Thursday, December 4, 2014

Corralitas Drive: Mudwatch, Blocked Sidewalk *Updated Rainfall Totals

Photos: Corralitas Neighbor, December 3, 2014.  Earlier this summer, the owner of this vacant Corralitas Drive lot denuded the entire lot of all vegetation.  After 2 inches of rain, a lot more dirt is blocking the sidewalk.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

No application for construction has been submitted to Building & Safety.  How many times do we have to say it?  Don't cut down all the vegetation on your slope until you are ready to break ground for construction, permits in hand. This is not the extent you need to clear your slope for brush clearance.  This lot had exceptional fire resistant defensive landscaping prior to the current owner's misguided brush clearance. 
Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, December 3, 2014.  At night, this is a very dark part of the street on a blind curve.  If you walk your dog after dark, you have to leap out of the way of speeding cars.  Additionally, we have at least one vision impaired neighbor, one hearing impaired neighbor, several older neighbors and those who prefer to walk on the sidewalk rather than the middle of the street.
Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, December 3, 2014. That one protected native tree, a California Black Walnut has been cut down a few times, and just keeps coming back.  But it's not large enough  to hold back the erosion on the entire denuded slope. 

Back in June, neighbors were predicting mudflows as soon as we see big rain.  When the slope is saturated, we should see a lot more mud on the street.  Good sized rocks usually tumble down here too. You might want to beware parking here.

*UPDATE 12-4-14: As of 8 AM we had additional 0.2" in the Corralitas rain gauge
Season to date: 2.79"