Post-Fire Sedimentation and Flood Risk in Mission Canyon, California
Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management
Mission Canyon, located in the Santa Ynez mountain range in Southern California, is widely recognized as an area with high wildfire potential based on its fire history and fuel accumulation. The 7400 acre watershed drains sediment and water from the mountains and flows directly through downtown Santa Barbara before discharging to the Pacific Ocean. Since the risk of damaging floods and debris flows increases during post-fire years, accurate predictions of debris flow potential and sedimentation volumes becomes increasingly important in fire-affected regions.
Mike Eliason / News-Press Photo
