On December 14, 1963, the dam collapsed, spilling 300 million gallons of water into the hillsides that swept away houses and cars and left three dead. Most of Baldwin Village, including the historic Village Green community, was flooded as well. The crack in the dam was ultimately attributed to subsidence caused by overexploitation of the Inglewood oil field. The disaster caused the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power to phase out small local reservoirs, opting instead to store water in groundwater basins and behind the Hansen Dam in Lake View Terrace. A view of the waterless Baldwin Hills Reservoir looking at the break that opened up Dec. 14, 1963 and flooded the city below causing three deaths and extensive property damage. Vegetation is beginning to cover the floor. In the background is Los Angeles. Photo dated: Nov. 30, 1965.
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