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Big Tujunga Reservoir Restoration Project
Announcements
Tentative Schedule:
The project bid period is anticipated in Summer 2026. Site preparation including vegetation removal is planned to commence in Late 2026 before sediment removal activities at Big Tujunga Reservoir would tentatively begin in Spring 2027.
Final IS/MND:
Thank you for your interest in the project. A Final Revised and Recirculated Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been approved. The IS/MND was approved and adopted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in January 2023.
Availability of Big Tujunga Dam Habitat Conservation Plan:
The Los Angeles County Public Works and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power have prepared a Big Tujunga Dam Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) pursuant to Section 10 of the Federal Endangered Species Act to support consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Big Tujunga Dam Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan (PDF: 108MB).
Draft IS/MND Public Meeting:
A public meeting was held virtually on Thursday, October 14, 2021. The presentation slides can be accessed in the Resources Section below.
Project Summary
The 2009 Station Fire was the largest fire in Angeles National Forest (est. 1892) recorded history and burned over 160,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains. Approximately 87% of the watershed tributary to Big Tujunga Reservoir was burned, significantly increasing sediment deposition during subsequent storm events. The storms that occurred during the storm seasons following the Station Fire increased sediment deposition within the reservoir by over one million cubic yards.
Sediment in the reservoir reduces the capacity for flood protection and stormwater capture, eventually impacting the operation of the dam’s outlet works. Sediment removal is necessary to continue protecting the communities downstream of the dam, restore capacity for stormwater capture, and maintain the dam’s operability.
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) was originally prepared in 2013. A Revised and Recirculated IS/MND has been circulated for public review in October 2021 and adopted by the County’s Board of Supervisors in January 2023.
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) an Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared. A public scoping meeting will be conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Resources
- October 14, 2021 Public Meeting Presentation Slides Part 1 (PDF: 4MB)
- October 14, 2021 Public Meeting Presentation Slides Part 2 (PDF: 6.5MB)
- Final Revised and Recirculated IS/MND (excluding appendices) (PDF: 13MB)
- Final IS/MND Technical Appendices (PDF: 236MB)
- Responses to Comments on Draft IS/MND (PDF: 50MB)
- Big Tujunga Dam Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan (PDF: 108MB)
Contact Us
For more information about the project, or to be added to the project mailing list, please email reservoircleanouts@pw.lacounty.gov or call (626)458-6119.