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Browse our photos of landslide research and post-landslide investigations.
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 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.
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.
Soil property measurements in the Eaton Fire burn area, Angeles National Forest, California. A scientist uses a Mini Disk infiltrometer to measure how fast water infiltrates the ground's surface in the 2025 Eaton Fire burn area. Infiltrometer measurements help determine soil burn severity.
Soil property measurements in the Eaton Fire burn area, Angeles National Forest, California. A scientist uses a Mini Disk infiltrometer to measure how fast water infiltrates the ground's surface in the 2025 Eaton Fire burn area. Infiltrometer measurements help determine soil burn severity.
POSTFIRE DEBRIS FLOW SCIENCE
The U.S. Geological Survey helps local, state, and federal agencies assess debris flow hazards in recently burned areas. We provide information about the likelihood of debris flow activity, where they might happen, and how big they might be.
DEBRIS FLOW ASSESSMENTS
POSTFIRE DEBRIS FLOW SCIENCE
The U.S. Geological Survey helps local, state, and federal agencies assess debris flow hazards in recently burned areas. We provide information about the likelihood of debris flow activity, where they might happen, and how big they might be.
DEBRIS FLOW ASSESSMENTS
The West Ravine debris basin in Los Angeles County, California on January 20, 2024. The debris basin is mostly empty, with remnants of debris being cleared by a front loader and dump truck. This photograph was taken following the 2025 Eaton wildfire and prior to any rainfall over the burn area.
The West Ravine debris basin in Los Angeles County, California on January 20, 2024. The debris basin is mostly empty, with remnants of debris being cleared by a front loader and dump truck. This photograph was taken following the 2025 Eaton wildfire and prior to any rainfall over the burn area.
A steep, burned hillside in the 2025 Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County, California. The hillside is located near the northern edge of the burn perimeter off of Echo Mountain Low Fire Road. Unburned, vegetated terrain is visible in the image background. This photo was taken shortly after the Eaton Fire was contained.
A steep, burned hillside in the 2025 Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County, California. The hillside is located near the northern edge of the burn perimeter off of Echo Mountain Low Fire Road. Unburned, vegetated terrain is visible in the image background. This photo was taken shortly after the Eaton Fire was contained.
A detailed look at a hillslope within the Eaton Fire burn area showing sediment particles, visible in the foreground, moving downslope. Remnants of burned trees and other vegetation are also visible on the hillslope.
A detailed look at a hillslope within the Eaton Fire burn area showing sediment particles, visible in the foreground, moving downslope. Remnants of burned trees and other vegetation are also visible on the hillslope.
LANDSLIDE SAFETY
If your home or property was damaged by a landslide from Hurricane Helene, be aware of the warning signs of future landslide activity
WATCH FOR WARNING SIGNS
Signs a landslide may be moving include:
LANDSLIDE SAFETY
If your home or property was damaged by a landslide from Hurricane Helene, be aware of the warning signs of future landslide activity
WATCH FOR WARNING SIGNS
Signs a landslide may be moving include:
A debris flow or flood that occurred in 2024 South Fork Fire burn area filled the channel with mud- to boulder-sized sediment. Flooding flows occurred during rain events following the summer wildfire. Note the removal of bark and damage to trees in and adjacent to the channel.
A debris flow or flood that occurred in 2024 South Fork Fire burn area filled the channel with mud- to boulder-sized sediment. Flooding flows occurred during rain events following the summer wildfire. Note the removal of bark and damage to trees in and adjacent to the channel.
Mud- to boulder-sized sediment fill a channel in the 2024 South Fork Fire burn area. The sediment was deposited by flooding and debris flows during rain events following the summer wildfire. The coarsest material (including several large boulders) was deposited on the south side of the channel, forming a debris-flow levee.
Mud- to boulder-sized sediment fill a channel in the 2024 South Fork Fire burn area. The sediment was deposited by flooding and debris flows during rain events following the summer wildfire. The coarsest material (including several large boulders) was deposited on the south side of the channel, forming a debris-flow levee.
A debris-flow fan near the outlet of the North Fork Cedar Creek in the South Fork Fire burn area. Floods and debris flows occurred during rain events following the summer wildfire. This drainage is located near the center of the burn area and the photo was taken approximately 4 months following the wildfire.
A debris-flow fan near the outlet of the North Fork Cedar Creek in the South Fork Fire burn area. Floods and debris flows occurred during rain events following the summer wildfire. This drainage is located near the center of the burn area and the photo was taken approximately 4 months following the wildfire.
A scientist stands within a deeply eroded channel in the 2024 South Fork Fire burn area, New Mexico. Increased surface runoff on recently burned hillslopes can lead to rapid channel widening and deepening due to rapid erosion. Straw mulch, which is sometimes used to mitigate flooding, is visible across much of the ground's surface.
A scientist stands within a deeply eroded channel in the 2024 South Fork Fire burn area, New Mexico. Increased surface runoff on recently burned hillslopes can lead to rapid channel widening and deepening due to rapid erosion. Straw mulch, which is sometimes used to mitigate flooding, is visible across much of the ground's surface.
A boulder-rich postfire debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Salt fire burn area. Flooding and debris flows occurred near Ruidoso, New Mexico during rain events shortly following the 2024 wildfires. This photo was taken in Bear Canyon, on the Mescalero Reservation, near the central portion of the burn area.
A boulder-rich postfire debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Salt fire burn area. Flooding and debris flows occurred near Ruidoso, New Mexico during rain events shortly following the 2024 wildfires. This photo was taken in Bear Canyon, on the Mescalero Reservation, near the central portion of the burn area.
A scientist examines a tree that sits within a mud- and boulder-filled channel in the 2024 South Fork fire burn area. The sediment filling the channel was deposited by a postfire debris flow or flood that occurred during a rain event following the wildfire.
A scientist examines a tree that sits within a mud- and boulder-filled channel in the 2024 South Fork fire burn area. The sediment filling the channel was deposited by a postfire debris flow or flood that occurred during a rain event following the wildfire.
A poorly-sorted, debris-flow levee deposited during a rain event following the 2024 South Fork Fire. Levees form at the margins of debris flows are matrix-supported, and comprised of variably-sized sediment. Levees are useful for field identification of debris flow deposits and help to differentiate them from flood deposits.
A poorly-sorted, debris-flow levee deposited during a rain event following the 2024 South Fork Fire. Levees form at the margins of debris flows are matrix-supported, and comprised of variably-sized sediment. Levees are useful for field identification of debris flow deposits and help to differentiate them from flood deposits.