Regional Models for Postfire Debris-Flow Likelihood and Rainfall Thresholds Across the Western United States
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Multi-site evaluation of a postfire debris-flow runout forecast method
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New USGS-Funded Science Will Support Landslide Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness Nationwide
New USGS-Funded Science Will Support Landslide Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness Nationwide
Helping Prepare the Nation Against Landslide Threats
Helping Prepare the Nation Against Landslide Threats
In SF Bay, even an exceptionally wet year can’t supply enough sediment to keep pace with rising seas, new study finds
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Publications
Regional models for postfire debris-flow likelihood and rainfall thresholds across the western United States Regional models for postfire debris-flow likelihood and rainfall thresholds across the western United States
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) uses an empirical model developed with logistic regression (the ‘M1’ model) to rapidly assess debris-flow likelihood and to identify quantitative rainfall thresholds for debris flows after wildfire in the western United States. The M1 model was calibrated to a debris-flow inventory from southern California (United States) and has been applied throughout...
Multi-site evaluation of a postfire debris-flow runout forecast method Multi-site evaluation of a postfire debris-flow runout forecast method
Postfire debris flows pose a hazard to human life, property, and infrastructure when they travel from steep source areas to urbanized alluvial fans or other developed areas. Existing methods for rapid (
Landsliding follows signatures of wildfire history and vegetative regrowth in a steep coastal shrubland Landsliding follows signatures of wildfire history and vegetative regrowth in a steep coastal shrubland
Five years after the deadly and destructive 9 January 2018 Montecito debris flows (Santa Barbara County, California, USA), an atmospheric river storm on 9 January 2023 triggered widespread landsliding that affected many of the same drainages in the Santa Ynez Mountains. Using high-resolution aerial imagery, we identified >10,000 landslides over an ∼160 km2 area. Most of the landslides...
Science
Postfire Landslide Monitoring Station: “Pasadena Glen” (2025 Eaton Fire) near Pasadena Glen, CA
Wildfire can increase landslide susceptibility in mountainous terrain. The USGS maintains postfire landslide monitoring stations to track hillslope hydrologic conditions in the years following fire.
"Castro Peak" Postfire Landslide Monitoring Station - Recent Conditions
Recent monitoring data at “Castro Peak” (2018 Woolsey Fire) near Malibu, CA
"Pasadena Glen" Postfire Landslide Monitoring Station - Recent Conditions
Recent monitoring data at “Pasadena Glen” (2025 Eaton Fire) near Pasadena Glen, CA
