Nearly two years after the deadly La Conchita Mudslide, a serious danger remains, threatening not only this precious coastal community, but also effecting future commerce of the State of California.
Historically, the first slide above the community of La Conchita occurred in March 1995, destroying several homes. At that time research was conducted, and plans for stabilizing the hill were drawn up. These plans were not acted upon. Agricultural and watershed issues are contributors to the saturation and reactivation of this ancient landslide.
Community efforts toward public awareness of the situation in La Conchita resulted this last March 2006 in the funding of the La Conchita Study, commissioned by Governor Schwarzenegger, and headed by the California State Office of Emergency Services. The declared intent of the study is to examine the geological, technical, financial, environmental, and social factors necessary in developing a solution to the situation in La Conchita.
Recently La Conchita Community Organization (LCCO) Chairman Mike Bell informed the community in a letter that the State committee for the La Conchita Study has met on several occasions. He says the group has decided to write a Request for Qualification (RFQ), a project advertisement directed toward contractors to be posted on the State website. "This is the first step in the process of getting geologists on the hill, doing the investigative work, to determine how to stabilize the hill and the costs associated with the stabilization," wrote Bell. The report for this study is due to be completed by next Fall 2007.
Historically, the first slide above the community of La Conchita occurred in March 1995, destroying several homes. At that time research was conducted, and plans for stabilizing the hill were drawn up. These plans were not acted upon. Agricultural and watershed issues are contributors to the saturation and reactivation of this ancient landslide.
Community efforts toward public awareness of the situation in La Conchita resulted this last March 2006 in the funding of the La Conchita Study, commissioned by Governor Schwarzenegger, and headed by the California State Office of Emergency Services. The declared intent of the study is to examine the geological, technical, financial, environmental, and social factors necessary in developing a solution to the situation in La Conchita.
Recently La Conchita Community Organization (LCCO) Chairman Mike Bell informed the community in a letter that the State committee for the La Conchita Study has met on several occasions. He says the group has decided to write a Request for Qualification (RFQ), a project advertisement directed toward contractors to be posted on the State website. "This is the first step in the process of getting geologists on the hill, doing the investigative work, to determine how to stabilize the hill and the costs associated with the stabilization," wrote Bell. The report for this study is due to be completed by next Fall 2007.
Rodleen Getsic
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