Documentation of Pembrook Drive Landslide, Cambria, California 2/27/10

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/02/27/1047511/heavy-rains-trigger-cambria-l...

Heavy rains trigger Cambria landslide, plus water and sewer break
About 200,000 gallons of water, plus 1,000 gallons of sewage, spilled; PGandE crew had to install temporary power lines
Kathe Tanner
Feb. 27, 2010

Heavy storm rains apparently triggered a landslide in Cambria early Saturday morning that took with it about 50 feet of Pembrook Drive's pavement, a 6-inch water main, 8-inch sewer main and utility poles and service.

The water-main break spilled about 200,000 gallons of water, according to representatives of the Cambria Community Services District.

The concaved landslide area is approximately 50 feet long, 15 feet wide and 15 feet deep. The slippage took with it about three-quarters of the street width, leaving only enough pavement for an unreliable walkway.

Pembrook, a secondary artery for those living in Cambria's Park Hill neighborhood, will be closed to through traffic from Windsor Boulevard to above Bristol Street for the foreseeable future.

Mike Kuykendall, superintendent of the district's sewage-treatment plant Kuykendall said road engineers likely would have to assess the damage and draft a plan for fixing the area.

Emergency crews cordoned off the area with yellow emergency tape to keep people away from downed electric lines and possible additional land-sliding.

However at mid-morning Saturday, some neighbors and curious Cambrians ignored the tape and stood near the edge of the slide.

It was the third major water-main break since mid-December for the Park Hill neighborhood.

Kuykendall estimated that less than 1,000 gallons of sewage spilled in the landslide, but the water deluge would have diluted it considerably.

The watery cascade also carried yards of dirt down the hill, depositing it against a retaining wall at the nearby sewage plant.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. crews installed temporary lines across the gaping hole to restore power to customers in the area.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• cambria
• california
• pembrook
• drive
• water
• land
• slide
• mud
• road
• wash
• out
• regulation
• rain
• sewer
• sewage

[whatsnextnow19791]

My dad works for the gas company and he seen this with me earlier, he was completely amazed that the gas lines were still intact. Amazing! It's hard to believe what a tree can do when it falls or gets cut down. I shoud show you what is happening with the erosion around the corner by the castle house. There was a path which is completely destroyed because a tree fell, then rapid erosion. They are using retention centers now, but I think the road will be next.

[phnixlady]

Thank you SCMLA ! Always good to hear your POV. love.