Glendale (PDF) - Hazard Mitigation Web Portal - State of California

Natural Hazards Mitigation PlanCity of Glendale, CaliforniaSection 2 – Community ProfileSource: MapQuest, 2005.Major RiversThe nearest major river to Glendale is the Los Angeles River, located at its closest reach about0.5 miles west of the southern one-third of the city. The Los Angeles River hugs the north sideof the Hollywood Hills as it flows easterly through the area; when it reaches the eastern end ofthe hills, the river veers south to flow through the “Narrows” and the city of Los Angeles on itsway to the Pacific Ocean. The two heavily populated alluvial surfaces at the base of theVerdugo and San Gabriel Mountains are linked by the south-trending canyon carved by theVerdugo Wash that separates the Verdugo Mountains on the west from the San Rafael Hills onthe east.The steep southern flank of the San Gabriel Mountains is deeply incised by gorges and canyonsthat drain south into the La Cañada Valley, where they have been channelized, conveying theirflows south to Verdugo Wash (see Plate H-1: Geomorphic Map of Glendale in Appendix H).The three canyons that are located mostly within city limits include Ward, Dunsmore, andCooks. Several other streams draining the San Gabriel Mountains are also channelized throughthe La Crescenta area and into the northern portion of Glendale; these include the EagleCanyon, Pickens, Hills and Winery Canyon channels. Nearly all the tributaries flowingnortherly and easterly out of the Verdugo Mountains and westerly out of the San Rafael Hillsempty into Verdugo Wash. South of the mountains, Verdugo Wash turns to the westsouthwestand joins the Los Angeles River near the junction of Highway 134 with the 5Freeway (Interstate 5). Drainage from the southwestern slope of the Verdugo Mountains flowsdirectly across the alluvial fan and into the Los Angeles River. Verdugo Wash has been confinedto a man-made channel through most of Glendale to reduce its potential to flood the city.2006 PAGE 2 - 2