The Santa Anita Dam: A Vital Piece of Los Angeles County’s Flood Control Infrastructure
The 2020 Bobcat fire has left the mountainous regions of Los Angeles County vulnerable to intense storms and potential flooding
The destruction of vegetation by the wildfire has exposed canyons, increasing the risk of debris flows and mudslides
The Santa Anita Dam, a 96-year-old structure, is a major concern as a large amount of muck and sediment has accumulated behind it, which has the potential to flood if not cleared
The L.A. County Department of Public Works is working to remove debris and ensure the functionality of the dam’s stormwater release valves
The Santa Anita Dam is a vital component of the county’s flood control infrastructure, which includes a network of 14 dams, 487 miles of flood-control channels, 3,330 miles of underground storm drain channels, and various debris basins and spreading grounds
California's recent changes in weather patterns, resulting from the combination of atmospheric rivers and global warming, have put a strain on the state’s flood-control system
The cost of removing an estimated 15 million cubic yards of debris and mud from all five reservoirs is around $550 million, expected to come from county funds, state and federal grants, and possibly an assessment agreed to by property owners
Property owners in the county are currently charged $28 annually for these kinds of improvements, which hasn’t been changed since the 1980s
It may take an additional three years to clear out the material that has accumulated behind the Santa Anita Dam following the Bobcat fire.
MORE STORIES