Landslides and Debris Flows in the California Central Coast Region
An environmental summary created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.
Contents
Summary
![](/wiki/images/thumb/6/6f/Landslides.jpg/400px-Landslides.jpg)
Landslides are a characterized as the falling or movement of soil or rock down a slope and can manifest through mudflows, mudslides, debris flows, rock falls, rockslides, debris avalanches, debris slides, and slump-earth flows.[1] This movement occurs when the down-slope force exceeds the strength of the soil or other material holding the slope together.[2] Typically, landslides take time to initiate movement as the soil saturates and ultimately moves at a slow pace, but can cause significant damage to buildings and other infrastructure. [3] Debris flows, a type of landslide, occur suddenly with shorter and intense rainfall creating a slurry that moves at a rapid pace and often can result in loss of life making them more dangerous.[3]
In the United States, landslides are an extremely destructive hazard. Landslides in the country cause approximately $3.5 billion in damage, and kill between 25 and 50 people annually.[4] On a more local scale, landslides are one of the most costly geologic hazards in Monterey County, costing millions of dollars yearly in infrastructure.[5] Surrounding Monterey, many other regions are prone to landslides. Along the coast, between Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Capoforo Creek, 1,500 landslides were mapped in 2001 which indicated slope-failure is common.[6] Additionally, Los Padres National Forest contains at least 250 active landslide sites and over half of the forest is highly susceptible to slope failures.[7] In Hollister, the hillslopes are susceptible to slope failure as well. Creep, slump, and other earthflows are common in the area.[8] In California's Central Coast Region, landslides and flows are common due to rainfall and steep slopes. Other causes are present in the region which facilitate landslide occurrences.
Causes
Precipitation
Precipitation is the major influence on landslides.[9] Rainfall intensity, duration, and frequency are important factors related to slope failure. Many deep-seated landslides occur after prolonged, intense rainfall and towards the end of the rainy season as soil becomes fully saturated, weakening the stability of a slope.[10] Because of the high precipitation, runoff, and soil saturation, landslides and flooding are often correlated.[4] During El Nino events, Central California can be exposed to extreme rainfall and subsequently a higher risk of landslides.[1] During these times, debris flows and floods are often mistaken for each other and could occur simultaneously.[4] Frequent slope failures from heavy precipitation are common in the Big Sur Region, the Carmel River Watershed, and most of Monterey County.[9][11][5]
Wildfire and Vegetation
Another common natural impacts leading to landslides is wildfire. Wildfires in the Central Coast Region remove vegetation and their root structures, leaving the soil unstable and prone to erosion and slope failure.[7] Without the reinforcement of a root system, post-fire areas are highly susceptible to landslides when rainfall occurs.[12]
Earthquakes
A less common inducer of landslides is seismic activity. Although, the combination of earthquakes and another event could create potential for landslide activity.[7] Monterey County sits on a variety of faults which create fractured, or weak, rock and rapidly uplifting mountains.[5] The combination of this with high precipitation makes landslides common in the region. The Carmel and Arroyo Seco watersheds also cover fractured granite and marble rock formations.[5][11] The weakness in these geologic units, coupled with seismic activity, can be related to an abundance of landslides.[9]
Development
Development for roads and building often required grading and excavation which steepen a slope, making it unstable. Development has been another input for landslide susceptibility.[7][11] Development has shown an impact in many areas of the county, but the steep hillsides of the Carmel Watershed have seen the result of additional landslide hazard zones due to the development of roads and subdivisions.[11] In the area, trails and access roads continue to be at risk of slope instability.[13]
Prediction and Mitigation
Landslides are dangerous and costly natural events that are common in the Central Coast Region. It is important to identify additional impacts, ways to predict where and when a landslide could occur, and way to prevent their negative effects.
Problems
- Landslides create a lot of extra natural and anthropogenic sediment which hurts fish populations, including Steelhead.[6][7]
- Sediment also impacts water quality standards.[14]
- Infrastructure maintenance and cost due to continuous or repeated landslide activity:
- Landslides into a reservoir can compromise dam safety and the excess sediment can harm the efficiency of the dam. [1]
- The landslide has the ability to overtop the reservoir or reduce its ability to hold water. [4]
Mitigation
Landslides are a natural occurrence that often cannot be prevented. The best ways to prevent damages are to be prepared and inform people of the dangers. Additionally, areas of high susceptibility could be avoided. Also, restoration through re-vegetation of wildfire areas and other reinforcements of soil during and after development could be beneficial. At Los Padres Reservoir, there are proposals for how to reduce the impact of sediment behind the dam by way of a sluicing tunnel.[15] Additionally, Big Sur is working proactively to find sediment disposal sites away from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) for habitat restoration from future landslides.[16]
Prediction
Major Events
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Monterey County Office of Emergency Services
- ↑ USGS Natural Hazards
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 California Department of Conservation
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 USGS Landslide Types and Processes Fact Sheet
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Geologic Resources and Constraints in Monterey County: A Technical Report
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 CCoWS Physical and Hydrologic Assessment of the Carmel River Watershed
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 USDA Forest Service Geology-Landslides
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 USGS Field Trip of The Calaveras and San Andreas Faults In and Around Hollister
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Department of Conservation Special Report on Landslides for the Coast Highway Management Plan
- ↑ USGS Rainfall and Landslides in Northern and Central California
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Los Padres Dam and Reservoir Long-Term Strategic and Short-Term Tactical Plan 2014
- ↑ USA Today 2018 Thomas Fire Article: CDC Quote
- ↑ Final EIR/EIS San Clemente Dam Seismic Safety Project
- ↑ Proposed Resource Management Plan Final EIS for the Southern Diablo Mountain Range and Central Coast of California
- ↑ Los Padres Dam and Reservoir Alternatives and Sediment Management Study Draft Alternatives Descriptions Technical Memorandum
- ↑ Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Resource Issues: Landslides and Debris
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