Big Tujunga Dam
| Big Tujunga Dam | |
|---|---|
View of the dam and reservoir from upstream | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°17′36″N 118°11′18″W / 34.29333°N 118.18833°W |
| Opening date | 1931 |
| Owner(s) | Los Angeles County Flood Control District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete arch |
| Impounds | Big Tujunga Creek |
| Height | 208 ft (63 m) |
| Height (foundation) | 244 ft (74 m) |
| Length | 830 ft (250 m) |
| Spillway type | Concrete-lined overflow |
| Spillway capacity | 90,000 cu ft/s (2,500 m3/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Big Tujunga Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 5,960 acre⋅ft (7,350,000 m3) |
| Catchment area | 82 sq mi (210 km2) |
Big Tujunga Dam is a 244-foot-high (74 m) concrete arch dam in Los Angeles County, California, spanning Big Tujunga Canyon northeast of Sunland, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Completed in 1931, it provides flood control and groundwater recharge for the San Fernando Valley.
Its reservoir is called Big Tujunga Reservoir, and collects runoff from a watershed of 82 square miles (210 km2). Although it is located inside the Angeles National Forest, public access to the lake is forbidden. The water is usually kept at a low level, in order to protect against winter floods. The name of the dam is derived from a Tongva village name.