Multiple mudslides and flooding caused a complete closure of Pacific Coast Highway on Saturday evening, Jan. 5, from Encinal Canyon in Malibu to Las Posas in Oxnard. In addition, both Encinal Canyon Road and Decker Canyon Road (State Route 23) were closed in Malibu for debris cleanup. Several vehicles were stuck in the mud along PCH near Yerba Buena Road, but no injuries were reported.
On Monday evening, Jan. 7, PCH and Encinal reopened, though Decker remained closed.
Areas of Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains received between 2 and 3 inches of rainfall over the three days during which two separate weather systems doused California, according to numbers provided by the National Weather Service (NWS). In the Malibu area, the mountainous areas received the most precipitation. Even heavier rain fell up the coast from Malibu, between Santa Barbara and Lompoc, where up to 3.5 inches fell in the span of a few days. The Bay Area saw the heaviest precipitation totals, with some areas receiving more than 4 inches.
Caltrans District 7, which is in charge of the span of Pacific Coast Highway that was impacted by the mudslides, released a video of a contractor describing debris removal.
Ed Toledo with Baltazar Construction described a plugged headwall and drainage pipe. As water and dirt came down the hill, it “had nowhere to go” so it “came down over the road and went over the embankment,” so crews were working Monday to remove the material from the plugged pipe “so it has somewhere to go after the next rain.”
Though the closure covered the same area of PCH that was shut down for weeks due to mud and rockslides in 2014 and 2015, the slide did not occur in the same area of the stretch. Vegetation has since grown in, following the 2013 Springs Fire that precipitated the previous major slide.
Ocean conditions
On Sunday, Los Angeles Department of Public Health issued a Beach Water Use Advisory, which was in effect through Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 3 a.m., “cautioning residents who are planning to visit Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters around discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers. Bacteria, chemicals, debris, trash, and other public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas are likely to contaminate ocean waters at and around these outlets after a rainfall. Individuals who enter the water in these areas could become ill.
Discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers only comprise a small portion of the beach; therefore, anybody who wants to go to other areas at the beach can still enjoy their beach outing.”
A high surf advisory remained in effect for west-facing beaches in Los Angeles County, through 8 p.m. Thursday. “Breakers of 6 to 12 feet will be possible at exposed west-facing beaches south of Point Conception between early Wednesday morning and Thursday evening,” according to the NWS. Coastal flooding was possible during those times, and the weather service also asked swimmers to be cautious due to increased danger in the water.
“There is an increased risk for ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore,” according to the advisory.
