Dam Failure

Of the roughly 91.000 dams in the United States, the 14 that could impact Ventura County are located right here, and in neighboring Los Angeles County. Dams are useful for the storage and safe retention of large quantities of water that can be released or used for irrigation, hydropower, recreation, water supply, and flood prevention. They may be owned and operated by public agencies or special districts. It is the dam operator’s responsibility to actively reduce the risk of failures. Here’s how you can be prepared.

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Five Ways to

Stay READY

1 Have a Family Emergency Plan, including communication and evacuations. Talk with neighbors who might need assistance.
2 Find out more about the dams in your area here.
3 Map an evacuation route to higher ground.
4 Keep drains clear of debris. Notify your local public works department of drainage problems in public areas.
5 Register for VC Alert to receive notifications regarding dam hazards.

Four Ways to

Save the Day

1 Be aware of excessive rainfall, overflow spillage or unusual water releases.
2 If flooding occurs due to dam failure, do not walk through fast-moving water. It can sweep you off your feet!
3 Avoid driving in flooded areas. Six inches of water is enough to stall a car and just one foot of water can carry it away.
4 Don’t get charged up! Avoid downed power lines as they may still be buzzing with electricity.

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Three Things to

Know

1 The most common causes of dam failure are spillway blockage, natural settling/sinkholes, and maintenance issues.
2 Ventura County is home to 10 of the nearly 80,000 nationwide dams, and there are four dams in Los Angeles County that could potentially impact Ventura County.
3 The United Water Conservation District conducts a test of the Santa Felicia Dam's emergency siren at Lake Piru on the first Friday of each month at noon. If needed, the siren would warn people downstream of an unexpected release or dam failure.

Two Things to

Ease Your Mind

1 We’ve got this! Dam Safety has come a long way since the early days The National Dam Safety Program and the California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams keep dam safety first and foremost.
2 You’re not in Oroville. The recent Oroville Dam received emergency repairs to prevent failure of its 770ft structure. Matilija Dam in Ojai is Ventura County’s tallest at 198 feet.

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Francis Dam, 1928 post-collapse Photo Courtesy of the Museum of Ventura County.

One Question to Ask Yourself

Right Now

1 Am I in an inundation zone? Find out here.

Did you know...

That Dams have Different Owners/Operators?

Ventura County Dam Owner/Operator:

Bard Reservoir - Calleguas Water District

Casitas Dam - US Bureau of Reclamation

Lake Eleanor - Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency and City of Thousand Oaks

Lake Sherwood - Sherwood Development Company

Las Llajas - Ventura County Watershed Protection

Matilija Dam - Ventura County Watershed Protection

Runkle Debris Basin -Ventura County Watershed Protection

Santa Felicia Dam - United Water Conservation District

Senior Canyon - Senior Canyon Mutual Water Company

Sinaloa Lake - Sinaloa Lake Owners Association

LA County Dam Owner/Operator:

Bouquet Canyon Dam – Los Angeles (City) Department of Water & Power

Castaic Dam - California Department of Water Resources

Pyramid Dam -California Department of Water Resources

Westlake Reservoir - Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

Resources

Ready Set Go! – Flood

Flood Preparedness Information

¡En Sus Marcas, Listos, Fuera!- inundación

Homeowners Guide for Flood Prevention and Response

Turn Around Don't Drown®

Did You Know?

You can keep track of rainfall rates in your area.

Click here for the latest Hydrodata.

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