Category: Fire Season

Mud Creek Plans update, 1/22/17

Cal Trans Update from Geotechnical department on Mud Creek:

Update: Early last week Caltrans and Yeh and Associates, a local geotechnical consultant, assessed the Mud Creek Slide and determined that the material that blocked the highway was a relatively shallow failure nested inside of a much larger landslide complex extending far above the highway. We recommended removing the displaced slide debris to allow us to determine if the larger landslide or a portion of it was moving. Removing the material at the base of the slope allows for the slide material above to clean itself out in the rain, which is likely what has occurred in the heavy rains on Friday and this morning. Keeping the highway closed while that material moves is necessary to ensure the safety of the traveling public and our workers.

With the upcoming break in the weather this coming week we plan to reassess the site conditions and develop a mitigation stragety moving forward. Until we have the opportunity to perform another field investigation it is difficult to say what that mitigation strategy will be and how long it will take to implement. We will consider all viable alternatives and do our best to open the highway when it is safe to do so.

Highway One Closure Update

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(Cal Trans Photo of new slide, viewed from North.) View from South below

New Slide Last Night between JPBurns and Burns Creek (MM 35) moves closure from Lucia (for Paul’s Slide) To Fuller’s for this one. Mud Creek still shut also. In other words, you can’t get there from here, or from pretty much anywhere for now. Cambria to Ragged Point still open and Carmel to Coast Gallery open for the time being.

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View from South of New Slide by Amber Rose who works at Lucia Lodge.

 

No update today, 1/16/17

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Cal-Trans is taking the day off. They deserve it, and more. I am also taking the day off in honor of MLK, but also to honor John Lewis who has been speaking truth to power and seeking justice and civil rights for all people of color for over 50 years. He is a modern hero who hasn’t had to be assassinated in order to attain that status.

In 1967, I, a young white, California girl, found myself in Alabama. My eyes were opened to the blatant discrimination that I had never seen – “Whites Only” and “Coloreds Only” signs everywhere. Lines, separate sections, seats, and all that you may have read about. I came to understand the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s on a visceral level rather than just an intellectual one. It is an experience I carry to this day. Today, I take the day off. Honor those who speak truth to power today … and tomorrow … and next year. It is important and necessary.

Map of South Coast Slides and Names

A number of people have requested a small map of the slides and their names. I posted in 2014, and will post again here. This is the map that Don Harlan created by hand in January of 1971. I have a old xerox copy of that map which I scanned. The ori9ginal is no better than you see here, and I can’t improve on it. I warn again, no one could read Don’s handwriting, which is why he typed when he could. This is no exception. As far as I know, this is the only map in existenance of the slide namesake locations. If you find a different one that is more legible, please let me know.

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South Coast, Big Sur – Almost an island, 1/14/17

Although locals can be escorted through Paul’s Slide which is just north of the Rock Shed, and south of Lucia, the Mud Creek Slide, about a mile south of Gorda, has slammed shut.There is a manned closure at Gorda. This is expected to continue at least through the weekend. We are expecting an update around noon.

There is a contingency of 256 bicyclists leaving Monterey today to head south. I wrote them and advised them to take 68 to 101, due to our closures. Nacimiento would be EXTREMELY dangerous, even more than usual, as those of us who live here have only that option, and it is very narrow, only one lane in one spot. I hope they heeded my advice.

As you all know, Palo Colorado Canyon has been closed at about 3.3 miles in due to a failed culvert and the collapse of the road. This one will take quite a while to repair.

As always, take care of each other, be mindful of the closures and potential closures, and use this lull between storms wisely, as I know all Big Surians will.

bigsurkate

Road & Rain Conditions, 1/13/17

Caltrans Afternoon Update – Monterey  Hwy 1 Closure Update at 3 pm

State Route 1 is closed from Ragged Point (SLO PM 72.87) to Lucia (MON PM 23.00) due to rock/mudslides and trees down in multiple locations.  Motorists may travel south on Hwy. 1 from Carmel to Lucia or travel north from Cambria to Ragged Point.  In addition, there is a full closure on Hwy. 1 at Mud Creek (MON PM 8.88) due to a mud/rock slides within the existing boundary of this closure.     Hwy 1 is open to local residents traveling south who will be escorted through Paul’s slide (MON PM 21.6) to Gorda (PM 10) until 4 pm this afternoon. This escort will also take place from 8 am until 3 pm Saturday, Jan. 14 and Sunday, Jan. 15.  An update will be provided at 12 noon tomorrow.

Jim Shivers

Caltrans District 5

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High water on Rocky Creek forced a culvert to fail and cause a section of Palo Colorado Road to slide on Thursday. (Vern Fisher – Monterey Herald)

10 am –

For Immediate Release
January 13,2017
PALO COLORADO ROAD CLOSURE AT APPROXIMATELY MILE POST 3.3

The Monterey County Resource Management Agency – Public Works announces the closure of Palo Colorado Road as a result of a culvert/road section failure. The failure is due to flooding on Rocky Creek associated with the recent storms. Palo Colorado Road will be closed until further notice at approximately Mile Post 3.3, which is past the Fire Station but before Long Ridge Road.

Local and through traffic will not have vehicular access beyond that location.

Palo Colorado Road will be closed for an extended period of time (at least 30 days). However, RMA Public Works engineering staff will be evaluating damages to the road and will develop a plan to provide needed repairs as swiftly as possible. This is a major issue, and will require substantial road reconstruction.

For additional information, please contact County of Monterey Resource Management Agency Division of Public Works at (831)-755-4925 and our County website listed below.

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-i-z/resource-management-agency/public-works/road-conditions-closures

8:30 am – and from the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade:
Cheryl Goetz, Mid-Coast LEAD
Anyone living above the Rocky Creek-crossing approx 3 miles up the road on Palo will be hard closed! Only emergency equipment allowed due to the road base deterioration. Plan accordingly for a possible long closure!

8:00 am –
Good morning everyone,

Thank you for your patience in receiving our updates.

Update to the Public and Locals:

Thankfully, the slide at Esalen (PM 33.10) was cleared last night, so the northern closure will move down to Lucia (PM 23) at 8 am. 200 cubic yards of slide material came down Mud Creek (PM 8.8) last night, so the southern closure remains at Ragged Pt. (SLO, PM 72.87).

LOCAL RESIDENTS, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND EMPLOYEES will have access to
and from Ragged Pt. to Pitkins (PM 21) but will most likely have to be escorted around Mud Creek. There is also still an active slide at Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6).

HWY. 1 REMAINS CLOSED from Ragged Pt. (SLO PM 72.87) to Lucia (PM 23) as of 8 am.

5 am – fortunately we have several days of clear weather in which to recuperate and clean up. The highway is still closed to the motoring public from the Fuller/Grimes area to the County Line. LOCALS ONLY MAY be able to get through from south of Paul’s Slide to Ragged Point, and from Lucia north, but Paul’s Slide is problematic. If you are NOT a local, please do not try to travel in the closed areas, as you could be a ticket, get stuck, or worse, and cell reception is virtually non-existent.

There is also a slide at Esalen, which requires driving on the shoulder. The Willow Springs crew managed to open one lane at Mud Creek before dark last night, but did not expect it to stay open over night, as it continued to ooze. Moon and stars were quite bright after all the cloud cover. IF you are out and about at all today, be patient, obey closure signs, and thank a Cal Trans worker.

Here is the slide at Esalen, photo by Dawn Fielding of Esalen.

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Since I am able to upload photos, I suspect my satellite is sufficiently recovered to be back to what passes for “normal” for me.

Update to Rain & Road Conditions 1/12/17

Another update from Kate (her internet is down again):

Willow Creek:

New slide of rock across the road at the big dirt turn out of Willow Creek towards the middle to north end. Since the big turn out is there you can drive into the turnout to avoid all the rock across the road.

Palo Colorado Canyon:

3 pm – I am getting reports of some nasty problems up Palo Colorado Canyon at 3 miles and at the Hoist. My internet is again extremely intermittent, so having difficulty following up on this and getting further information. As soon as I get something definitive, I will email it to Luke so he can post for me.

Esalen: there is a slide near Esalen, but locals can get past it on the shoulder, I understand.

Caltrans:

3:00 PM 12 January 2017

Good afternoon everyone,

Thank you for your patience in receiving our updates; cell phone reception was very difficult today.

Update to the Public and Locals:

The northern closure continues at Grimes Canyon (PM 42.0). The southern closure remains at Ragged Pt. (SLO, PM 72.87)

LOCAL RESIDENTS, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND EMPLOYEES will be allowed access from Grimes Canyon (PM 42) to Lucia (PM 23), as long as conditions allow.

LOCALS now have access to and from Ragged Pt. to Pitkins (PM 21.3). There are still multiple slides between Mud Creek (PM 8.8) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6).
but LOCALS needing access will be allowed in between.

So the update to the PUBLIC is: HWY. 1 REMAINS CLOSED from Ragged Pt. (SLO PM 72.87) to Grimes Canyon (MON PM 42). The hotline recording will be refreshed to reflect the changes. Another update will be provided tomorrow morning, soon after 9 am.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Be safe out there.

Update to Rain & Road Conditions, 1/11/17

Please note:  The public going AROUND fuller’s are being stopped at Lucia and sent all the way back, and cannot “sneak” through, per a local who was witnessing this this afternoon.  People who get a flat inside the closure areas will most likely NOT get roadside assistance and may risk a ticket and by the way, there is no cell service.

 

Good afternoon everyone,
Update to the Public and Locals in regards to HWY 1:

Thankfully, the slide at Fernwood (PM 47.03) has been cleared and Hwy. 1 at this location will open as of 4 pm. As of 5 pm this evening, January 11, the closure will be re-located down to Fuller’s (PM 42.2). Motorists can get from Carmel down past Big Sur to Fuller’s where there is more slide activity—much of this progress also depends on rain received tonight and tomorrow.

LOCAL RESIDENTS, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND EMPLOYEES will be allowed access from Fuller’s (PM 42.2) to Lucia (PM 23), as long as conditions allow.

School buses will continue with their usual routes–without having the parents meet the kids on the north side of the closure this afternoon–If anything changes, we’ll let you know.

LOCALS now have access to and from Ragged Pt. to Pitkins (PM 21.3). There are still multiple slides between Mud Creek (PM 8.8) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6).
but LOCALS needing access will be allowed in between.

So the update to the PUBLIC is:  HWY. 1 REMAINS CLOSED from Ragged Pt. (SLO PM 72.87) to Fuller’s (MON PM 42.2). The hotline recording will be updated to reflect the changes. Another update will be provided tomorrowmorning.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Be safe out there.

Susana Z. Cruz
Caltrans District 5
Public Information Officer/

LIMITED ACCESS TO AND FROM FERNWOOD SLIDE 1/10/17

 

Just in from the Big Sur Chamber if you need to drive north of Fernwood:

To accommodate locals, tomorrow morning, January 11, at 8 AM and every two hours thereafter Caltrans is going to accommodate LOCAL traffic only through the Fernwood closure area for up to 15 minutes if conditions allow. 

(please keep in mind this could change depending on the conditions after the rains tonight)

By the way, Kate’s internet is down at the moment, so I’m posting this for her.

Previous update from Caltrans:

LIMITED TIME AND ACCESS FROM VENTANA TO FERNWOOD–THIS IS ONLY FOR LOCALS, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND VISITORS WISHING TO LEAVE THE BIG SUR AREA!!!
AT 1 PM:
HWY. 1 WILL OPEN ONE LANE TO ALLOW NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC TO EXIT FROM FULLERS PAST FERNWOOD.
AT 1:30 PM:
HWY. 1 WILL OPEN ONE LANE TO ALLOW SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC TO ENTER FROM FERNWOOD TO FULLERS…LOCALS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.
AT 2:00 PM:
HWY. 1 WILL CLOSE AGAIN INDEFINITELY TO WORK ON CLEARING THE ACTIVE SLIDES…THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION.
As for the update HWY. 1 STILL REMAINS CLOSED from Ragged Pt. (SLO PM 72.87) to Fernwood (MON PM 47.03).  Emergency vehicles and locals can get from south of Mud Creek (south of PM 8.8) to Ragged Point.  SOUTHBOUND ONLY.   Locals in between Fuller’s (PM 42) and Fernwood (PM 47.03) can move between those five miles only.  Hotline recording will be updated to show the ONE HOUR TRAFFIC ACCESS N/B AND S/B AT FERWOOD BETWEEN 1PM AND 2PM DETAILED ABOVE.  Another update will be provided around 4 PM today.

Fernwood Slide

Here is a great photo by Michael Troutman of the mess we all seem to have dubbed the Fernwood Slide.

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This is not likely the end of it, though depending on the upcoming rains. IF, as I have heard, there is a chance of 10 inches in 3 days coming up, then this slide will continue and possibly get worse. Rock Knocker and I have been watching this spot since the fire, as have many of you.

Michael Troutman had this to say:

“I sought out and found a geologist/soil engineer working for Caltrans, as I was greatly interested in why the actual slide was not precisely where the debris flow was yesterday.

It turns out that there is no main water course directly above on the surface, but this is actually from water percolating out through the rock from a very large area of the huge slope above; there is so much water the rock can no longer contain it. What happened is that where I photographed it yesterday was not ultimately the path of least resistance. When the water saturation reached some sort of critical mass it found a different way through the base of the hill just a few hundred feet north of the area I was in yesterday…and so finally *BAM* the whole damn hillside just came down.”

Personally, I don’t think this is over. There is too much winter left, too much water already percolating, too much burn area affected – no matter what happens the rest of January, we are in for a rough ride, but if we are lucky, and hold our heads  just right, add the necessary tin foil, this year will NOT repeat the winter of 1978.