Storm Watch: Tale of Two Slides

Since Saturday morning, 8.686 inches of rain has fallen on the Palisades, bringing the total seasonal rainfall to 35.590 inches’seven inches less than the all-time high rainfall that fell on the town in 1997-1998. The pounding rain took its toll on two local slides’one in the 1200 block of Bienveneda Ave., the other on the Via de las Olas bluffs. In both cases concerned residents contacted the city, which sent out inspectors. On Monday, city engineers Craig Kunesh and Patrick Schmidt assessed the continuing slippage in the 15000 block of Via de la Olas. Neighbors first noticed a new slump along the bluffs between Friends and Lombard streets in January when an approximately 50-ft.-long fissure forced the hillside to drop two feet. It has slipped an additional four to six more feet since then. While inspecting the slump, the engineers discovered two broken water pipes situated directly beneath the railroad ties which support the street in front of 15221 Via de las Olas The 2-ft.-wide corragated pipe that carries storm runoff was also found to be in need of repair. As a result of the two damaged pipes, water had pooled at the base of the concrete support pylons that support the railroad ties, located directly below the white fence, which serves as a barrier between the street and the canyon. Then on Tuesday, while city engineer Iraj Afzali was supervising the maintenance crew working on the broken pipes, he noticed a crack in the adjacent hillside and immediately ordered the area cordoned off. He affixed yellow caution tape to a 40-ft.-long section of the street, across from the residence at 15205, as a ‘precaution, so people won’t walk with their dogs here,’ he explained. By Wednesday, the oceanside of Via de las Olas had been partially closed off. On Saturday a small section of Ardie Tavangarian’s controversial 5-acre, hillside terrace slid into neighboring resident Jules Tragarz’s back yard. Tragarz, who lives at 1227 Bienveneda, said stakes, foliage, ‘even parts of the garden’s drip system twisted my fence and filled my yard with mud. I have been assured by Mr. Tavangarian that he will clean up the mess when the mud dries. I presume he will.’ On Tuesday, Targarz’s house was green tagged by the city, indicating that the house was inspected and found safe to occupy. As of Wednesday morning, total rainfall in the Palisades was 35.590 inches’seven inches less that the all-time rainfall that fell on the town in 1997-1998