UPDATE ON ROAD CONDITIONS AND MUDSLIDES

Here's the latest update on road conditions from Sheriff's Lt. Sean Gerrity:

Since about 6:30 AM, there have been showers in the area of varying intensity, at times heavy. Except for the apparent re-flooding at Pauma Reservation Road and Highway 76, which apparently caused a collision this morning, I have not had any additional debris flow activity reported since last night. At least four watersheds in the burn area visibly had debris flow crossing and/or traveling down local roadways.

Adams Road/Pauma Reservation Road: There is a burn area watershed, rated as having an 80-100% probability (2 year and 10 year return interval) of releasing between 1,000 and 10,000 cubic meters of debris clearly did so (easily between this estimate range). The unnamed creek at the base of this watershed apparently feeds through a culvert, which appears to be buried, now. It nearly aligns perfectly with the straight portion of Adams Road that leads directly to Pauma Reservation Road. This creek intersects with Adams road on Thomas Brothers Map Page 1031 A7 (also, approximate coordinates of 33° 20‚ 18.02N, 116° 59‚ 10.12W). The deep debris and mudflow went over Adam Road (or possibly broke through Adams road, but I could not tell), down the creek, and also easterly around the small curve on Adams Road, then straight down Adams Road onto Pauma Reservation Road. It continued down Pauma Reservation Road onto Highway 76. Pauma Reservation Road/Hwy 76 was cleared and opened last night, but apparently had more flow back onto Highway 76 later this morning, apparently causing a non-injury collision after sunrise this morning. The portion of Adams Road from the creek's intersection to Pauma Reservation Road is so deep with debris and mud that it was not passable when I viewed it earlier, not even with my 4WD. There are at least four citrus agriculture residents long this portion of the roadway. If they did not pre-evacuate, they are likely unable to leave until County Roads can clear the debris. I could not enter the area to check these residences. The creek itself also had debris flow over Adams Road, which crossed Citricado Road, also. I believe this is the same watershed that released debris onto Adams Road during the weekend of November 30, 2007. County Roads has been notified, and CalTrans was working to clear the debris and water flow that flowed across and westbound along Highway 76 from Pauma Reservation Road, at the site of the collision.

There are two smaller watersheds adjacent to and directly west of this watershed, that also have flow paths that cross Adams Road. These are both in the burn area but are unrated on the debris flow maps. Both of these also had mudslide activity crossing Adams Road, with the one furthest west causing about 12" of steep mud across Adams Road, only passable with a four-wheel drive vehicle. I found an abandoned car stuck in this flow location.


Highway 76 west of South Grade: This is precisely the same location of the mudslide that occurred during the weekend of January 4, 2008, with at least the same amount of debris flow. This flow apparently (again) came from the watershed west of South Grade Road, estimated for a 1,000 to 10,000 cubic meter flow potential (61-80% probability in a 10 year return interval). CalTrans is currently directing traffic on one lane around the deeper water flow on the westbound side, while trying to clear the clogged culverts.

South Grade Road (S-6) at the 45 mile marker (above the 4,000 foot elevation level): This location is now cleared, opened around 9:30 AM. This was actually more of a rock slide, with rock that broke through a metal retainer intended to protect the roadway from such a slide at this particular curve. The metal mesh-type retainer is still intact and full of rock, but apparently much of the rock broke loose and subverted it onto the roadway. The mesh is on the west side of the road, at a location where the roadway was clearly cut into the mountain beneath this rock, which rises almost vertically and fairly high above the roadway at this location. Although this is in the burn area, it is not clear if this rock slide occurred as a result of the burn, or would have occurred anyway.

Lt. Gerrity