Mt. Shasta, Calif., Sept. 21, 2014 – Yesterday afternoon, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest confirmed a debris flow in Mud Creek Canyon on the southeast side of Mt. Shasta. The mudslide began around 3 p.m. and continued through the night. Forest Service resources have been monitoring the situation from the ground and in the air.
The exact cause of this slide has not been determined, but is believed to be due to the drought conditions which have left Mt. Shasta's glaciers exposed to the sun's heat. Pockets of liquid water can be held in place by glaciers; when a portion of that glacier shifts or melts, it can release water down the mountainside. These flows gather debris as they travel, creating potentially dangerous conditions for anyone traveling through the area.
Yesterday, the mudslide crossed Pilgrim Creek Road around 6 p.m. This road and Forest Service Road 31 have been closed. Visitors are asked to stay away from the area because of unpredictable conditions. Do not attempt to drive over a road impacted by debris: even small amounts of mud and debris can overpower a vehicle. As of 8 a.m. this morning flows were beginning to recede and the Forest Service is assessing the impacts to the crossings. Visitors in the area of Mud Creek Canyon should expect these closures and other impacts from the slide to remain in place for the next several days. Currently, Highway 89 is open and safe for travel; however visitors should be aware of the potential for impacts on the highway.
As debris continues to flow, impacts will also be seen in the lower McCloud River. Sediments from Mud Creek will likely impact water quality and fishing by creating turbid conditions in the River below Lake McCloud.
No structures have been damaged and there are no reported injuries.
Visitors to Mt. Shasta should be aware that similar conditions could occur in other drainages on Mt. Shasta and that additional mudslides are possible. There is also a possibility of precipitation in the area today, which could increase the flow of this mudslide. Forest Service employees will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
For more information, please contact the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station at 530-926-4511, open Monday-Friday, 8-4:30.
The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
Source: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4120/24569/--
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