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Morris Dam

April 11, 2024

For the dam in New York State, see Mount Morris Dam.

Morris Dam (officially the Samuel B. Morris Dam) is a concrete gravity dam across the San Gabriel River in the U.S. state of California. It impounds Morris Reservoir, directly downstream of San Gabriel Dam.

Samuel B. Morris Dam
Morris Dam viewed from the unofficial overlook on State Route 39 (Spillway on left and dam on right)
CountryUnited States
LocationLos Angeles County, California
Coordinates34°10′29″N 117°52′52″W / 34.17472°N 117.88111°W / 34.17472; -117.88111
StatusOperational
Construction began1932; 92 years ago (1932)
Opening date1934; 90 years ago (1934)
Construction cost$25 million
Owner(s)Los Angeles County Flood Control District
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete gravity
ImpoundsSan Gabriel River
Height245 ft (75 m)[n 1]
Length750 ft (230 m)
Spillway typeGated concrete overflow
Spillway capacity80,000 cu ft/s (2,300 m3/s)
Reservoir
CreatesMorris Reservoir
Total capacity39,300 acre⋅ft (48,500,000 m3) (nominal)
27,800 acre⋅ft (34,300,000 m3) (current)
Surface area417 acres (169 ha)
Normal elevation1,152 ft (351 m)[n 2]
Power Station
Installed capacityN/A

The dam was built in the 1930s as a water supply facility for the city of Pasadena, but is now mostly utilized for flood control and flow regulation for groundwater recharge. Situated in northern Los Angeles County, the dam impounds the 417-acre (169 ha) Morris Reservoir in the Angeles National Forest, a few miles northeast of Azusa. From the 1940s to the 1990s, the reservoir was also used for underwater missile testing by the United States military.

Design and location edit

This dam sits south of Silver Mountain and north of Glendora Ridge, which flank the 1,500-foot (460 m) deep San Gabriel Canyon. It is roughly 37 miles (60 km) upstream of the San Gabriel River's mouth at the Pacific Ocean, and 6 miles (9.7 km) downstream of the river's beginning at the confluence of its East and West Forks.[1] Morris Reservoir is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long and 1,152 feet (351 m) above sea level at maximum pool, covering 417 acres (169 ha).[2] The dam's crest itself is at an elevation of 1,161 feet (354 m).[3][4]

Serving mainly flood control, flow regulation and groundwater recharge purposes, the slightly arched Art Deco-style gravity dam is 245 feet (75 m) high and 750 feet (230 m) long. Its spillway, located slightly north of the main structure, is a concrete-lined chute controlled by three steel drum gates. The reservoir created by the dam, when first put into use, was capable of storing 39,300 acre-feet (48,500,000 m3). Due to sedimentation though since that time, its capacity has been reduced by about 29%. At present, the reservoir when filled holds approximately 27,800 acre-feet (34,300,000 m3).[5]

History edit

Morris Dam was originally slated to be called Pine Canyon Dam, but was renamed for the chief engineer of construction, Samuel Brooks Morris of the Pasadena Water Department.[6] With the dam envisioned as a private structure for Pasadena, groundbreaking was in April 1932 and construction was completed in May 1934, four months behind schedule.[7] Upon completion the dam was dedicated by former United States President Herbert Hoover.[8] In 1935, contrary to its original purpose, Morris Dam was sold to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), which owned it through most of the 20th century.[8]

 
The plaque commemorating the old naval weapons test center at Morris Dam

The dam was completed prior to the catastrophic Los Angeles Flood of 1938, the most severe flood recorded in Southern California since the Great Flood of 1862. Along with San Gabriel Dam, which at the time was under construction, the Cogswell Dam upstream and the Morris Dam greatly reduced the flood peak on the San Gabriel River, saving downstream cities millions of dollars' worth of damages. If it were not for the three dams, the flow past Azusa may have exceeded 150,000 cu ft/s (4,200 m3/s), but was limited to just 65,700 cu ft/s (1,860 m3/s), with Morris Dam alone reducing the flood peak by some 30,000 cu ft/s (850 m3/s).[9]

Morris Reservoir Naval Weapons Test Site edit

Beginning in World War II, Morris Reservoir was used for the Morris Reservoir Naval Weapons Test Site for the U.S. Navy in conjunction with the California Institute of Technology.[10] A wide variety of weapons, including torpedoes and ballistic missiles, had their trial runs here. Testing continued until the 1990s, when most of the structures at the associated military compound were demolished. However, the concrete foundations remain and are easily seen from State Route 39, which runs past the dam and reservoir.[10] In 1995, MWD sold the dam to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, which continues to operate it and the reservoir today.[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 10, 2011
  2. ^ Sheng, Jingfen; Wilson, John P. "Watershed Assets Assessment Report" (PDF). The Green Visions Plan for 21st Century Southern California. USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. p. 51. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  3. ^ "Morris Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  4. ^ USGS Topo Maps for United States (Map). Cartography by United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  5. ^ (PDF). San Gabriel River Flood Control. California State University Fullerton. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  6. ^ "The Morris San Gabriel Dam, San Gabriel River Canyon, California". Online Archive of California. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  7. ^ "Hydroelectric Plant Acquisition Study for Azusa Light & Water" (PDF). Azusa Light & Water. City of Azusa. 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  8. ^ a b "Samuel Brooks Morris Papers" (PDF). Online Archive of California. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  9. ^ . Suburban Emergency Management Project. 2006-06-07. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  10. ^ a b "Morris Reservoir Test Site". Center for Land Use Interpretation. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  11. ^ "San Gabriel River and Montebello Forebay Water Conservation System". Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Retrieved 2011-07-06.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Height measurements range from 245 to 325 feet. 245 feet is the most commonly referenced measure, but 325 feet may be the distance from the dam crest to the foundation. Further research needed.
  2. ^ Pool elevation at spillway according to USGS topo maps

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morris Dam.

April 11, 2024
morris, york, state, mount, officially, samuel, concrete, gravity, across, gabriel, river, state, california, impounds, morris, reservoir, directly, downstream, gabriel, samuel, viewed, from, unofficial, overlook, state, route, spillway, left, right, countryun. For the dam in New York State see Mount Morris Dam Morris Dam officially the Samuel B Morris Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the San Gabriel River in the U S state of California It impounds Morris Reservoir directly downstream of San Gabriel Dam Samuel B Morris DamMorris Dam viewed from the unofficial overlook on State Route 39 Spillway on left and dam on right CountryUnited StatesLocationLos Angeles County CaliforniaCoordinates34 10 29 N 117 52 52 W 34 17472 N 117 88111 W 34 17472 117 88111StatusOperationalConstruction began1932 92 years ago 1932 Opening date1934 90 years ago 1934 Construction cost 25 millionOwner s Los Angeles County Flood Control DistrictDam and spillwaysType of damConcrete gravityImpoundsSan Gabriel RiverHeight245 ft 75 m n 1 Length750 ft 230 m Spillway typeGated concrete overflowSpillway capacity80 000 cu ft s 2 300 m3 s ReservoirCreatesMorris ReservoirTotal capacity39 300 acre ft 48 500 000 m3 nominal 27 800 acre ft 34 300 000 m3 current Surface area417 acres 169 ha Normal elevation1 152 ft 351 m n 2 Power StationInstalled capacityN AThe dam was built in the 1930s as a water supply facility for the city of Pasadena but is now mostly utilized for flood control and flow regulation for groundwater recharge Situated in northern Los Angeles County the dam impounds the 417 acre 169 ha Morris Reservoir in the Angeles National Forest a few miles northeast of Azusa From the 1940s to the 1990s the reservoir was also used for underwater missile testing by the United States military Contents 1 Design and location 2 History 2 1 Morris Reservoir Naval Weapons Test Site 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 5 External linksDesign and location editThis dam sits south of Silver Mountain and north of Glendora Ridge which flank the 1 500 foot 460 m deep San Gabriel Canyon It is roughly 37 miles 60 km upstream of the San Gabriel River s mouth at the Pacific Ocean and 6 miles 9 7 km downstream of the river s beginning at the confluence of its East and West Forks 1 Morris Reservoir is about 3 miles 4 8 km long and 1 152 feet 351 m above sea level at maximum pool covering 417 acres 169 ha 2 The dam s crest itself is at an elevation of 1 161 feet 354 m 3 4 Serving mainly flood control flow regulation and groundwater recharge purposes the slightly arched Art Deco style gravity dam is 245 feet 75 m high and 750 feet 230 m long Its spillway located slightly north of the main structure is a concrete lined chute controlled by three steel drum gates The reservoir created by the dam when first put into use was capable of storing 39 300 acre feet 48 500 000 m3 Due to sedimentation though since that time its capacity has been reduced by about 29 At present the reservoir when filled holds approximately 27 800 acre feet 34 300 000 m3 5 History editMorris Dam was originally slated to be called Pine Canyon Dam but was renamed for the chief engineer of construction Samuel Brooks Morris of the Pasadena Water Department 6 With the dam envisioned as a private structure for Pasadena groundbreaking was in April 1932 and construction was completed in May 1934 four months behind schedule 7 Upon completion the dam was dedicated by former United States President Herbert Hoover 8 In 1935 contrary to its original purpose Morris Dam was sold to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California MWD which owned it through most of the 20th century 8 nbsp The plaque commemorating the old naval weapons test center at Morris DamThe dam was completed prior to the catastrophic Los Angeles Flood of 1938 the most severe flood recorded in Southern California since the Great Flood of 1862 Along with San Gabriel Dam which at the time was under construction the Cogswell Dam upstream and the Morris Dam greatly reduced the flood peak on the San Gabriel River saving downstream cities millions of dollars worth of damages If it were not for the three dams the flow past Azusa may have exceeded 150 000 cu ft s 4 200 m3 s but was limited to just 65 700 cu ft s 1 860 m3 s with Morris Dam alone reducing the flood peak by some 30 000 cu ft s 850 m3 s 9 Morris Reservoir Naval Weapons Test Site edit Beginning in World War II Morris Reservoir was used for the Morris Reservoir Naval Weapons Test Site for the U S Navy in conjunction with the California Institute of Technology 10 A wide variety of weapons including torpedoes and ballistic missiles had their trial runs here Testing continued until the 1990s when most of the structures at the associated military compound were demolished However the concrete foundations remain and are easily seen from State Route 39 which runs past the dam and reservoir 10 In 1995 MWD sold the dam to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works which continues to operate it and the reservoir today 11 See also editLos Angeles County Department of Public Works dams List of reservoirs and dams in CaliforniaReferences edit U S Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset high resolution flowline data The National Map accessed March 10 2011 Sheng Jingfen Wilson John P Watershed Assets Assessment Report PDF The Green Visions Plan for 21st Century Southern California USC Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences p 51 Retrieved 2011 07 06 Morris Dam Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior 1981 01 19 Retrieved 2011 07 06 USGS Topo Maps for United States Map Cartography by United States Geological Survey ACME Mapper Retrieved 2011 07 06 Flood Control and Water Conservation PDF San Gabriel River Flood Control California State University Fullerton Archived from the original PDF on 2012 03 26 Retrieved 2011 07 06 The Morris San Gabriel Dam San Gabriel River Canyon California Online Archive of California Retrieved 2011 07 06 Hydroelectric Plant Acquisition Study for Azusa Light amp Water PDF Azusa Light amp Water City of Azusa 2011 05 17 Retrieved 2011 07 06 a b Samuel Brooks Morris Papers PDF Online Archive of California Retrieved 2011 07 06 Los Angeles Basin s 1938 Catastrophic Flood Event Suburban Emergency Management Project 2006 06 07 Archived from the original on July 18 2011 Retrieved 2011 07 06 a b Morris Reservoir Test Site Center for Land Use Interpretation Retrieved 2011 07 06 San Gabriel River and Montebello Forebay Water Conservation System Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Retrieved 2011 07 06 Notes edit Height measurements range from 245 to 325 feet 245 feet is the most commonly referenced measure but 325 feet may be the distance from the dam crest to the foundation Further research needed Pool elevation at spillway according to USGS topo mapsExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morris Dam Schematic of major reservoirs in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel River watersheds Historic American Engineering Record HAER documentation of test site filed under CA State Highway 39 at Morris Reservoir Azusa Los Angeles County CA Historic American Engineering Record HAER No CA 169 Variable Angle Launcher Complex 11 photos 99 data pages 2 photo caption pages Historic American Engineering Record HAER No CA 169 A Variable Angle Launcher Complex Variable Angle Launcher 101 photos 13 data pages 9 photo caption pages Historic American Engineering Record HAER No CA 169 B Variable Angle Launcher Complex Control Station 12 photos 3 data pages 2 photo caption pages Historic American Engineering Record HAER No CA 169 C Variable Angle Launcher Complex Camera Stations 12 photos 3 data pages 2 photo caption pages Historic American Engineering Record HAER No CA 169 D Variable Angle Launcher Complex Camera Car and Track 13 photos 2 photo caption pages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Morris Dam amp oldid 1177508870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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