Dunsmuir Sediment Placement | Glendale Fact Page

Truck Activity and Sediment Hauling Near Deukmejian Park

What’s Happening at the Dunsmuir Sediment Placement Site?

The operation you are witnessing involves hauling material to the Dunsmuir Sediment Placement Site (SPS), which is located within the City of Glendale but owned, operated, and managed by Los Angeles County. This effort is being conducted entirely under the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County Public Works, the LA County Flood Control District, and the County of Los Angeles, as part of their storm response and flood mitigation strategy as a result of build-up behind Eaton Dam.

The material being transported includes sediment—specifically dirt, rocks, and mud—that has accumulated in debris basin due to severe erosion caused by recent wildfires and winter storms. These operations are necessary to maintain basin capacity and reduce flood risks during future weather events. The debris behind this dam is before the impacted residential and commercial burn areas and does not contain the hazardous materials.

LA County Public Works DOES NOT clean up fire debris and there is no chance of intermingling any of the fire debris that is being cleaned up by other entities. LA County Public Works is committed to ensuring the sediment placement sites only have clean compactable materials.

County officials have stated:

No fire debris from the residential or commercially impacted fire areas, residential trash, or hazardous materials (such as lithium-ion batteries or heavy metals) are being hauled to the site.
The site is strictly receiving natural sediment as part of routine storm season maintenance.

Work is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with limited weekend activity only when critical for flood control.
Residents may experience increased truck traffic and periodic parking restrictions posted 48 hours in advance to ensure safety.
LA County Public Works has committed to overseeing the work for safety, cleanliness, and compliance with all traffic laws.

While this operation is not managed or initiated by the City of Glendale, we are actively engaged in oversight due to its proximity to our neighborhoods and public spaces. In response to community concerns:

Material Verification: We are requesting clarification from LA County on how they are ensuring that only clean, non-hazardous sediment is being transported. This includes asking for testing protocols and confirmation that no post-fire debris is included.
Coordination with County: Our staff is in contact with LA County Public Works and the Flood Control District. We have elevated your concerns and are requesting full transparency regarding the material and operations.

LA County Notification to City and Residents:

LA County Public Works has been using northbound Boston Ave. at Foothill Boulevard as the route to haul sediment into the Dunsmuir Debris Placement Site. As of April 17, 2025, GWP Water crews have begun construction for new and improved water services along Boston Ave. This will impact LA County Public Works’ hauling operations. LA County Public Works has notified the City and residents it will now use Lowell Ave. — previously designated as their “haul route out” of the debris basin — as both their entry and exit route. Note: Portions of Lowell Ave. fall within the City of Los Angeles.

You can find more detailed information about this project in the following official resources:

For more information, residents are encouraged to visit Sediment Management - LA County Public Works.

For questions, please contact Jonathan King, assistant area engineer, at (818) 896-0594, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM or email JKing@pw.lacounty.gov.

For after-hours assistance, please contact LA County Public Works 24-hour Dispatch Center at (800) 675-HELP (4357).