USGS Multimedia Gallery for Set: Debris Flow

Debris Flow in Action

jcoe - at - usgs.gov (Jeffrey Coe) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

A debris flow exceeding a meter in depth rushes towards the monitoring station used to measure basal force and other flow properties.

Captured by automated monitoring camera.

Debris Flow from 2006 Floods in Southern Arizona

magirl - at - usgs.gov (Christopher Magirl) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

This photograph shows the snout of a debris flow that stopped in the channel of Rattlesnake Creek during the floods of July 31, 2006. This snout is several miles upstream from the confluence of Rattlesnake and Sabino Creeks, and the large boulders are typical of the largest particles transported during debris flows in the southern Santa Catalina Mountains. Most of these boulders likely were transported from debris-flow initiation zones, although some may have been entrained from the bed of Rattlesnake Creek. For more information on this event please see the online U.S. Geological Survey publication.

2002 Debris Flow Near Durango, CO

cannon - at - usgs.gov (Susan Cannon) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Debris flow deposits in Stevens Creek fan near Durango, Colorado. This area is in a drainage basin burned by the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire in Colorado.

Debris Flow Damage

cannon - at - usgs.gov (Susan Cannon) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

House engulfed by debris flows generated in response to a rainstorm on February 6, 2010. This house was west of Briar Wood Canyon in southern California. The small, but steep and rugged drainage basin above this home was burned the previous summer by the Station Fire, the largest fire in the history of Los Angeles County.

Debris Flow Path

unknown — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Path left by debris flow moving down a channel. The debris flow was generated in response to a rainstorm on November 12, 2009 in Arroyo Seco, southern California.

Debris Flow Damage in California

cannon - at - usgs.gov (Susan Cannon) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

House damaged by debris flows generated in Mullally Canyon in response to a rainstorm on February 6, 2010. The drainage basin above this home was burned the previous summer by the Station Fire, the largest fire in the history of Los Angeles County.

Rockslide along Ferguson Highway 140, California

Mark Reid — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

2006 Rockslide on Ferguson-Hwy 140 in California along the Merced River about 8 miles west of El Portal and the entrance of Yosemite National Park.

Steep Slopes Provide Cues to Debris-Flows

jwkean - at - usgs.gov (Jason Kean) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

USGS debris-flow monitoring site in the Chalk Cliffs, Colo., study area. Debris flows in sparsely vegetated steeplands like those in central Colorado are often initiated by processes related to surface-water runoff after intense rainfall. However, the transformation of surface-water runoff into debris flow are not well understood. USGS scientists have begun monitoring debris-flow initiation in a small, steep catchment near Buena Vista, Colo., that produces between one to five debris flows every year. The results from this monitoring effort are being used to help constrain models of debris-flow initiation.