Debris basin projects ongoing three years after the Montecito mudflow disaster
Santa Barbara County flood control projects have prepared debris basins in an area hard hit by a deadly mudflow three years ago. (Photo: John Palminteri)
MONTECITO, Calif. - After the explosive Montecito mudflow disaster in 2018, work has been ongoing to expand debris basins in the front country areas of Southern Santa Barbara County.
They re still prone to large debris flows if intensive winter storms hit the area.
The 2018 disaster took 23 lives. It also damaged and destroyed hundreds of houses and businesses from the foothills to the shoreline. Highway 101 at Olive Mill Road was closed for nearly two weeks because of mud and damage to the transportation corridor.