This past Monday, January 20th, 2025, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works began clear cutting the Willow forests within the Eaton Reservoir below New York Drive. This project is being done in preparation of debris flows and significant sedimentation expected over the coming years now that Eaton Canyon has burned top-to-bottom.
Following the devastating 1914 Southern California floods, the county created its Flood Control District to better protect the region. Several large canyons throughout the San Gabriel Valley, including Eaton Canyon and the Arroyo Seco, were significantly altered in the mid-1930s in an effort the lessen the impact of large floods. In addition, spreading grounds were dug to hold drinking water for the drier summer months.
The Eaton Reservoir was originally meant to contain 948 acre feet of water when it was built in 1936. However, decades of flash flooding has deposited sand and gravel on the reservoir floor and left the reservoir only capable of holding 653 acre feet. This is a 31.1% loss in capacity. Efforts to clean out the reservoir and expand how much water the dam can contain before the next major flood hits are being prepared.
What are your thoughts please?