Hollywood Reservoir Explained

Hollywood Reservoir
Location:Hollywood Hills, Santa Monica Mountains, California, United States
Coordinates:34.1178°N -118.3311°W
Type:Reservoir
Max-Depth:183feet
Volume:2.5e9USgal
Pushpin Map:Los Angeles##California#USA
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of Hollywood Reservoir in Los Angeles County##Location of Hollywood Reservoir in California

Hollywood Reservoir (also known as Lake Hollywood) is a reservoir located in the Hollywood Hills, situated in the Santa Monica Mountains and north of the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It is maintained by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The reservoir and surrounding neighborhood lie east of the Hollywood Freeway and are overlooked, from a distance, by the Hollywood Sign.

The reservoir was created by the Mulholland Dam (built in 1924), designed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power—then named the Bureau of Water Works and Supply—as part of the city's water storage and supply system.[1] [2]

The Hollywood Reservoir has appeared in films such as Earthquake (1974). The gated entrance to the reservoir is briefly seen in the opening scene of John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) t[3] The reservoir is featured in Visiting... with Huell Howser Episode 915.[4] and the Season 4 opening of the TV Series 9-1-1.[5]

Geography

The reservoir has a capacity of 7,900 acre-feet,[6] which is 2.5e9USgal and a maximum water depth of 183feet. During its first years in service the reservoir level varied, though for most of the time it was kept at a high level and was filled on several occasions.

Within days after the collapse of the St. Francis Dam in March 1928, William Mulholland ordered the Hollywood Reservoir lowered due, in part, to public fears of a repeat disaster. Shortly after the disaster and in the years following, several engineering panels met to discuss the safety of the dam. These panels of engineers, from both the state and the LADWP came to differing conclusions. In 1931, the LADWP made the decision to permanently keep the Hollywood Reservoir lowered, and keep it to no more than 4,000 acre-feet (4,900,000 m3). The reservoir now is usually maintained at about 2,800 acre-feet (3,500,000 m3).[2]

The surrounding recreational area is known as Lake Hollywood Park, and is open for walking, hiking, and jogging.[7] The reservoir is encircled by a flat, paved road that is suitable for walking and bicycling. The loop on Lake Hollywood Walking Trail is 3.5miles long and crosses Mulholland Dam.[8]

See also

References

Notes

Notes and References

  1. 24th Annual Report of the Board of Public Service Commissioners
  2. Rogers, J. David A Man, A Dam and A Disaster ; St. Francis Dam Disaster Revisited Nunis Jr., Doyce B. (Ed.) Historical Society of Southern California. 1995.
  3. Alleman, Richard (2013). Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide: The Ultimate Insider Tour of Movie L.A. Crown/Archetype. Page 403. .
  4. Web site: Hollywood Reservoir- Visiting (915) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University . 24 October 2001 .
  5. Web site: List of 9-1-1 Episodes. .
  6. 22nd Annual Report of the Board of Public Service Commissioners
  7. Web site: Lake Hollywood Park. City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. 13 August 2012. 12 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140612163945/http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/lakehollywoodpk.htm. dead.
  8. Web site: Lake Hollywood Reservoir Walking Trail in Los Angeles. hikespeak.com. Hikespeak. August 22, 2022.