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City copes with mud threat

A piece of mangled fencing and a trespassing sign fall victim to a mudslide in north La Verne Monday. Concrete barriers were set up. More rain was expected throughout the week and the stability of the ground is still in question. The site is about two miles from ULV. / photo by Jason Cooper
A piece of mangled fencing and a trespassing sign fall victim to a mudslide in north La Verne Monday. Concrete barriers were set up. More rain was expected throughout the week and the stability of the ground is still in question. The site is about two miles from ULV. / photo by Jason Cooper

by Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Assistant Editor

As rain continues to soak the city, La Verne is scrambling to alleviate threats posed to residents by mudslides and flooding.

Last September’s fire not only scorched much of the hillside, it also left conditions ripe for potentially hazardous flooding this winter.

“Fire makes top soil very hard, and unable to absorb the water that comes down,” said Public Works Administrative Superintendent Jeanette Vagnozzi.

Ash and other loose remains from the incinerated vegetation contribute to the problem.

“It’s a snowball effect,” Director of Public Works Daniel Keesey said. “As sticks, stones, water and mud begin coming down, it gets going pretty fast and dislodges larger and larger debris.”

The loss of vegetation in the burned out area removed a natural barrier and filter for the runoff, Keesey said.

The La Verne Department of Public Works installed concrete barriers, similar to those used as temporary traffic barriers, in the area most threatened by runoff.

Resembling an industrial sized maze for laboratory mice, the barriers attempt to redirect the flow of water and mud away from residential homes and into the street.

Such efforts diminished the torrent of water, mud and debris that flooded part of Golden Hills Road just east of Wheeler Avenue two weeks ago.

“It was roaring down the hill,” said Dick Turner, a homeowner in the affected area. “The storm drain was plugged up; it couldn’t handle anything.”

While the plan succeeded in keeping most of the mud and debris out of people’s yards, a portion of the street was buried under several feet of mud.

Closing the road, the city toiled for almost 24 hours to truck the approximately 2,500 tons of debris out of the city, Vagnozzi said.

On Monday, the city rushed to place additional barriers and sandbags in anticipation of the new storm moving through the area.

As of yesterday, the street was clear, and no new flooding was reported.

Showers are expected through tomorrow, but no rain is forecast for next week.

Local residents have been understanding and patient with the situation, Vagnozzi said.

“It’s a wonderful, supportive community that comes together in times of need,” she said.

Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Managing Editor
Kenneth Todd Ruiz
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Jason Cooper, Staff Photographer
Jason Cooper
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