Laserfiche WebLink
<br />", <br /> <br />coarse granite gravel substrate, revegetation of these areas could take several years, This lack of <br />ground cover could also pose a threat of increased erosion, debris flows and floods in the <br />affected watersheds, Particularly, large road cuts, fills and culvert crossings are now more <br />susceptible to erosion, sedimentation, and/or washout conditions during heavy rains, <br /> <br />Mitigation Efforts <br /> <br />Much has already been done to assess the immediate hazards associated with the bum area, The <br />Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team, made up of staff members from the state and <br />federal forest services and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), was on site the <br />day of the CWCB visit, and data has been collected on bum intensity and erosion potential. That <br />data is available in GIS format. <br /> <br />The NRCS and Forest Service have also done some treatment on the bum site itself, including <br />contour tree felling, scarification to reduce hydrophobic soils, and aerial reseeding, Some of this <br />effort is being accomplished through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection program, <br />which provides money to help rehabilitate damaged watersheds on private lands, <br /> <br />In addition to this quick assessment, some additional studies need to be undertaken to determine <br />potential flood and debris flow hazards to specific locations, and the potential for large-scale <br />sedimentation in downstream areas, Some of this work is being accomplished by the CGS and <br />USGS, A separate report will detail those findings, <br /> <br />The Nation Weather Service has distributed manual rain gauges to residents within the bum area <br />in an attempt to collect data on rain storms, and to help in early warning efforts, The NWS will <br />also issue alerts, watches and warnings during heavy storms to warn residents and visitors of <br />flood and debris flow hazards, <br /> <br />Conclusions <br /> <br />The community of Pine Junction, and any remaining structures in and around Cliffdale, could see <br />higher stream flows this year due to the lack of ground cover and semi hydrophobic soils created <br />by the fire in the upstream watersheds. In cases of severe storms, flash floods could also be a <br />hazard, and could be accompanied by debris flows as the loose granite and topsoil materials are <br />washed down the slopes, <br /> <br />Minor storms (precipitation> OS' in 30 minutes or> I" in 60 minutes) may cause localized <br />flooding, washouts on secondary roads, blockage of culvert crossings, and nuisance damages, <br />Major thunderstorms (precipitation> I" in 30 minutes or> 2" in 60 minutes) could potentially <br />cause more severe flooding and debris flows that may damage homes, infrastructure, and other <br />facilities, The National Weather service is aware of the increased flood threat and will monitor <br />the situation carefully, Flash flood watches and/or warnings will be issued by the NWS for the <br />bum areas as needed. The watch and warning statements will also include warnings of the <br />increased landslide and debris flow hazards as well. <br />