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Browse our photos of landslide research and post-landslide investigations.
Postfire debris-flow deposit in a channel within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Following a July 2025 thunderstorm, the channel filled with mud, cobbles, small boulders, and woody debris. This photo, taken near the watershed outlet, looks upslope from U.S. Highway 14.
Postfire debris-flow deposit in a channel within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Following a July 2025 thunderstorm, the channel filled with mud, cobbles, small boulders, and woody debris. This photo, taken near the watershed outlet, looks upslope from U.S. Highway 14.
Woody debris forms an upstream dam in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. The dam was deposited by a debris flow triggered during a 2025 summer thunderstorm. The woody debris forming the dam is larger and more abundant than material observed lower in the channel.
Woody debris forms an upstream dam in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. The dam was deposited by a debris flow triggered during a 2025 summer thunderstorm. The woody debris forming the dam is larger and more abundant than material observed lower in the channel.
Postfire debris-flow deposit in a channel within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Following a July 2025 thunderstorm, the channel filled with mud, cobbles, small boulders, and woody debris. The material shown here is finer than deposits near the watershed outlet. Several trees in the channel show evidence of damage from the debris flow.
Postfire debris-flow deposit in a channel within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Following a July 2025 thunderstorm, the channel filled with mud, cobbles, small boulders, and woody debris. The material shown here is finer than deposits near the watershed outlet. Several trees in the channel show evidence of damage from the debris flow.
Postfire debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. A debris flow triggered by a July 2025 thunderstorm deposited sediment and woody debris within the channel. Downed trees, oriented perpendicular to the channel banks, form a wood dam.
Postfire debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. A debris flow triggered by a July 2025 thunderstorm deposited sediment and woody debris within the channel. Downed trees, oriented perpendicular to the channel banks, form a wood dam.
Burned watershed in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area where a debris flow was triggered during a July 2025 thunderstorm. This downstream view shows the watershed outlet near the Crystal Springs Rest Area and U.S. Highway 14. Heavy equipment used to clear the debris remains on site 8 days after the event.
Burned watershed in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area where a debris flow was triggered during a July 2025 thunderstorm. This downstream view shows the watershed outlet near the Crystal Springs Rest Area and U.S. Highway 14. Heavy equipment used to clear the debris remains on site 8 days after the event.
Postfire debris-flow levee in the 2024 Elk fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. This levee, located near the channel margin contains poorly sorted sediment ranging from fine mud-to boulder-sized. A small amount of woody material is also present in the levee. The levee was formed by a debris flow in the watershed, triggered by a 2025 summer thunderstorm.
Postfire debris-flow levee in the 2024 Elk fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. This levee, located near the channel margin contains poorly sorted sediment ranging from fine mud-to boulder-sized. A small amount of woody material is also present in the levee. The levee was formed by a debris flow in the watershed, triggered by a 2025 summer thunderstorm.
Close-up view of a debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. A debris flow triggered by a 2025 summer thunderstorm deposited poorly sorted material ranging from mud to boulder size. Mud coatings are observed on some larger rocks, and finer material fills spaces between the cobbles and boulders.
Close-up view of a debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. A debris flow triggered by a 2025 summer thunderstorm deposited poorly sorted material ranging from mud to boulder size. Mud coatings are observed on some larger rocks, and finer material fills spaces between the cobbles and boulders.
Channel in a burned watershed within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming where a debris flow initiated during a July 2025 thunderstorm. Near the headwaters, exposed bedrock is visible in channel, and loose sediment and burned trees cover the hillslope above. Trees near the channel margin show damage from the force of the flow.
Channel in a burned watershed within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming where a debris flow initiated during a July 2025 thunderstorm. Near the headwaters, exposed bedrock is visible in channel, and loose sediment and burned trees cover the hillslope above. Trees near the channel margin show damage from the force of the flow.
USGS Postfire landslide monitoring station in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. The station records rainfall and soil moisture data and captured video of a debris flow on July 15, 2025. The channel where the flow occurred is visible in the background.
USGS Postfire landslide monitoring station in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. The station records rainfall and soil moisture data and captured video of a debris flow on July 15, 2025. The channel where the flow occurred is visible in the background.
Debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area. The flow partially covered U.S. Highway 14 west of Dayton, Wyoming. Sediment and woody debris partially covered U.S. Highway 14, near the Crystals Springs Rest Area after a thunderstorm triggered a debris flow in a burned watershed.
Debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area. The flow partially covered U.S. Highway 14 west of Dayton, Wyoming. Sediment and woody debris partially covered U.S. Highway 14, near the Crystals Springs Rest Area after a thunderstorm triggered a debris flow in a burned watershed.
Postfire debris-flow deposit in a channel within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Following a July 2025 thunderstorm, the channel filled with mud, cobbles, small boulders, and woody debris. This photo, taken near the watershed outlet, looks upslope from U.S. Highway 14.
Postfire debris-flow deposit in a channel within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Following a July 2025 thunderstorm, the channel filled with mud, cobbles, small boulders, and woody debris. This photo, taken near the watershed outlet, looks upslope from U.S. Highway 14.
Crystal springs watershed in the 2024 Elk fire burn area. The USGS installed a monitoring station here to record postfire hydrologic responses during rainfall events. This photo was taken before any flooding or debris flows occurred, but the station later recorded a debris flow during a July 2025 thunderstorm.
Crystal springs watershed in the 2024 Elk fire burn area. The USGS installed a monitoring station here to record postfire hydrologic responses during rainfall events. This photo was taken before any flooding or debris flows occurred, but the station later recorded a debris flow during a July 2025 thunderstorm.
A USGS hydrologist checks a newly installed rain gage in the Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming to ensure that it is level. USGS scientists installed several rain gages throughout the Elk Fire burn area. Rain gage data is paired with observations of flooding and debris-flows to test how well the USGS hazard assessment models are working.
A USGS hydrologist checks a newly installed rain gage in the Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming to ensure that it is level. USGS scientists installed several rain gages throughout the Elk Fire burn area. Rain gage data is paired with observations of flooding and debris-flows to test how well the USGS hazard assessment models are working.
USGS postfire monitoring station in the Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Installed less than a year after the wildfire, the station records hydrologic responses during rainfall on the burned landscape. Located above a channel that was assessed to have a very high likelihood of debris flows, it collects data on soil properties and rainfall.
USGS postfire monitoring station in the Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Installed less than a year after the wildfire, the station records hydrologic responses during rainfall on the burned landscape. Located above a channel that was assessed to have a very high likelihood of debris flows, it collects data on soil properties and rainfall.
USGS scientists install a postfire monitoring station in the Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Installed less than a year after the wildfire, the station records hydrologic responses during rainfall on the burned landscape.
USGS scientists install a postfire monitoring station in the Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. Installed less than a year after the wildfire, the station records hydrologic responses during rainfall on the burned landscape.
A narrow channel in the High Water Creek watershed within the Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming is surrounded by steep, burned hillslopes. The section occurs upslope of where flood and flow deposits were observed. Rocky material and downed trees cover the surrounding hillsides.
A narrow channel in the High Water Creek watershed within the Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming is surrounded by steep, burned hillslopes. The section occurs upslope of where flood and flow deposits were observed. Rocky material and downed trees cover the surrounding hillsides.
View of the Elk Fire burn area from U.S. Highway 15 west of Dayton, Wyoming. Burned hillslopes lack vegetation and contrast sharply with the unburned terrain on either side of the highway.
View of the Elk Fire burn area from U.S. Highway 15 west of Dayton, Wyoming. Burned hillslopes lack vegetation and contrast sharply with the unburned terrain on either side of the highway.
A postfire debris-flow deposit in Rubio Canyon, in the Eaton Fire burn area Los Angeles, County, California. Debris flows were triggered by intense rain on the recently burned hillslopes. Mud- to boulder-sized sediment was deposited by the debris flow in this image. The flow also damaged trees near and within the channel where the flow traveled.
A postfire debris-flow deposit in Rubio Canyon, in the Eaton Fire burn area Los Angeles, County, California. Debris flows were triggered by intense rain on the recently burned hillslopes. Mud- to boulder-sized sediment was deposited by the debris flow in this image. The flow also damaged trees near and within the channel where the flow traveled.
NATIONAL LANDSLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY MAP
The boundary between burned and unburned terrain in the area burned by the 2025 Eaton Fire, Angeles National Forest, California. Fire has removed all of the vegetation in the area of the hillslope visible in the image foreground.
The boundary between burned and unburned terrain in the area burned by the 2025 Eaton Fire, Angeles National Forest, California. Fire has removed all of the vegetation in the area of the hillslope visible in the image foreground.
A steep, burned hillside in the 2025 Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County, California. The hillside is located near the northwestern edge of the burn perimeter, just off of Sunset Ridge road. High winds while the fire burned and after it was contained has removed ash from the hillside.
A steep, burned hillside in the 2025 Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County, California. The hillside is located near the northwestern edge of the burn perimeter, just off of Sunset Ridge road. High winds while the fire burned and after it was contained has removed ash from the hillside.