A heavy flow of mud and debris came pummeling down Loop Rd. into Vista Blvd. on Saturday.This area of Sparks tends to frequently fill with rain water when storms roll through.
"We get a storm in just the right spot, we can get some erosion and debris flow down on the roads,” says Andy Hummel, Utility Manager with the City of Sparks.
Hummel says this isn’t an uncommon theme on the eastern side of Sparks. When this particular area gets slammed with rain in a short period of time, the hillside loses its ability to absorb the water.
“There's really nothing that the soil can do to soak that up, it runs off quickly, carries any debris, mud, whatever it picks up as it goes,” says Hummel.
By the time this happens, it's too late for drivers, who now have to take it slow and be aware of flash flooding dangers. Hummel says the city is looking into possibilities to mitigate these problems in the future.
“We have done some improvements just last year in our own maintenance yard that really seem to hold up well," says Hummel. “Can we expand on that in the areas next to it to help out even more?"
Until then it'll be a two-pronged approach for Sparks officials to keep the Vista area flash flood free. Hummel says this begins with public outreach to residents of the area and then finishing with a quick response and cleanup efforts when flooding happens.
“You can't have every street corner with a loader ready to go, so wherever that's hitting, is where we act,” says Hummel.
Areas with burn scars are also highly susceptible to flash flooding. Any driver who comes across fast moving water on a roadway should find an alternate route.
