HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - FED LEG:ST FRANCIS DAM DISASTR (4)Agenda Item: 12
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval: 79 'Le".
Item to be presented by: Michael P. Murphy
DATE: July 8, 2014
SUBJECT: FEDERAL LEGISLATION: ST. FRANCIS DAM DISASTER
RECOGNITION
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Subcommittee to request
that Representative Howard P. "Buck" McKeon consider, and if he determines that it is
appropriate, introduce legislation authorizing a study to ascertain if the sites and events
associated with the St. Francis Dam Disaster of 1928 meet the criteria for designation as a
National Memorial, as a unit of the National Park Service.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clarita Valley Community Hiking Club through its President, Diane Erskine-Hellrigel,
contacted Mayor Weste to request that the City of Santa Clarita support the Club's efforts seeking
federal legislation to appropriately recognize the St. Francis Dam Disaster of 1928. Mayor
Weste brought the request forward to the City Council and the matter was referred to the City
Council Legislative Subcommittee for consideration.
The Community Hiking Club has requested that Representative Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
(R -CA -25) sponsor legislation authorizing the National Park Service to conduct a study to
determine if the St. Francis Dam Disaster of 1928 meets the criteria for National Memorial
designation.
Shortly before midnight on March 12, 1928, the St. Francis Dam, located in San Francisquito
Canyon, collapsed and sent a cascade of water through the Santa Clarita Valley, Santa Clara
River Valley and out to the Pacific Ocean. It is estimated that as many as 600 people along the
flood corridor lost their lives in what has been identified as the second greatest loss of life in a
single catastrophic event in California, after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
The St. Francis Dam was one of several reservoirs constructed as part of the Los Angeles
Aqueduct project, which brings water from the Owens Valley, located in the eastern Sierra
Nevada Mountains to Los Angeles. The dam and reservoir were intended to have the capacity to
store one year's water supply for Los Angeles in the event of a drought or other disaster
eliminating the ability of Los Angeles to access a water supply.
The St. Francis Dam disaster was international news at the time it occurred in 1928. In the
intervening years, the disaster has become an important element of state and local history and
interest. The Community Hiking Club believes that it is appropriate to honor the individuals
who lost their lives during the flood, as well as preserve the dam site and surrounding areas,
through designation as a unit of the National Park Service. The first step in that effort would be
for the National Park Service to conduct a study to determine if the disaster site and associated
events meet the criteria for National Memorial designation. In addition to including the dam site
in the study area, proponents are seeking to have the study include the potential designation of
wilderness areas around the dam site.
On July 1, 2014, the City Council Legislative Subcommittee met and considered the Community
Hiking Club's request, which was originally presented to Mayor Weste. The Subcommittee
recommends that the City Council request Representative Howard P. "Buck" McKeon to
consider, and if he determines that it is appropriate, sponsor legislation authorizing the study of
the St. Francis Dam disaster for potential designation of the dam site and appropriate surrounding
areas, as a unit of the National Park Service.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Take no action on the request from the Community Hiking Club.
2. Oppose the request from the Community Hiking Club.
3. Refer the issue back to the Legislative Subcommittee.
4. Other action, as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional resources, beyond those in the approved FY 14/15 City budget, are required for the
implementation of the recommended action.
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