Rindge Dam
Encyclopedia
The 100 feet-tall Rindge Dam on Malibu Creek
is located in Malibu Creek State Park
, about three miles from the coast of Malibu, California. It is situated just northeast of Malibu Canyon Road, from which it is only partially visible (from the turnouts south of the tunnel). Two conventional routes to the dam exist, both on foot; one beginning near the Serra Retreat north of Malibu Lagoon, the other at the north entrance of Malibu Canyon, just south of Piuma Road. Both are arduous, all-day hikes. The lookouts on Piuma Road provide the best view of the ghostly structure.
The main arch of the Rindge Dam was completed in 1924. The spillway of the dam was finished in 1926. The 600-acre behind the dam has been completely filled with sediment since around 1950, which creates a waterfall from Malibu Creek
. The dam was built by hired workers of May Knight Rindge, who owned the Malibu Ranch, the former Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit
, at that time. The frame of the dam was constructed out of the rails of a 15-mile railroad that went through the Malibu Ranch, after it was dismantled. It became absorbed into Malibu Creek State Park
in 1976. The base of the dam features a deep, year-round pool, occasionally attracting cliffdivers
. The dual walls of the dam were built into an already-existing rock monolith in the center of Malibu Creek; the only place they meet is at the top.
Fish advocates have called for the dam's removal because it is blocking Steelhead trout from accessing the upper reaches of the Malibu Creek watershed
. Others believe that the dam's removal would be cataclysmic, as large parts of Malibu
could be washed out to sea with its remnants. Some have also campaigned in vain for the designation of the Rindge Dam as a California Historical Landmark
. Though property of the California Department of Parks and Recreation
, the Rindge Dam's near-impossible accessibility results in only a handful of visitors per decade. Abseiling
down to the area is possible from the lookouts just northeast on Piuma Road, and can cut hours off the journey.
The dam will possibly be removed, but no conclusive decision has been made yet. Estimates for the cost of demolition have been as high as $80 million. There has been much speculation as to what exactly would happen if the Rindge Dam were removed or collapsed, and to where its remnants would go.
Malibu Creek
Malibu Creek is a year-round stream in western Los Angeles County, California. It drains the southern Simi Hills and the westernmost San Fernando Valley, flows south through the Santa Monica Mountains, and enters Santa Monica Bay east of Malibu. The Malibu Creek watershed drains and its tributary...
is located in Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park is a California state park in the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu, in Calabasas. It opened to the public in 1976.-Location:Malibu Creek State Park stretches from below Malibu Lake in the west to Piuma Road in the east...
, about three miles from the coast of Malibu, California. It is situated just northeast of Malibu Canyon Road, from which it is only partially visible (from the turnouts south of the tunnel). Two conventional routes to the dam exist, both on foot; one beginning near the Serra Retreat north of Malibu Lagoon, the other at the north entrance of Malibu Canyon, just south of Piuma Road. Both are arduous, all-day hikes. The lookouts on Piuma Road provide the best view of the ghostly structure.
The main arch of the Rindge Dam was completed in 1924. The spillway of the dam was finished in 1926. The 600-acre behind the dam has been completely filled with sediment since around 1950, which creates a waterfall from Malibu Creek
Malibu Creek
Malibu Creek is a year-round stream in western Los Angeles County, California. It drains the southern Simi Hills and the westernmost San Fernando Valley, flows south through the Santa Monica Mountains, and enters Santa Monica Bay east of Malibu. The Malibu Creek watershed drains and its tributary...
. The dam was built by hired workers of May Knight Rindge, who owned the Malibu Ranch, the former Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit
Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit
Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit was a Spanish land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given by Spanish Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga in 1804 to José Bartolomé Tapia.-History:...
, at that time. The frame of the dam was constructed out of the rails of a 15-mile railroad that went through the Malibu Ranch, after it was dismantled. It became absorbed into Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park is a California state park in the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu, in Calabasas. It opened to the public in 1976.-Location:Malibu Creek State Park stretches from below Malibu Lake in the west to Piuma Road in the east...
in 1976. The base of the dam features a deep, year-round pool, occasionally attracting cliffdivers
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
. The dual walls of the dam were built into an already-existing rock monolith in the center of Malibu Creek; the only place they meet is at the top.
Fish advocates have called for the dam's removal because it is blocking Steelhead trout from accessing the upper reaches of the Malibu Creek watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. Others believe that the dam's removal would be cataclysmic, as large parts of Malibu
Malibu
Malibu may refer to:Places:* Malibu, Baja California, a beach in Rosarito Beach Municipality, Baja California* Malibu, British Columbia, a camp near the entrance of Princess Louisa Inlet...
could be washed out to sea with its remnants. Some have also campaigned in vain for the designation of the Rindge Dam as a California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
. Though property of the California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Department of Parks and Recreation
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, also known as California State Parks, manages the California state parks system. The system administers 278 parks and 1.4 million acres , with over of coastline; of lake and river frontage; nearly 15,000 campsites; and of hiking, biking, and...
, the Rindge Dam's near-impossible accessibility results in only a handful of visitors per decade. Abseiling
Abseiling
Abseiling , rappelling in American English, is the controlled descent down a rock face using a rope; climbers use this technique when a cliff or slope is too steep and/or dangerous to descend without protection.- Slang terms :...
down to the area is possible from the lookouts just northeast on Piuma Road, and can cut hours off the journey.
The dam will possibly be removed, but no conclusive decision has been made yet. Estimates for the cost of demolition have been as high as $80 million. There has been much speculation as to what exactly would happen if the Rindge Dam were removed or collapsed, and to where its remnants would go.
See also
- Sherwood DamSherwood DamThe Lake Sherwood Dam, known also as The Potrero Dam or simply Sherwood Dam, is a 270-foot long concrete arch dam in Thousand Oaks, California, completed in 1904. Its construction led to the creation of the 165-acre Potrero Lake over the following winter...
- Malibu CreekMalibu CreekMalibu Creek is a year-round stream in western Los Angeles County, California. It drains the southern Simi Hills and the westernmost San Fernando Valley, flows south through the Santa Monica Mountains, and enters Santa Monica Bay east of Malibu. The Malibu Creek watershed drains and its tributary...
- Malibou LakeMalibou LakeMalibou Lake is a small, artificial lake in the Santa Monica Mountains, as well as a community, near Agoura Hills, California, USA. Located within Malibu Creek State Park, and almost completely surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, is situated between Malibu Beach and...
- Adamson HouseAdamson HouseAdamson House, also known as Vaquero Hill, is a historic house and gardens in Malibu, California that has been called the "Taj Mahal of Tile" due to its extensive use of decorative ceramic tiles created by the Malibu Potteries. The house was built in 1930 for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and Merritt...
- Frederick H. Rindge
- Frederick Hastings Rindge HouseFrederick Hastings Rindge HouseThe Frederick Hastings Rindge House is a historic house located in the West Adams district of Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County, California.The Rindge House was built in 1902 for Frederick H. Rindge and designed by Frederick Louis Roehrig and E.C...