Home > California > Littlerock vicinity > Little Rock Creek Dam, Little Rock Creek, Littlerock, Los Angeles County, CA
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Item Title
Little Rock Creek Dam, Little Rock Creek, Littlerock, Los Angeles County, CA
LocationLittle Rock Creek,
Littlerock vicinity, CA
Find maps of Littlerock, CA
Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1968.
Notes
Survey number HAER CA-8
Building/structure dates:
1932 subsequent work
Building/structure dates:
1933 subsequent work
Building/structure dates:
1938 subsequent work
Building/structure dates:
1964 subsequent work
Building/structure dates:
1982 subsequent work
Building/structure dates:
1993 subsequent work
Significance: When built the Littlerock Dam was the tallest reinforced concrete multiple arch dam in the world. For over fifty years it has provided water for the South Antelope Valley and contributed to the valley's economic development. / When constructed in 1922-24, the Little Rock Creek Dam was the second highest multiple arch dam in the world, second only to that built in Tirso, Italy, at the same time. The Little Rock Creek Dam was the highest reinforced concrete multiple arch dam of the period, with the Tirso Dam of masonry-reinforced concrete construction. Sited adjacent to the very active San Andreas faultline, the dam is a superlative example of the innovative and artistic design work of internationally-acknowledged engineer John S. Eastwood. The Little Rock Creek Dam has provided water for the South Antelope Valley for nearly 70 years. Little Rock Creek Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Subjects
AgricultureRecreationWater Supply
Related Names
Eastwood, John S.
Littlerock & Palmdale Irrigation District
Bent Brothers
McClure, Wilbur F.
Cole, Burt
Huber, Walter LeRoy
Bradley, Denise, Field Team
Corbett, Michael, Field Team
Davis, Gene, Field Team
Lilburn, M. Loraine, Field Team
Powers, David W., Field Team
DeVries, David G., Photographer
Jackson, Donald C., Historian
Lowe, Jet, Photographer
Weitze, Karen J., Historian
Collection
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. General view of dam looking west, showing both the downstream buttresses and the upstream arch-rings. The spillway is on the far end of the dam.
2. Long-distance view of downstream side, looking west. The area encompassed by the reservoir is also shown beyond the dam.
3. General view of upstream face, looking northwest. Spillway is at the far end of the dam. The Antelope Valley is visible in center background.
4. General view of downstream face, looking east. The spillway is partially visible in upper right-hand corner.
5. Downstream face, looking south.
6. General view of downstream face, looking south. Spillway is to the right.
7. Detail view of reinforced concrete arch-rings comprising dam's upstream face. Impressions of the wooden formwork used in construction are visible in the concrete.
8. Detail view of downstream side, looking south. Buttresses, strut-tie beams, and arch-rings are shown. The white discoloration on the concrete is the result of efflorescence.
9. View across top of dam, looking west. The angle of the dam is evident. View also provides a close-up view of downstream side of an arch-ring
10. General view of buttresses, looking west. The batter of the buttresses is shown clearly.
11. Detail view of an arch-ring, strut-tie beams, and buttress walls included in one bay of the dam. View is looking down from dam's walkway on the downstream side.
12. View of buttresses, looking down from top of the dam. The stream bed of Little Rock Creek is also shown.
13. Photocopy of a photograph--ca. 1896--showing wooden arch bridge over the North Fork of the San Joaquin River northeast of Fresno, CA. This structure was designed by Eastwood as part of the San Joaquin Electric Company's hydro-electric plant; it is a design that indicates his interest in the structural capabilities of the arch before he began building multiple arch dams. Courtesy Mr. Charles Allan Whitney.
14. Photocopy of a photograph--ca. 1902--taken by A.W. Peters showing Eastwood and his party surveying for the Big Creek Project. The surveying party is visible in the upper right corner. Courtesy Mr. Charles Allan Whitney.
15. Photocopy of a photograph--ca. 1902--showing Eastwood involved in a gauging a stream as part of the Big Creek Project. Courtesy Mr. Charles Allan Whitney.
16. Photocopy of a photograph--ca. 1917--showing Eastwood and others inspecting the newly built Murray Dam in San Diego County, CA. Courtesy Mr. Charles Allan Whitney.
17. Photocopy of a photograph--ca. 1920--showing newly completed Argonaut Dam near Jackson, CA. Structure was built by the Argonaut Mining Company. Courtesy Mr. Charles Allan Whitney.
18. Photocopy of a photograph--ca. 1950--showing Lake Hodges Dam in San Diego County, CA., during a period of low water. Courtesy Mr. Charles Allan Whitney.
19. Photocopy of a photograph--ca. 1923--showing the Anyox Dam in British Columbia, Canada, just prior to completion of final arching. A sudden storm filled the reservoir and water began pouring over the uncompleted arch-ring; the dam was unhurt by the unexpected deluge and Eastwood used this photo as evidence of the great strength of his designs. Courtesy Mr. Charles Allan Whitney.20. DISTANT HELICOPTER VIEW TO SOUTHEAST UP LITTLE ROCK CREEK CANYON, WITH DAM AND RESERVOIR AT RIGHT CENTER. PALMDALE-LITTLEROCK DITCH, MARKED BY DENSE VEGETATION, CROSSES ROAD AT LOWER CENTER.
21. MID-DISTANCE HELICOPTER VIEW TO SOUTHEAST, DAM AND RESERVOIR.
22. MID-DISTANCE HELICOPTER VIEW TO SOUTHWEST, DAM AND RESERVOIR.
23. HIGH, DISTANT HELICOPTER VIEW TO NORTHWEST, OVER RESERVOIR AND DAM TOWARD THE TOWN OF PALMDALE.
24. HELICOPTER VIEW TO NORTH OVER RESERVOIR AND DAM.
25. HELICOPTER VIEW TO NORTHEAST, RESERVOIR AND DAM.
26. LANDSCAPE CONTEXT OVERVIEW OF LITTLEROCK CREEK CANYON, WITH DAM IN DISTANCE.
27. WIDE ANGLE VIEW OF ENTIRE DAM FACE.
28. DOWNSTREAM (NORTH) ELEVATION, DETAIL OF EAST HALF SHOWING OUTLET PIPES.
29. WEST END OF DAM, LOOKING SOUTHEAST, SHOWING DOWNSTREAM FACE OF SPILLWAY.
30. LOOKING UP AT DAM FACE FROM OUTLET PIPES DISCHARGE POINT.
31. OUTLET PIPES AT BASE OF DAM, EAST END OF DOWNSTREAM ELEVATION.
32. ANGLED BUTTRESSES ON DAM FACE. REBAR MARKS LOCATION OF FORMER METAL LADDER TO CATWALK.
33. INTERIOR OF OUTLET PIPE CHAMBER.
34. VALVES AT SOUTH END OF OUTLET PIPE CHAMBER.
35. VALVES AT OUTLET PIPES DISCHARGE POINT, ABOUT FIFTY FEET NORTH OF BASE OF DAM.
36. CONCRETE COVERED SPILLWAY AT WEST SIDE OF DAM.
37. SPILLWAY AND DISCHARGE AREAS FROM ACCESS ROAD.
38. VIEW TO SOUTH OVER RESERVOIR INTO LITTLEROCK CREEK WATERSHED.
39. UPSTREAM (SOUTH) ELEVATION OF DAM FROM CAMPGROUND AT SOUTHWEST END OF RESERVOIR.
40. UPSTREAM ELEVATION FROM 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF BOAT LAUNCHING AREA.
41. UPSTREAM ELEVATION, FROM ATOP NEARBY KNOLL. VIEW TO NORTHEAST.
42. LOOKING EAST ACROSS DAM AND SPILLWAY LIP, SHOWING ANGLE IN DAM ALIGNMENT.
43. OVERVIEW OF FLUME FROM CANYON ACCESS ROAD NORTH OF DAM.
44. DETAIL, FLUME OVER LITTLEROCK CREEK.
45. FIRST CONCRETE CANAL STRUCTURE NORTH OF DAM.
46. OPENING TO UNDERGROUND CHANNEL; SECOND CONCRETE CANAL STRUCTURE NORTH OF DAM.
47. COBBLE WALL ABOVE UNDERGROUND WATER CHANNEL.
48. RIPARIAN VEGETATION ON LITTLEROCK CREEK JUST NORTH OF DAM.
49. RAISED CONCRETE CANAL AND TUNNEL THROUGH ROCK OUTCROP, LOOKING TO SOUTHEAST.
50. CONCRETE CANAL, LOOKING TO NORTHWEST.
51. CONCRETE CANAL AND BUTTRESS, WELL ABOVE CANYON FLOOR, LOOKING TO SOUTHWEST.
52. GATE VALVE AT LITTLEROCK CANAL DIVERSION POINT.
53. SERVICE ROAD BRIDGE ON PALMDALE CANAL.
54. EARTH LINED CANAL NORTH OF BRIDGE.
55. 'LITTLE ROCK DAM - JUNE 1923.' VIEW OF DOWNSTREAM FACE DURING CONSTRUCTION. Photographer unknown.
56. DOWNSTREAM FACE DURING CONSTRUCTION; MATERIALS TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN PLACE. No date. Photographer unknown.
57. UPSTREAM FACE DURING CONSTRUCTION, FROM THE WEST; SIPHON SPILLWAY AT LEFT. No date. Photographer unknown.
58. MATERIALS TRANSPORT SYSTEM ON UPSTREAM FACE DURING CONSTRUCTION. No date. Photographer unknown.
59. VIEW LOOKING WEST FROM EAST TOP DURING CONSTRUCTION. No date. Photographer unknown.
60. PANORAMIC VIEW OF DOWNSTREAM FACE. No date, but believed to be just subsequent to construction. Photograph by C.G. Duffey, Long Beach, California. (38' x 11' framed print).
61. 'LITTLEROCK DAM - LOOKING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ABUTMENT-SPILLWAY DISCHARGING.' No date; probably 1960s. Photographer unknown.
62. WOODEN TRESTLE AND FLUME, 1920s. No date. Photographer unknown. (framed print).
63. SURVEY OF RESERVOIR SITE ON LITTLE ROCK CREEK FOR PALMDALE WATER CO., J.B. LIPPINCOTT ENGINEERING OFFICES; OCTOBER, 1915. Palmdale Water District files.
64. LITTLE ROCK AND PALMDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, LITTLE ROCK DAM: PLAN VIEW, SHEET 2; APRIL, 1918. Palmdale Water District files.
65. LITTLE ROCK AND PALMDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, LITTLE ROCK DAM: UPSTREAM ELEVATION, SHEET 3; APRIL, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
66. LITTLE ROCK AND PALMDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, LITTLE ROCK DAM: DIMENSION SHEET, SECTION THROUGH CROWN, SHEET 6, APRIL, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
67. LITTLE ROCK AND PALMDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, LITTLE ROCK DAM: OUTLET GATES, CROWN SECTION, UPSTREAM ELEVATION AND DOWNSTREAM ELEVATION SHEET, SHEET 7; APRIL, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
68. LITTLE ROCK AND PALMDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, LITTLE ROCK DAM: STRESS SHEET, SHEET 4; MAY, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
69. LITTLE ROCK AND PALMDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, LITTLE ROCK DAM: REINFORCEMENT SHEET, SHEET 5; MAY, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
70. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED DAM: GENERAL PLAN, SHEET 1; DECEMBER 20, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
71. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED DAM: STRESS SHEET, SHEET 3; DECEMBER 20, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
72. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED DAM: ELEVATIONS, SHEET 2; DECEMBER 30, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
73. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED DAM: REINFORCEMENT SHEET, SHEET 4; DECEMBER 30, 1918. Littlerock Water District files.
74. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, LITTLEROCK DAM, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED TYPE: PLAN, SHEET 1, OCTOBER 2, 1919. Littlerock Water District files.
75. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, LITTLEROCK DAM, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED TYPE: UPSTREAM ELEVATION, SHEET 2; OCTOBER 2, 1919. Littlerock Water District files.
76. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, LITTLEROCK DAM, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED TYPE: DOWNSTREAM ELEVATION, SHEET 3; OCTOBER 2, 1919. Littlerock Water District files.
77. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, LITTLEROCK DAM, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED TYPE: CROSS SECTIONS, SHEET 4; OCTOBER 2, 1919. Littlerock Water District files.
78. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, LITTLEROCK DAM, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED TYPE: DIMENSIONS, SECTION THROUGH ARCH RING, SHEET 5; OCTOBER 2, 1919. Littlerock Water District files.
79. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, LITTLEROCK DAM, EASTWOOD MULTIPLE-ARCHED TYPE: REINFORCEMENT, SHEET 6; OCTOBER 2, 1919. Littlerock Water District files.
80. LITTLE ROCK DAM: DIMENSIONS, SECTION THROUGH ARCH RING, AMENDED SHEET 5; SEPTEMBER, 1922. Palmdale Water District files.
81. PALMDALE WATER COMPANY, LITTLE ROCK DAM: REINFORCEMENT, SECTION THROUGH ARCH RING, AMENDED SHEET 6; SEPTEMBER, 1922. Palmdale Water District files.
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