Earth Movement at Baldwin Hills Reservoir

Abstract

THE FAILURE OF THE BALDWIN HILLS RESERVOIR IN LOS ANGELES IN DECEMBER, 1963, WAS CAUSED BY EARTH MOVEMENT MANIFESTED BY OFFSET AT A FAULT, PERMITTING RELEASE OF WATER INTO A HIGHLY ERODIBLE FOUNDATION. DISPLACEMENT AT THE RESERVOIR IS ATTRIBUTED TO GENERAL LAND SUBSIDENCE IN THE VICINITY. THE FINDINGS OF AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PHENOMENA WHICH PRECIPITATED THE DISASTER ARE PRESENTED. SEVERAL POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THE MOVEMENT ARE ANALYZED. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS FAILURE ARE OUTLINED. /ASCE/