Mudflow Protection for Monrovia Neighborhood
The Board of Supervisors has authorized the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to begin emergency efforts to protect residential communities below the Madison Fire Burn Area in Monrovia against the threat of post-fire mud and debris flows.
The Madison Fire in April burned more than 80 acres and most of the vegetation which stabilizes hillsides creating a risk if inundation this winter. “Nearly a dozen homes are at risk of inundation this winter by an estimated 15,000 cubic yards of mud and debris,” said Supervisor Antonovich.
The County Department of Public Works will strategically place K-rail and rail-and-timber structures in the burned watershed immediately above these homes as temporary measures against mud and debris flows. The barriers will remain in place util the burned watershed recovers, which could take about five years.
The Board approved $920,000 for the project today, 80 percent of which may be eligible for reimbursement by grant funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program.