Sepulveda Dam
Just south of the convergence of Encino Creek and Haskell Creek with the Los Angeles River in Van Nuys, the Sepulveda Dam has provided flood protection “for areas contiguous to the Los Angeles River” since it was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1941. The primary purpose of the dam and reservoir is flood risk management, but the project is also authorized for recreation. The Corps acquired a total of 2,131.9 acres in fee for construction, operations, and maintenance of the Dam. Of the total acreage, the Corps reserves 313.0 acres exclusively for operation of the Dam, and 1,526.8 acres have been leased to the City of Los Angeles for recreational purposes under the umbrella of the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. Along with Hansen Dam, it was constructed in response to the historic 1938 floods which killed 144 people.
Van Nuys, Los Angeles County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt