San Dimas Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Dimas Dam |
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Aerial view
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 Location of San Dimas Dam in California
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Los Angeles County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°09′18″N 117°46′19″W / 34.15500°N 117.77194°W |
| Purpose | Flood control |
| Opening date | 1922 |
| Owner(s) | Los Angeles County Department of Public Works |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete Gravity |
| Impounds | San Dimas Wash |
| Height (foundation) | 339.8 ft (103.6 m) |
| Length | 130.9 ft (39.9 m) |
| Dam volume | 1,529 cu yd (1,169 m3) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | San Dimas Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 1,515 acre⋅ft (1,869,000 m3) |
The San Dimas Dam is a special wall built across the San Dimas Wash in Los Angeles County, California. It's a type of dam called a gravity dam, which means it's so heavy and strong that its own weight holds it in place.
This dam and its reservoir (a place to hold water) are located in the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. They are also part of the Angeles National Forest. The main job of the San Dimas Dam is to help control floods. It was built in 1922 by a group called the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works takes care of it.
The dam helps manage water from San Dimas Creek. This creek is a big stream that flows down from the San Gabriel Mountains and eventually joins the San Gabriel River. Most of the year, the San Dimas Reservoir is dry. It only fills up with water after heavy winter storms. This helps protect the nearby area of San Dimas from too much water. The dam can also send floodwaters to another place called Puddingstone Reservoir.
How the Dam Was Built
After a big flood in 1914, people realized they needed better ways to control water. So, in 1915, the Los Angeles Flood Control District was created. This group started a big project to build 14 dams across Los Angeles County. The San Dimas Dam was one of these important projects.
It was finished in 1922. While the Flood Control District built it, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works now operates it. They took over the planning and daily tasks in 1984. This means they make sure the dam is kept in good shape and works properly to manage water.
Where the Dam Is Located
The San Dimas Dam is found in Los Angeles County, California. It's nestled within the Angeles National Forest, surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountains.
The dam is about 130.9 feet (39.9 meters) tall. That's roughly as high as a 13-story building! It's also 339.8 feet (103.6 meters) long. The reservoir behind the dam can hold a lot of water, up to 1,515 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep.
Water flows into the dam's reservoir from San Dimas Creek. The dam's main purpose is to control floods from this creek. The creek is a major part of the San Gabriel Mountains' water system and flows into the San Gabriel River. The dam helps send extra floodwater to Puddingstone Reservoir. This protects the town of San Dimas and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley from flooding.
How the Dam Works
The San Dimas Dam is a concrete gravity dam. This means it's a solid, heavy wall of concrete that uses its own weight to hold back water. It stands 130.9 feet (39.9 meters) high and stretches 339.8 feet (103.6 meters) long. It can store about 1,515 acre-feet of water.
The dam's main job is to control floods from San Dimas Creek. This creek is a key waterway coming from the San Gabriel Mountains. It flows into the San Gabriel River.
The San Dimas Reservoir is usually dry. It only collects water after big rainstorms in the winter. This helps prevent floods. The dam's design allows it to send floodwaters from San Dimas Wash to Puddingstone Reservoir. This protects the San Dimas area in the San Gabriel Valley. The dam helps with flood control, provides water, and can even help with irrigation for farms.
