County to Begin Preparing for Winter Floods in Tea Fire Burn Areas

Just weeks after treating Gap Fire areas in Goleta, Public Works officials turn their attention to hillsides in Santa Barbara and Montecito.

By Sonia Fernandez, Noozhawk Staff Writer | Published on 11.17.2008

  • E-mail
  • Print this page Print
  • Post | View Comments (1)
    • Share

With little time until the winter flood season, Santa Barbara County’s Public Works Department will begin stream clearing in the areas affected by the Tea Fire to prepare for possible floods that might happen as a result of erosion in the burned watersheds.

As with last July’s Gap Fire, Flood Control’s concern is that the burned hillsides in Santa Barbara and Montecito will erode into the streams during winter rains, causing flooding downstream.

According to Deputy Public Works Director Tom Fayram, three watersheds were affected by the Tea Fire. The Sycamore Canyon watershed was the hardest hit, with about 70 percent of the watershed area burned, followed by the Montecito Creek watershed with its Cold Springs Creek and Mission Creek watershed to the west and its Rattlesnake Creek tributary, which were not badly affected, Fayram said.

“The entire watershed and downstream system of Sycamore Creek is our main concern,” Fayram said.

The Sycamore Creek system runs through the burned Five Points area, by the zoo and into the lower east side of Santa Barbara. Aside from the stream clearing, the department will be working on excavating debris basins.

Unlike the Gap Fire, which was extensive but mostly in wildland area, the Tea Fire has been concentrated and in populated areas, which, according to Fayram, would not make it a good candidate for the aerial hydromulching that was done in the hills north of the Goleta Valley. Besides , Fayram said, there isn’t enough time to set up such an operation.

“We’re looking to do what we can get done immediately,” he said.

Future plans may include installing debris racks at strategic points throughout the creeks to catch debris before they can clog up the waterways.

Write to sfernandez@noozhawk.com.

Comments

Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules.

  1. No abusive, defamatory or libelous attacks. In plain English: No personal attacks.
  2. No vulgar or discriminatory language.
  3. If you do not follow these rules, don't be surprised if your comment is removed.
  4. Please use the Report Abuse button on offensive comments.
  5. Share what you know, ask about what you don't. Give us your eyewitness accounts, observations, background and history. Tell us what else you want to know about the story.
  6. Stay on the topic, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK, and forgive people their spelling errors.

Noozhawk's intent is not to limit the discussion of our stories but to elevate it. Thank you for your respectful participation. Click here for our complete Terms of Use.

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.

You must be a registered user to comment. Create a user account

Log in




Auto-login on future visits

Forgot your password?

» Betofoster on 11.19.08 @ 10:46 AM

Hydro-mulching from the ground would provide quick, solid erosion protection for the humans, wildlife and waterways.  The key is to use quality ingredients in the hydro-mulch slurry (unlike what was used on the Gap fire where they used guar which will not provide proper protection). 
If the County got 5 large hydro-mulching machines out there tomorrow spraying a stabilzing fiber matrix, they could cover and protect 25-40 acres a day. They could have the most critical areas covered in a week or two.
I hope they do not let bureaucracy get in the way of doing what is right and protect our people, land and water.


More Local News »

Phil Wyatt Builds High-Tech Company with Low-Key Approach

Wyatt Technology's founder and CEO serves as a steady guide for his staff in pinpointing a niche in laser-based instruments

Santa Barbara Airbus Picks Up and Moves to New Location

The company will have more legroom at its new home on Technology Way in Goleta

Residents Get Look at Master Plan for Santa Barbara

An open house kicks off a public-comment period designed to help shape the future of the city

Ninth Circuit Court to Rehear Goleta Rent-Control Case

The appeal on 'regulatory taking' could determine the constitutionality of the city's ordinance

Bob Wilcher: Guaranteed Weight Loss

Eat 500 fewer calories and exercise for one hour each day and enjoy the results

Weather: Fair 55.0º


© Malamute Ventures LLC 2007-2010 | ISSN No. 1947-6086

Web Design & Development by PixelFive