myGeobrugg
Initial situation
Description by Gurrola and Rogers (2022): The 1-9 debris flow event was preceded by the Thomas Fire, which started in Ventura County on December 5, 2017, and, due to Santa Ana wind conditions, quickly burned westward into the watersheds of Montecito and Carpinteria. Three weeks after the wildfire decimated the vegetation of the Montecito watersheds, a narrow, cold front on January 9, 2018, triggered post-fire debris flows that devastated the community of Montecito (Lancaster et al., 2021; Kean et al., 2019; Lukashov et al., 2019).
The 1-9 event resulted in twenty-three (23) fatalities, damaged or destroyed over 500 homes, damaged infrastructure, including closing Highway 101 for thirteen days, and caused an estimated billion dollars in economic losses (Lancaster et al., 2021; County of Santa Barbara OEM, 2018; Niehaus, 2018 and 2019; Kean et al., 2019).
More information can be found in the following report by Gurrola and Rogers (2022): https://www.tprcsb.org/_files/ugd/056f9d_0230d73eec4b41829cfc6368e3dadda0.pdf
Description
Six Geobrugg flexible debris flow nets have been installed in San Ysidro, Buena Vista, and Cold Springs Canyons. The construction was closely monitored by a supervising biologist, a geologist, and a geo-tech engineer to ensure that the environmental conditions of the building permits and authorizations from the multiple governmental agencies were carefully maintained (https://www.tprcsb.org/nets).
In Cold Springs Canyon, a VX160-H6 and a specially adapted VX-barrier were installed with a total retention capacity of 9'650 CY / 7'378 m3. With these two flexible barriers, the retention capacity of the existing debris basin from 1964 is nearly doubled.
In San Ysidro Canyon, two specially adapted VX-barrier were installed with a total retention capacity of 15'950 CY / 12'200 m3. These barriers add nearly 200% to the existing debris basin at the mouth of the canyon, built in 1964.
In Buena Vista Canyon, two of the seven permitted flexible barriers have been installed so far. These are a specially adapted VX-barrier and a VX160-H6 with a total retention capacity of 11'700 CY / 8'950 m3. Buena Vista Canyon has no other retention capacity so far.
Contractor
Protected object
Road, Building, Residential area, Infrastructure
Corrosion protection
GEOBRUGG SUPERCOATING
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