What is the plan for protecting against mudslides and erosion?
• We are continuing to work with specialists and engineers to determine the best and most appropriate plan to protect against mudslides and erosion following the fire. • The use of grass seed to rapidly create a layer of live material in denuded soils has been used in other areas for many years. Reseeding, also known as “hydroseeding” (because they use a mixture of water and seeds to spread the seeds) works well along new highways, cityscapes and landslide-prone areas. • In natural areas, and specifically on Catalina Island, reseeding is not appropriate. First, the dry season is just beginning. Sowing seeds on a denuded landscape will expose the seeds to wind and drift and they will not germinate. After the rains begin, there is also the chance that seed will be carried down by runoff and concentrate in the gullies and riparian areas, where they may actually cause blockages. It is commonly accepted that under these conditions reseeding is not effective. • Additionally, non-native seeds
