It was a disaster which killed 23 people, and destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and business. Curtis Skene was at his home near Highway 192, and Randall Road in Montecito when the January, 2018 1/9 debris flow hit.
"When San Ysidro Creek overflowed up here...it went straight down my road...took my garage right off of its foundation, put five feet of mud through my house," said Skene. "I was very fortunate...I managed to survive."
Skene said as he waited five hours for rescuers, he decided to do something about the flash flooding and debris flow threat to the community.
After meeting with county officials, and learning about flood control efforts like debris basins, he proposed building one.
But, making it happen was easier said than done. The idea was to create a massive, 90,000 cubic foot debris basin just north of Highway 192, on the east side or Randall Road. The eight acres of land had been the site of seven homes demolished by the debris flow. Buying the property, and building the debris basin could cost about $18 million. The hope was to get federal and state grants, but the project moved ahead despite uncertain funding.
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams credits his fellow supervisors stepping up to take a chance.
"We had to front a lot, and that was the hard part," said Williams. "I really credit my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors. The other (big factor) was community support. They brought the project to us, and supported us every step of the way."
Federal funding came through, and a state grant appears likely. Groundbreaking took place in April of 2021, and the project was just completed.
We’re standing with Santa Barbara County Public Works Director Scott Golpin on the hillside just above the debris basin.
"We were able to get a $13.5 million FEMA grant, and we're still in the process with the State of California to get a $3.5 million Community Development Block Grant," said Golpin. If it comes through, the entire project will have been funded with federal and state dollars.
As we look at the debris basin, which looks like a huge rectangular valley, you see what look like two metal fences across them. Walter Rubalcava, who’s an engineer, and Deputy Director of the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, said they are designed to keep boulders and tree trunks from being washed downstream, into homes and streets.
"We have about 90,000 cubic yards that have been excavated from this basin, or about 8,000 truckloads," said Rubalcava. "This does not retain flow. It helps capture debris."
In effect, it stops boulders and other debris which can block the creek, and create debris flows.
Tom Fayram was Deputy Public Works Director when the Montecito debris flow it. He helped spearhead the Randall Road project. He's now retired, but Fayram returned to the site to see the finished debris basin.
He said it was amazing to see it go from an idea to a project which will hopefully save lives
"The team effort of everyone who got involved...you don't do a project like this without the buy-in of everybody, especially the community."
Seeing the finished project is bittersweet for Kathy Waldref. Her home was one of the many destroyed by the debris flow. The family sold the land, instead of rebuilding, to make way for the debris basin.
"It's emotional still coming here, but (she motions downhill from the site) it makes the house down there safe," said Waldref.
