Mulholland Dam
| Mulholland Dam | |
|---|---|
A view of Hollywood Reservoir and the back side of the Mulholland Dam
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| Location | 3005 Lake Hollywood Dr., Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California |
| Coordinates | 34°07′4.8″N 118°19′51.8″W / 34.118000°N 118.331056°WCoordinates: 34°07′4.8″N 118°19′51.8″W / 34.118000°N 118.331056°W |
| Construction began | 1923 |
| Opening date | 1924 |
| Owner(s) | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Width (crest) | 16 feet (4.9 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Hollywood Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 7,900 acre·ft (9,700,000 m3) |
| Maximum water depth | 183 ft (56 m) |
| Designated | 1989 |
| Reference no. | 421 |
The Mulholland Dam is a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power dam located in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, California. Designed with a storage capacity of 7,900 acre·ft (9,700,000 m3) of water at a maximum depth of 183 feet (56 m), the dam forms the Hollywood Reservoir, which collects water from various aqueducts and impounds the creek of Weid Canyon.
Originally named Weid Canyon Dam, then Hollywood Dam and, finally, Mulholland Dam in honor of William Mulholland who at the time was the General Manager and Chief Engineer of the Bureau of Water Works and Supply, a predecessor department of what is now known as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Mulholland was responsible for the design and construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and much of the city's water system, including many of the early earthen dams and storage reservoirs.
The area was first surveyed for use as a reservoir in 1912. In 1922, the area was again surveyed and designs for a masonry dam began to be made. Construction of the dam began in August 1923 and it was completed during December 1924. Upon its completion, the Mulholland dam became the first concrete, curved gravity dam designed and built by the Bureau of Water Works and Supply.
The St. Francis Dam was also designed and built by the Bureau of Water Works and Supply, and in that its design was an adaptation of the Mulholland Dam, it was nearly identical in size and shape. In March 1928, the St. Francis Dam experienced a catastrophic failure, and the resulting flood devastated the Santa Clara Valley and took the lives of more than 400 people. William Mulholland ordered the Hollywood reservoir lowered shortly after the collapse of the St. Francis Dam as a precaution as well as to help ease public fears of a repeat disaster.
Due to the St. Francis Dam disaster, the California legislature created an updated dam safety program and in 1929, the Department of Public Works, under the oversight of the State Engineer was given authority to review all non-federal dams over 25 feet high or which would hold more than 50 acre-feet of water. The new legislation also allowed the State to employ consultants, as they deemed necessary. Additionally, the State was given full authority to supervise the maintenance and operation of all non federal dams.
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