Can channeling water away prevent hill slide? Or what's best option? (installing, pipe)

[rhbj03]

Debated whether to post this in garden forum, but thought here may be more appropriate.

Days ago Big Sur experienced a massive hill slide (see pic). I kind of have the same problem and hope to get some advice on prevention.

I have a vacation house that sits on top of a 150' hill. The surrounding is very similar to what you see in the Big Sur picture -- soil covered with brush vegetation -- except my hill is a bit less steep (about 40 degree rise). Still, the hill has been slowly eroding over the years; the last slide in the neighborhood was about 30 years ago and 5' of the hill slid down. I would like to reduce and minimize the chance of my hill's erosion.

If I channel rain water from the hill, can this reduce the chance of hill slide? I am thinking about paving over the flat hill top, and some part of the hill face, to reduce rain water penetration into soil, and build a few gutters to channel water away.

I see many homeowners whose houses are right at the edge of the cliff, then they put plastic tarp over the hill side to try to do the same (channel water away). I don't want to wait until that critical stage to try to do something about it.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by rhbj03

I have a vacation house that sits on top of a 150' hill.
I would like to reduce and minimize the chance of my hill's erosion.

If I channel rain water from the hill, can this reduce the chance of hill slide?

Terraced retention walls with aggregate filled trench and perforated pipe directing the water away.
The terraces can be cultivated or landscaped for family use.

The question remains though of WHERE the drained water would be directed to.
I'm sure the County will have something to say on the point.

Do it well and you could start a vineyard.
Actually, it might be easier to get County approval by calling it prep work for a vineyard.
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[QIS]

Get a hold of a geotechnical engineer (you may want more than one opinion) for a full evaluation and recommendations. The soil type and the composition of the materials below the surface are critical to consider before your proceed- you don't want to make it worse or make unnecessary expenditures of time or money.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Vegetation will always be the best. The problem that Cali is experiencing is coming out of the major drought that killed a lot of vegetation, and made loose soil looser because of a lack of moisture.

There are specific types of vegetation that work better than others- those specifically with wide and deep root systems. But, there are other considerations to ponder- native plants, especially those that are drought tolerant.

The problem with controlling runoff is you will have to concentrate it at some point- which causes erosion. Installing retaining walls requires moving earth- loosing loose soil even more.

The least evasive will always be the "right solution"- it's just picking the right one.