Where exactly was the St. Francis Dam?
It was located in San Francisquito Canyon of the Sierra Pelona Mountains, about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, and approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of the present day city of Santa Clarita, California.
Why did the St. Francis Dam collapse?
An investigation into the disaster concluded that it had been caused primarily by the unsuitability of the San Francisquito rock for supporting a dam and a reservoir. Mulholland was cleared of all charges regarding the dam failure; nevertheless, the disaster ruined his reputation and ended his career.
How many people died in the St. Francis Dam failure?
More than 450 people were killed in the March 1928 St. Francis Dam collapse, a civil engineering failure that unleashed an avalanche of water across Southern California.
Where did the St. Francis Dam collapse?
Francis Dam in the San Francisquito Canyon. Nearby these haunting reminders, there is a sign: “On March 12, 1928, just before midnight, it collapsed and sent over twelve billion gallons of water roaring down the valley of the Santa Clara River. Over 450 lives were lost in this, one of California's greatest disasters.”
Has a dam ever broke in the US?
One of the most catastrophic events to occur in the U.S. was the failure of the South Fork Dam near Johnstown, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1889. The dam failed after days of rain. Once the dam failed, 20 million gallons of water were released, traveling 14 miles to Johnstown.
What is left of the St. Francis Dam?
Remnants of the dam can be found along the creek bed beside San Francisquito Canyon Road about five miles south of Green Valley.
What dam failure caused the greatest loss of life in the US?
the South Fork DamAfter several days of heavy rainfall in May 1889, the South Fork Dam 14 miles upstream of Johnstown in Pennsylvania failed catastrophically. The resulting flood of 1889 killed more than 2,200 people and caused US$17m damage. It is still the worst dam disaster in US history.
What year did the St. Francis Dam collapse?
St. Francis Dam failed at midnight on March 12-13, 1928 only twelve hours after its last inspection by Mulholland.
How long did the St. Francis Dam last?
The St. Francis Dam was a Los Angeles Water and Power (LADWP) project from 1924 to 1928. The dam officially opened in May of 1926, and stored roughly 3,800 acre-feet of drinking water. The purpose of the dam was to provide a secondary drinking water reserve for the growing City of Los Angeles.
What is the greatest man made disaster in California history?
The St. Francis Dam, created by the Los Angeles County Water and Power company as part of the California aqueduct system, collapsed at 11:58 pm on March 12, 1928, making it the was the worst manmade disaster in California history.
How many people died in Francis Dam?
Francis Dam. The exact number of deaths resulting from this disaster will never be known. The official record of the Claims Bureau of the Citizens' Restoration Committee reported in August 1928 that there were 224 identified deaths, 60 who were unidentified, and 101 persons reported missing, for a total of 385 deaths.
What Dam broke in Los Angeles?
Baldwin Hills Dam embankmentWater flowing through complete breach of Baldwin Hills Dam embankment (Photo source: L.A. Times, December 14, 1963). Water gushes downstream from Baldwin Hills Reservoir just after failure (Photo source: L.A. Times, December 14, 1963).
What Dam failure caused the greatest loss of life in the US?
the South Fork DamAfter several days of heavy rainfall in May 1889, the South Fork Dam 14 miles upstream of Johnstown in Pennsylvania failed catastrophically. The resulting flood of 1889 killed more than 2,200 people and caused US$17m damage. It is still the worst dam disaster in US history.
How long did the St. Francis Dam last?
St. Francis Dam failed at midnight on March 12-13, 1928 only twelve hours after its last inspection by Mulholland.
Which way did the floodwaters flow when the St. Francis Dam broke?
At Castaic Junction, the flood turned west and swept down the Santa Clara River valley, through the Southern California Edison construction camp at Kemp Siding, drowning 84 of the 140 workers sleeping there. The flood reached the Pacific Ocean at Montalvo around 5:30 AM.
What day month and year did the St. Francis Dam collapse?
Three minutes before midnight on March 12, 1928, the St. Francis Dam collapsed, sending over 12 billion gallons of water and debris rushing down the Santa Clara River Valley from San Francisquito Canyon to the Pacific Ocean, 54 miles away.
How far up is Francisquito Canyon?
Francisquito Canyon Road from the intersection with Copper Hill Road. Go up the canyon 7.2 miles and park just past the bridge. Walk north to the curve; the mass of concrete at the right side is what remains of the base of the dam
When did Mulholland sign off on the dam?
Mulholland and his assistant inspected the dam and signed off on it on March 12, 1928. The dam had begun to show signs of stress, and there were a number of temperature and contraction cracks appearing, with a small amount of seeping occurring under the abutments.
What happened to the powerhouse in the Santa Clara flood?
The dam keeper’s cottage was probably first to go. Then the waters destroyed Powerhouse 2 and everyone inside. Emptying into the Santa Clara riverbed, the deadly wall of water headed for more populated ground, wiping out parts of modern-day Valencia and Newhall, crossing what is now Interstate 5 and completely washing away the town of Castaic Junction. The flood laid devastation to three more communities, Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Bardsdale, before dumping the bodies it had claimed on its journey into the Pacific. The flood waters had traveled 57 miles in 5 hours and 27 minutes.
Was Mulholland's dam rebuilt?
Needless to say, Mulholland resigned, taking full responsibility, and the dam was not rebuilt. Ruins included the remains of the center of the structure, which earned the title “Tombstone.” A few months after the catastrophe, an 18-year old named Lercy Parker perished when he fell from the Tombstone after a friend threw a dead rattlesnake at him as a prank. The Tombstone was demolished, and while ruins still remain, it is no more than a pile of unidentifiable rubble in a remote part of the canyon.
What was the rock that made up the San Francisquito dam?from en.wikipedia.org
Below the red conglomerate, down the remaining portion of the western hillside, crossing the canyon floor and up the eastern wall, a drastically different rock composition prevailed. These areas were made up of mica schist that was severely laminated, cross-faulted in many areas and interspersed with talc. Although later many geologists disagreed on the exact location of the area of contact between the two formations, a majority opinion placed it at the inactive San Francisquito Fault line. Mulholland ordered exploratory tunnels and shafts excavated into the red conglomerate hillside to determine its characteristics. He also had water percolation tests performed. The results convinced him that the hill would make a satisfactory abutment for a dam should the need ever arise.
What was the second concrete dam?from en.wikipedia.org
The St. Francis, sometimes referred to as the San Francisquito, was only the second concrete dam to be designed and built by the Bureau of Water Works and Supply. The first was the nearly dimensionally identical Mulholland Dam, on which construction had begun one year earlier.
How much water washed down San Francisquito Canyon?from en.wikipedia.org
The main dam, from west of the center section to the wing wall abutment atop the hillside, broke into several large pieces, and numerous smaller pieces. All of these were washed downstream as 12.4 billion gallons (47 million m³) of water began surging down San Francisquito Canyon. The largest piece, weighing approximately 10,000 tons (9,000 metric tons) was found about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) below the dam site.
What happened to the Los Angeles Aqueduct?from en.wikipedia.org
On May 27 the problems in the Owens Valley escalated once again with the dynamiting of a large section of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, part of the California Water Wars. A second incident took place a few days later which destroyed another large section. In the days that followed, several more sections of the aqueduct were dynamited which caused a complete interruption of the flow. The near-full reservoir behind the St. Francis Dam was the only source of water from the north and withdrawals began immediately.
How far up is Francisquito Canyon?from atlasobscura.com
Francisquito Canyon Road from the intersection with Copper Hill Road. Go up the canyon 7.2 miles and park just past the bridge. Walk north to the curve; the mass of concrete at the right side is what remains of the base of the dam
What happened to the powerhouse in the Santa Clara flood?from atlasobscura.com
The dam keeper’s cottage was probably first to go. Then the waters destroyed Powerhouse 2 and everyone inside. Emptying into the Santa Clara riverbed, the deadly wall of water headed for more populated ground, wiping out parts of modern-day Valencia and Newhall, crossing what is now Interstate 5 and completely washing away the town of Castaic Junction. The flood laid devastation to three more communities, Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Bardsdale, before dumping the bodies it had claimed on its journey into the Pacific. The flood waters had traveled 57 miles in 5 hours and 27 minutes.
When did Mulholland sign off on the dam?from atlasobscura.com
Mulholland and his assistant inspected the dam and signed off on it on March 12, 1928. The dam had begun to show signs of stress, and there were a number of temperature and contraction cracks appearing, with a small amount of seeping occurring under the abutments.
Where is the St. Francis Dam Location?
The St. Francis Dam location is directly within San Francisquito Canyon, in the City of Santa Clarita, CA (34°32’49.3″N 118°30’45.5″W). In order to get to the St. Francis Dam disaster site, one can drive approximately 7 miles upgradient on San Francisquito Canyon Road, passing the entrance to Drinkwater Flats OHV and the LADWP Power House #2 on the right-hand sides. There is an old asphalt road with barricades that trends south from the right-hand side of San Francisquito Canyon Road. This is a walkable access road that leads to the St. Francis Dam disaster site. Unfortunately, this road contains no signs or plaques to identify the dam. However, the picture below is a placard at LADWP Power House #2, just a short distance downstream.
What type of Dam was St. Francis Dam?
The Saint Francis Dam was a Concrete Gravity Dam that was wider at the base than the top. The former Saint Francis Dam comprises a base that’s approximately 150 feet wide and rises approximately 205 feet above the streamline. The former dam comprises concrete, with iron reinforcement and aggregate rocks of the local geologic formations. For instance, fragments in San Francisquito Canyon reveal gravel and cobble size aggregates of the Sespe Formation sandstone, as well as the Pelona Schist.
What was the St. Francis Dam Disaster?
The St. Francis Dam was a Los Angeles Water and Power (LADWP) project from 1924 to 1928. The dam officially opened in May of 1926, and stored roughly 3,800 acre-feet of drinking water. The purpose of the dam was to provide a secondary drinking water reserve for the growing City of Los Angeles. In fact, it was an accessory to the Los Angeles Aqueduct project, which pipes water from Owens Valley.
Who Built the St. Francis Dam?
Chief Engineer William Mulholland of the Los Angeles Water and Power Department built the Saint Francis Dam. Although, he was not alone in the process. Numerous other city officials, designers, and politicians were also responsible for it. In fact, the dam was an extension of the department’s ongoing Los Angeles Aqueduct project. Commencing in 1913, the LA Aqueduct Project continues to provide the City of Los Angeles as a sustainable drinking water source.
What Caused the St. Francis Dam to Collapse?
Improper geologic evaluations of an underlying thrust fault and a translational landslide, as well as poor operations and maintenance, caused the Saint Francis Dam to collapse. To illustrate, the former dam’s eastern abutment overlays a paleo-landslide of the Pelona Schist. Whereas the western abutment overlays the Sespe Formation sandstone, which slakes when saturated. Moreover, this geologic contact forms over an active thrust fault that trends directly under the former St. Francis Dam footing. Today, geologists also believe the increased saturation and hydrostatic pressure from the dam further reduced the structural integrity of the underlying Sespe Formation, Pelona Schist landslide, and the contact thrust fault.
What is the dam in the movie?
There is a reasonable presumption “the dam” in the movie refers to the St. Francis Dam disaster. For example, in the movie, the LADWP Chief Engineer Hollis Mulwray (whose character alludes to William Mulholland) opposes the construction of a new dam after the previous “disaster that killed hundreds of people.”.
Where is San Francisquito Canyon?
San Francisquito Canyon is in the Saugus area of Santa Clarita, Cali fornia. This area is part of Los Angeles County, but still outside of the Los Angeles City limits. San Francisquito Canyon Road currently trends through the canyon. The road begins downgradient at the Copper Hill Road intersection. And the upgradient direction of the canyon leads to the Lancaster area of Los Angeles County. The Saint Francis Dam disaster site is approximately 7.5 miles upgrade from Copper Hill.
How far downstream can you see concrete dam fragments?
Soil and soft rock scoured by water flowing through the initial dam breach generated silt-laden floodwaters which have been credited with providing enough buoyancy to float the concrete fragments and carry them as much as 4,000 feet downstream (Photo source: L.C. Hill et al., 1929 ASCE Proceedings).
What is considered during dam design?
Stability of the dam foundation and other geologic features must be considered during dam design.
Why are dam failure sites important?
Dam failure sites offer an important opportunity for education and memorialization.
When was Mulholland Dam built?
Mulholland Dam, which was named in his honor, is a curved concrete gravity dam of similar height, constructed between 1923 and 1925. Although his experience resided primarily in the design of embankment dams, Mulholland proposed that a concrete gravity dam would be the proper structure for the canyon terrain across which St. Francis would be built. ...
Did Mulholland design a concrete dam?
In addition, during his time as a supervising engineer, Mulholland had overseen the completion of numerous embankment dams. Mulholland’s experience in concrete dam design, however, was lacking. Prior to the design and construction of the St. Francis Dam, he had only participated in the design of one other concrete gravity dam. ...
Who took full responsibility for the Los Angeles waterworks failure?
In the aftermath of the failure, Mulholland took full responsibility for the accident during a hearing stating, “Don’t blame anyone else, you know you can just fasten it on me. If there was human error, I was the human” and he “only envied those who were killed.” He ended his career by stepping down as head of the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Waterworks & Supply shortly after the failure.
Who is Frank Rock?
Local historian and St. Francis Dam expert Frank Rock summarizes the failure of St. Francis Dam and its aftermath.
Saint Francis Dam Facts
- Alternative Names: San Francisquito Dam; Saint Francis Dam
- Former Dam Location: The San Francisquito Canyon, Santa Clarita, CA (34°32’49.3″N 118°30’45.5″W)
- Builders: Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (Formerly the Bureau of Water Works and Supply)
- Alternative Names: San Francisquito Dam; Saint Francis Dam
- Former Dam Location: The San Francisquito Canyon, Santa Clarita, CA (34°32’49.3″N 118°30’45.5″W)
- Builders: Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (Formerly the Bureau of Water Works and Supply)
- Start of Construction:July 1924
What Was The St. Francis Dam Disaster?
- The St. Francis Dam was a Los Angeles Water and Power (LADWP) project from 1924 to 1928. The dam officially opened in May of 1926, and stored roughly 3,800 acre-feet of drinking water. The purpose of the dam was to provide a secondary drinking water reserve for the growing City of Los Angeles. In fact, it was an accessory to the Los Angeles Aqueduct project, which pipes wate…
Archived Footage of The St. Francis Dam
- There is no actual footage of the St. Francis Dam failing because motion picture technology was very new at the time. It was a sudden and unexpecting collapse, during the darkness of the midnight hours. Consequently, it left local videographers no opportunity to set up equipment to capture footage. However, there is footage covering the dam before failure, as well as after it.