The impacts of the January 9, 2018 mudslides were so devastating that the affected communities band together for a plan to help prevent this from ever happening again. That plan includes installing massive metal nets in these canyons, which are designed to catch debris before it hits residential areas.
After permits were secured and tons of money raised — privately — workers broke ground last week. The initiative comes from the non-profit The Partnership for Resilient Communities and is headed by retired Santa Barbara city fire chief, Pat McElroy.
McElroy watches as a crew drills the base of the nets near the San Ysidro trail above Montecito. Photo by Carolina Starin/KCRW