MONTECITO, Calif. - More than a year and a half after the Montecito mudslides, the efforts to rebuild the community are still underway, but this week the county took several major steps towards recovery.
The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department announced Friday it was moving forward with several projects to improve flood control in Montecito, including basin improvements, debris control net installation, and construction on a new debris basin.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors authorized Public Works to contract with WRECO, a civil engineering consulting company, to gather analysis and design information for the Cold Springs, San Ysidro, and Romero Creek Debris Basin Improvement Project.
Public Works is considering building a structure similar to one that was installed at Gobernador Basin in Santa Barbara County in 2008. It would be designed to withstand large debris flows, move sediment downstream, and restore steelhead trout habitat.
The board also authorized Public Works to help the nonprofit Partnership for Resilient Communities to find funding to finish installation of debris nets. The nets have already been installed in San Ysidro, Cold Springs, and Buena Vista creeks. Two others will be installed in San Ysidro and Buena Vista Creeks.
The process to install the steel "ring nets" in the canyons above Montecito began in April. The nets are designed to catch large boulders and other debris during a strong storm. The nonprofit was formed by people who live in the community who wanted to help the community after the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow.
The group raised more than $4 million for the project, but as of last update, the group was $450,000 short of its funding goal.
In July, the board approved a contract with a company to prepare an Environmental Impact report for the Randall Road Debris Basin. The basin would be built on a 10-acre property above Highway 192 and east of Randall Road in San Ysidro Creek, which was seriously impacted by the Montecito mudslide. Project officials say it would strengthen the existing flood protection on the San Ysidro Creek system.
On Wednesday, FEMA met in Oakland and approved advanced funding to buy land for the proposed basin. The project is estimated to cost $21 million. It is still in the planning and design phase right now.
23 people were killed in the Montecito mudslide on January 9, 2018. Two children who were swept away in the mudflow were never found.
