AM news: dam history, derby, king harbor and treasure

78 years ago today the St. Francis Dam burst, sending 12 billion gallons of water into a small town near Saugus. The flood was so powerful and so swift that the number killed has always been approximate — around 450 people died. The dam's collapse was blamed on the LADWP's head, the brilliant William Mulholland; he's the one in the black hat surveying the dam's wreckage in the photo above.

Franklin Avenue is keeping up with the campaign to Save the Derby. The restaurant in Los Feliz is threatened by condos, but could be declared an official city landmark at a meeting March 16.

South Beach locals are debating the best way to revive Redondo's King Harbor, which has had redevelopment plans surface and then be discarded. Marina vs. marketplace? Open space vs. new development?

Today's LA Treasure Hunt won't be today after all — it's been postponed until April 2 (via Blogging.la).