The night of January 9, 2018, was a flashback for Curtis Skene, at 1709 East Valley Lane. On January 25, 1969, Skene and 10 of his young friends from school spent two days building a four – foot high row of sandbags around his family home, saving it from the three – foot high flow of mud from San Ysidro Creek.
Less fortunate in 2018, the same home was destroyed under 13’ of mud and debris. Skene barely escaped; 4 of his neighbors were not as lucky. As he emerged in the day light, helping neighbors get out of their homes, he knew with unshakable certainty that fires and debris flows recur with similar or greater ferocity every few decades.
He realized that catching more of the debris before it hit houses and people was vital. The nearly undefended San Ysidro Creek (SYC) had a 10,000 cubic yard debris catch basin. The amount of debris that morning was over 300,000 cubic yards in SYC alone, meaning that a much bigger catch basin was required.
Not only in 1969, but also in 1995, 1971, 1964, 1926, and 1914, confirmed by News Press archives, there were thunderous debris flows in Montecito Creeks. The 1969 debris flow occurred during seven – inches of rain in a 12 – hour period. That was all it took to have boulders, trees, and mud coursing down the streams, four and half years after the 1964 Coyote fire had burned the hills above Montecito Creeks. 1969 proved that relying on new vegetation growth isn’t enough protection.
The debris basin project Skene had in mind would cost upwards of $20M for San Ysidro Creek alone, leaving four more creeks still needing attention. Politicians could see the value of his experience but suggested that funding should come from victims donating their land and from the largesse of wealthy locals.
Fortunately, Tom Fayram of County Flood Control recognized the urgency. Skene also found allies and supporters among the dozens of neighbors and local non – profits. To help accomplish his vision, Skene and his partner, Kris Kirkelie, set up a new non – profit, Partners in Community Renewal (PCR), with a vision to #Renew SB.
Skene quickly realized that expanding the holding capacities of the debris basins required purchasing land. Where was the money going to come from? A few private donors could see the vision but would not commit unless the County participated. Skene persuaded the County that private financial support would not be forthcoming unless the County invested some “skin in the game.” Once money began to be committed locally, support from the State and FEMA became possible.
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Things began to break late last year after Skene and Fayram convinced Das Williams of the value of purchasing one of the properties on Randall Rd. The Supervisors unanimously voted to acquire the lot. A growing phalanx of private and public stakeholders and government officials began to get the idea of repurposing the land under all the destroyed Randall Road homes, turning them into the biggest debris basin in Montecito.
In 2018 Skene had helped the county prepare and submit grants to FEMA. He and Fayram worked tirelessly with Hanna Beth Jackson and Salud Carbajal pursuing the FEMA money. “We absolutely could not have done this without their vigorous support of the project,” says Skene.
Finally, late last month, Skene and Fayram traveled to see FEMA and returned with the news that FEMA would fund their portion of the grant.
Skene’s amazing journey of persuasion and the creation of PCR has led to the nearly $15M from FEMA and $5M from the County. Now the lots need to be acquired to complete the project.
County Flood Control is spearheading the creation of the Randall Road Debris Basin, which could be finished as early as 2021, and be approximately eight times the size of the current San Ysidro basin.
Although this is a sizable win, there is much more to be accomplished. PCR has already begun work studying all five watersheds above Montecito. PCR is committed to getting this job completed and making Montecito safe. Please contact curtis@renewSB.org to contribute to this vital project.
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