Sepulveda Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sepulveda Dam |
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 Location in the San Fernando Valley
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| Country | United States |
| Location | San Fernando Valley, California |
| Coordinates | 34°10′02″N 118°28′24″W / 34.1671°N 118.4732°W |
| Purpose | Flood control |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1940 |
| Opening date | 1941 |
| Construction cost | $6,650,561 |
| Owner(s) |  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Los Angeles River |
| Height (thalweg) | 57 feet (17 m) |
| Length | 2.93 miles (4.72 km) |
| Elevation at crest | 725 feet (221 m) |
| Width (crest) | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Spillway type | Concrete ogee |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 17,300 acre⋅ft (21,300,000 m3) |
| Website Corps Lakes Gateway - Sepulveda Dam |
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The Sepulveda Dam is a large structure built to control floods along the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles, California. It was finished in 1941 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The dam is located in the middle of the San Fernando Valley.
This dam, along with the Hansen Dam, was built after a huge flood in 1938. That flood caused a lot of damage and sadly, 144 people lost their lives. The Sepulveda Dam was placed at the edge of the city back then. East of the dam, the river was narrow because the city had grown so much.
One important part of the Sepulveda Dam is its flood control area. This is a big, open space in the center of the Valley. It's mostly used for wildlife and fun activities. The dam also led to changes in the Los Angeles River. Many dry riverbeds were turned into concrete channels after World War II. Now, some of these channels are becoming bike paths.
The area behind the dam, called the Sepulveda Basin, has many cool places. These include Woodley Park, a model airplane field, The Japanese Garden, and a wildlife refuge. This basin is kept clear of buildings. This way, water can collect there if there's a very big flood.
The Sepulveda Dam area is also a popular spot for filming. You might have seen it in movies like Escape from New York or in music videos, like BTS' Kinetic Manifesto. It's also used for car commercials.
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Building the Sepulveda Dam
In 1914, a flood caused $10 million in damage. People then demanded action to stop future floods. The Los Angeles County Flood Control District was created the next year. They started by planning for reservoirs and making some river channels.
Voters approved money for dams in 1917 and 1924. But there wasn't enough money for the big projects needed downstream. After two more bad floods in the 1930s, especially the Los Angeles flood of 1938, the government stepped in. The Army Corps of Engineers took charge. They worked on making the river into a channel and building dams.
The work on the river channels started in 1938. By 1960, the Los Angeles River was a 51-mile engineered waterway. The Hansen Dam was finished in 1940. The Sepulveda Dam followed in 1941. Later, in the 1970s, Burbank Blvd and Woodley Ave were built through the Sepulveda Basin.
For 28 years, the Sepulveda Dam worked well. But in 1969, the Los Angeles River overflowed again. This caused millions of dollars in damage. In 1988, the river banks were made higher to prevent future floods. In 1994, a "hundred-year flood" happened. The dam was repaired and worked fine for another 11 years. Then, in 2005, the river overflowed its banks once more.
Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area
The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area is a huge 2,000-acre space. It's a flood control area managed by the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks. It offers many fun things to do.
Woodley Park
Woodley Park is a big city park. It's located on Woodley Avenue. Inside the park, you'll find the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex, a dog park, and picnic areas. The park opened in 1975.
Right next to Woodley Park is The Japanese Garden. This is a beautiful 6.5-acre public garden. It's on the grounds of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.
Lake Balboa Park
Lake Balboa Park is also known as Anthony C. Beilenson Park. It's an 80-acre park with a lake for water activities. You can rent boats and go fishing here. Lake Balboa is a 27-acre lake. It's filled with clean water from the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. The park also has barbecue pits, a children's play area, and picnic tables. Many beautiful Flowering cherry trees grow in the park.
Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve is a special place for nature. It's at the southeast end of the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin. It has two parts: the North Reserve and the South Reserve. Both have nature paths and hiking trails. You can get there from eastern Woodley Park or Burbank Boulevard.
Haskell Creek flows through this nature preserve. There are also several ponds for wildlife. More than 200 types of birds have been seen here. Many birds stop here during their long trips in spring and fall. The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve is a project to bring back native California plants. You can find trees like Fremont's cottonwood, Coast live oak, Valley oak, California Black Walnut, and California sycamore.
Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area Bike Path
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The Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area Bike Path is a 9-mile route. It loops around the recreation area. You can ride your bike from Victory Boulevard to White Oak Avenue, then to Burbank Boulevard, and back to Victory Boulevard. It's always open to the public.
A shorter path goes south on Balboa Boulevard. This path crosses a natural part of the Los Angeles River. This section is lined with native plants like Arroyo willow and California sycamore.
Joggers often use the sections along Victory and Burbank. Sometimes, weeds with burrs can be on the path. These might cause flat tires on some bikes. There's plenty of free parking at the parks and golf courses on Burbank, Woodley, and Balboa Boulevards.
Sepulveda Basin River Recreation Zone
The Sepulveda Basin River Recreation Zone is a special area for boating. It goes from above Balboa Blvd to where Haskell Creek meets the river. You can use non-motorized boats here during the summer. Some areas along the banks are protected for wildlife, so access might be limited.
Other Fun Places
The Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area has even more facilities:
- Balboa Sports Complex: This has a play area for kids, a community room, and an indoor gym. It also has lighted baseball fields, basketball courts, soccer fields, a football field, handball courts, tennis courts, and volleyball courts.
- Hjelte Sports Center: This center has softball diamonds.
- Sepulveda Garden Center: This is a community garden with 800 garden plots on 20 acres. It also has a public activity center.
- Sherman Oaks Castle Park: Here you can find miniature golf, an arcade, and batting cages.
- Encino Golf Course, Balboa Golf Course, and Woodley Lakes Golf Course: These are all 18-hole golf courses.
- Apollo XI Field: This field is for model airplanes.
Future Events
The area around the Sepulveda Dam will be a special place during the 2028 Summer Olympics. It will host events like Canoe Slalom, Equestrian, and Shooting.
Images for kids
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Westerly view along the top of the spillway showing the completed service bridge and handrails.
