WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Disaster Awareness & CERT => Topic started by: backincali on Aug 13, 05, 07:36:38 PM
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Today I was driving home and I happened to notice that the slide area on the mountain (that area with no trees where there was a land slide many many years ago) seems to have slid some more? I noticed there was alot of dirt that came down more and you can see cracks in it where the water came down it during the last rainstorm. Did anyone else notice that? Has it been there awhile and I just havent noticed it? Kind of worries me a little bit after some of the other mud slide stories we have seen on the news. Does anyone ever go up there and check that area out to make sure its stable? Just curious.
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The slide in the 1940s was started by an earth shake. It could happen again!
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It's not a matter of it could happen again, it will happen again. What type of preventive measures can be applied to this area. Is there any Federal or State departments that are responsible or can help us control this problem? What areas would most be involved if a slide happens.
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im waiting to see if they are going to build a house on that hill that they are grading by the 138 between the 2 and phelan. And if they put a house up there how long it will take till it slides ::)
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Click here for the 1976 - 100 year debris or mud flow map of Wrightwood (950k) (http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/mudflows/76Plate2c.JPG)
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Excellent information! Thank you. That explains why I had to purchase flood insurance and all the rocks in my yard.
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The map is one of the many scientific reports made of mud flow and debris movement in the Wrightwood area. Myself and a few others have been searching and compiling numerous reports for the past year and one of these days I'll build a web page to make all of them available.
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That explains why I had to purchase flood insurance and all the rocks in my yard.
I got the rocks in my yard for free! ;D
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So what this map basically tells me is that if this mud flow were to happen like it is on the map. Pinon Mesa where my house is located at will be completely surrounded by mud and debris. I don't know what's worse being stuck in the mud flow or being stuck on top of it.
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Can anyone tell me more about the landslide dangers posed by the Heath Slide? I understand that there is a heckuva of a lot of loose earth dangling just above Wrightwood that could go in a bad earthquake or exceptionally bad spring melt, but it's hard to get much more information than that. I am particularly interested to know which parts of Wrightwood are under the gun.
I searched for a topic on this and didn't find one, but maybe someone can point me in the right direction if I missed it.
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Extensive geological studies were done in the mid 70s on this very issue. I have in possesion maps from the State of California Department of Water Resources. They conducted a Wrightwood Debris and Mud Flow Investigation for Areas of Potential Damage From 100-Year Debris or Mud Flows, dated 1976. (Thanks "Wrightwood")
The Map shows the potential areas of Wrightwood that will be impacted from Slides coming down Heath, Sheep and Acorn Canyons.
The Heath Canyon Slide would have the biggest impact on Wrightwood. According to this study a significant slide coming down Heath Canyon would affect Wrightwood from about Twin Lakes and Walnut St. on the West to Heath Creek Dr. on the East and all the way down to the Hwy.
Areas closest to the Heath Creek channel along with Oak St. and a path directly down the middle between Walnut St. and Oak St. would have a High Potential for damage, while the other areas between the above mentioned boundaries would have Moderate Potential for Damage.
I also remember reports that many geologists feel that the mountain between the Heath and Sheep Canyon slides could easily slip as there is a fissure between the two slides. Of course such an event would be catastrophic. Mind you, I remember hearing that decades ago, but haven't been able to have that report substantiated.
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Umm, I'm afraid to ask, but where would the Acorn slide go? I'm just two blocks from Acorn....
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Umm, I'm afraid to ask, but where would the Acorn slide go? I'm just two blocks from Acorn....
I'm closer to Acorn than you! Being your neighbor, that was the first thing I checked out when receiving the maps.
Acorn Canyon would have two flows. We are both safe from both of them. One flow would be very close to your place but a little closer towards Pine St. That flow would stick pretty close to Pine St. If you've ever noticed the cabin on the corner of Pine and Robin with the bridge, My grandfather built that cabin and the bridge was there because of the Acorn Canyon Flow. That bridge used to be 6 feet high but has filled in over the decades. You can still see how the flow would come down between some of the cabins close to Pine, then pop out at Pine right below Robin. My mother can remember Pine being a rushing river of mud when she was a girl.
The other, more significant flow coming out of Acorn Canyon would come right down Acorn and spred to the West to Wright's "bog" and angle out down View Ave.
The strip between Acorn and Pine is pretty much high and dry according to the map.
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Thanks, Robert. That helps a lot. Sounds like I'm right on the edge of one of the threatened areas.
Any chance you could scan in that map for all to see?
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Thanks, Robert. That helps a lot. Sounds like I'm right on the edge of one of the threatened areas.
Any chance you could scan in that map for all to see?
The maps are very large, 3ft by 2ft. I received them from "Wrightwood". You can be sure that the Disaster Preparedness Team has been thouroughly over these maps.
In the Wrightwood History Forum you can see pictures of the last two significant Slide events in the 40s and 60s. My mother remembers both of them. I remember very vividly the 69 event. We have pictures of us standing on top of cabins that were buried to the roof in mud.
I'll be honest with you, I don't know why the Heath Slide didn't come down two springs ago. Even now there are serious fissures all across the plateau near the top and you can see where large parts of the slide have slid some 10 feet.
The slide comes down every year, as can be attested to by the road being closed at the grates each winter during storms. As long as it comes down slowly the channel is designed to control it. The problem will come if it has a heavy snow pack and we get a quick thaw in the spring. That is what triggered the last to significant slide events. It could also come down if we have torrential rain for a significant period of time, or we have a big earthquake.
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Thanks, Robert. That helps a lot. Sounds like I'm right on the edge of one of the threatened areas.
Any chance you could scan in that map for all to see?
The maps are very large, 3ft by 2ft. I received them from "Wrightwood".
You're in luck as I did scan the map (link below) a while back and have done a good deal of research on scientific studies conducted over the years.
Some time (in between major projects I'm involved in) I'd like to do a web page on mud flow activity in Wrightwood and include many of the scientific studies that have been scanned.
Like RobertW mentioned... It's amazing that the slide didn't break loose 2 years ago as most of upper Heath Canyon slide developed major fissures around its perimeter. (photo documented)
Click here for the 1976 - 100 year debris or mud flow map of Wrightwood (950k) (http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/mudflows/76Plate2c.JPG)
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Hey, that's the map! Good Job "Wrightwood"!! :thumbs:
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Many property owners in Wrightwood have graded their property to divert the flow of water from their properties.
This seems to have worked for light precipitation.
I'm thinking that a good flow would put things back the way they were (or change the lay of the land in new ways).
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sweet! i live closer (in my tent) to the narrowed base of the Heath Slide than anyone else in the whole universe! :2thumbsup:
last Christmas a debris flow came down via one of our hiking trails. it obliterated the trail with gravel and boulders, as well as gouged out 3-5 feet deep channels into the former trail (in some places). unfortunately, this trail leads directly toward the middle of our camp. some of the water flow has shifted it's course to the west of the Levee now. but more talc, tourmaline and actinolite, as well as some pretty interesting schists were exposed there...
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Holy schist!
some pretty interesting schists were exposed there...
Nothing beats a good schist pun ;D
Thanks for the map Wrightwood. That's a big help.
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but more talc, tourmaline and actinolite, as well as some pretty interesting schists were exposed there...
How about trying to pan for some gold?
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i have found gold in the American River outside Sacramento in the past...about 3.1 ounces.
i should try around here in the spring.
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i should try around here in the spring.
Why wait for spring ? there's places to search now.
Mine Gulch stream that feeds into the SanGabriel river has had water flowing all summer. It gets fed from Baden Powel underground sources. It's bit of a hike and makes for a nice day trip.
The Ord Mtn. and Stoddard area is also good for many minerals all year, including gold.
There's a lot of Actinolite in our area, I have some going in the polisher now.
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Wow, how frightening! :-\
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Now that we are faced with warm rain in the forecast it's time for this topic to be revisited.
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This is so scary!
My goodness, everyone stay alert and PLEASE stay safe!
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Click here for the 1976 - 100 year debris or mud flow map of Wrightwood (950k) (http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/mudflows/76Plate2c.JPG)
Here's the report that goes along with the '76 map (7.4 meg)
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/mudflows/76StateMudRpt.pdf
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Wow, this is unreal!
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We've spent a great deal of time in the area of Heath Canyon placing a solar powered livecam and documenting bighorn sheep movement.
Changes that took place between 2004 & 2005 on the slide during winter/spring were dramatic to say the least. Most vegetation in the bench area (near the top) had disappeared between the livecam and upper slide. Fissure activity first appeared as snow creep during January 2005. (as seen in this livecam image below)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bighorn/solarcam/SnowCreep1b.JPG)
Below are pictures a few months later showing the fissure activity that had developed during the 2004/2005 winter. The entire upper section or bench area of Heath Canyon slide is fractured.
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/mudflows/MD_FissureActivity1.jpg)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/mudflows/MD_FissureActivity2.jpg)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/mudflows/MD_FissureActivity3.jpg)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/mudflows/MD_FissureActivity4.jpg)
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That is unreal! It is just amazing to look at those photos.
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EEeek! I've been out on the "plateau" part of the slide twice, and both times I've needed a hand getting down a little bit of steep steps getting out there. I can get UP it OK, I'm just terrified of even a little bit of steep downhill. But these trips have been in the summer. Let's just pray that the mt. holds during this storm... :)
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(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o267/tjranch91/7-4.jpg)
I took this photo of the slide this morning and it looks like the warm weather and snow melt is making it slide again
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Yea there is some movement up there. I have some pictures before the snow, I'll have to go find them. Good thing I'm on Cedar.
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My friends place backs up to that wash.. it's amazing the stuff the comes down when is flooding. The noise is something else also. When cracks in the ground at the top of the slide are impressive and leaves no doubt in your mind things are moving up there.
Like the 'big one' it's probably only a matter of time before another big slide comes down.
Hopefully we see it happening before it all breaks loose.
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Well I found on taken from the back yard. 12-16-2007, two years old.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/tach18k/CanyonIMG_3544.jpg)