healthy living and caring for the environment.
The museum has both traveling exhibits and permanent ones. Some exhibits show how the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation works to reduce waste. Others, sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, teach about saving water and protecting natural resources.
Recreational Assets
- Discovery Cube Los Angeles
- Aquatic Center
- Playground
- Skate Park
- Picnic Area
- Sports Center
- Equestrian Center
- Bike Trail
Images for kids
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Aerial view of the Hansen Dam and Hansen Dam Golf Course (2022).
