I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3153 
To authorize a national memorial to commemorate those killed by the collapse 
of the Saint Francis Dam on March 12, 1928, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 22, 2015 
Mr. KNIGHT (for himself and Ms. BROWNLEY of California) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize a national memorial to commemorate those 
killed by the collapse of the Saint Francis Dam on March 
12, 1928, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial and 
Castaic Wilderness Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes. 
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TITLE I—SAINT FRANCIS DAM ADVISORY COMMISSION 
Sec. 101. Memorial to honor the victims of the Saint Francis Dam Disaster. 
Sec. 102. Saint Francis Dam Advisory Commission. 
Sec. 103. Duties of the secretary of the interior with respect to memorial. 
Sec. 104. Establishment of national monument. 
Sec. 105. Knapp Ranch potential wilderness area. 
Sec. 106. General provisions. 
Sec. 107. Definitions. 
TITLE II—DESIGNATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS 
Sec. 201. Designation and administration of wilderness. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) On March 12, 1928, the Saint Francis Dam 
located in the northern portion of Los Angeles Coun-
ty, California, breached, resulting in a devastating 
flood that caused the death of approximately 425 in-
dividuals. 
(2) The residents of the Santa Clarita Valley, 
San Francisquito Canyon, Castaic Junction, Santa 
Clara River Valley, Piru, Fillmore, Bardsdale, 
Saticoy, and Santa Paula were directly impacted and 
suffered greatly from the worst flood in the history 
of the State of California. 
(3) The disaster resulted in a tremendous loss 
of human life, property, and the livelihood of local 
residents, and was surpassed in the 20th century 
only by the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. 
(4) The dam’s collapse may represent America’s 
worst civil engineering failure in the 20th century. 
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(5) The site is subject to the theft of historic 
artifacts, as well as graffiti and other vandalism. 
(6) The surrounding area has important his-
toric and environmental significance. 
(7) It is right to pay homage to the citizens 
who perished, were injured, or were dislocated in the 
flood, and to bring to light and educate the general 
public about this important historical event. 
(8) It is appropriate that the site of the Saint 
Francis Dam and surrounding areas be designated 
a unit of the National Park System to commemorate 
this tragic event. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are as fol-
lows: 
(1) To establish a national memorial to honor 
the victims of the Saint Francis Dam disaster of 
March 12, 1928. 
(2) To establish the Saint Francis Dam Advi-
sory Commission to assist with consideration and 
formulation of plans for a permanent memorial to 
the victims of that disaster, including its nature, de-
sign, and construction. 
(3) To permanently protect the site and sur-
rounding area of the Saint Francis Dam and edu-
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cate the general public about this tragic and historic 
event. 
(4) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to coordinate and facilitate the activities of the Saint 
Francis Dam Advisory Commission, provide tech-
nical and financial assistance to the Saint Francis 
Dam Task Force, and to administer a Saint Francis 
Dam memorial. 
(5) To designate the Saint Francis Dam Na-
tional Monument. 
(6) To designate certain Federal lands adminis-
tered by the United States Forest Service within Los 
Angeles County as wilderness. 
TITLE I—SAINT FRANCIS DAM 
ADVISORY COMMISSION 
SEC. 101. MEMORIAL TO HONOR THE VICTIMS OF THE 
SAINT FRANCIS DAM DISASTER. 
There is established a memorial at the Saint Francis 
Dam site in the County of Los Angeles, California, to 
honor the victims of the Saint Francis Dam disaster of 
March 12, 1928, which shall be— 
(1) known as the Saint Francis Dam Disaster 
National Memorial and be managed by the National 
Park Service; and 
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(2) located within the Saint Francis Dam Dis-
aster National Monument. 
SEC. 102. SAINT FRANCIS DAM ADVISORY COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Saint Francis Dam Advisory 
Commission’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall consist of 
no more than 15 members, including the Director of the 
National Park Service, or the Director’s designee, the 
Chief of the United States Forest Service, or the Chief’s 
designee, a designee of the Governor of the State of Cali-
fornia, a designee of the County of Los Angeles Board 
of Supervisors, a representative of the Santa Clarita Val-
ley Historical Society, a representative of the Community 
Hiking Club of Santa Clarita, and up to 8 additional mem-
bers appointed by the Secretary of the Interior in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(c) TERM.—The term of the members of the Commis-
sion shall be for the life of the Commission. 
(d) CHAIR.—The members of the Commission shall 
select the Chair of the Commission. 
(e) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission 
shall not affect its powers if a quorum is present, but shall 
be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 
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(f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson or a majority of the members, but 
not less often than quarterly. The Commission shall pub-
lish notice of the Commission meetings and agendas for 
the meetings in local newspapers in the vicinity of Los An-
geles County and in the Federal Register. Meetings of the 
Commission shall be subject to section 552b of title 5, 
United States Code (relating to open meetings). 
(g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members serving on 
the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of any business. 
(h) NO COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commis-
sion shall serve without compensation, but may be reim-
bursed for expenses incurred in carrying out the duties 
of the Commission. 
(i) DUTIES.—The duties of the Commission shall be 
as follows: 
(1) Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit 
to the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture, and Congress a report containing rec-
ommendations for the planning, design, construc-
tion, and long-term management of a permanent me-
morial at the dam site. 
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(2) The Commission shall advise the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture on 
the preferred nature of the Memorial, including the 
boundaries of the Memorial site, the desirability of 
a visitor center and educational facilities at the site, 
as well as ensuring public accessibility to the site. 
(3) The Commission shall advise the Secretary 
of the Interior in the development of a management 
plan for the Memorial site. 
(4) The Commission shall consult and coordi-
nate closely with all interested persons, as appro-
priate, as to how best to commemorate the Saint 
Francis Dam disaster. 
(5) The Commission shall provide significant 
opportunities for public participation in the planning 
and design of the Memorial. 
(j) POWERS.—The Commission may— 
(1) make such expenditures for services and 
materials for the purpose of carrying out this title 
as the Commission considers advisable from funds 
appropriated or received as gifts for that purpose; 
(2) subject to approval by the Secretary of the 
Interior, solicit and accept donations of funds and 
gifts, personal property, supplies, and services from 
individuals, foundations, corporations, and other pri-
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vate or public entities to be used in connection with 
the construction or other expenses of the Memorial; 
(3) hold hearings and enter into contracts for 
personal services; 
(4) do such other things as are necessary to 
carry out this title; and 
(5) by a vote of the majority of the Commis-
sion, delegate such of its duties as it determines ap-
propriate to employees of the National Park Service 
and the United States Forest Service. 
(k) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
upon dedication of the completed Memorial. 
SEC. 103. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 
WITH RESPECT TO MEMORIAL. 
The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Agriculture, may— 
(1) provide assistance to the Commission, in-
cluding advice on collections, storage, and archives; 
(2) consult and assist the Commission in pro-
viding information, interpretation, and the conduct 
of oral history interviews; 
(3) provide assistance in conducting public 
meetings and forums held by the Commission; 
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