Storm Aftermath: Tree Fell on Chautauqua, Sand Covered Bike Path, & Crew Assessed Channel Blockage

A tree fell across Chautauqua due to the recent storms. Photo: Courtesy of Sharon Kilbride

Chautauqua closed on Feb. 18. Photo: Courtesy of Sharon Kilbride

By Laurel Busby

News & Information Editor

The series of storms that began Sunday have knocked down a tree on Chautauqua, buried parts of the bike path in sand, and sent a slew of concrete slabs down the Santa Monica Canyon Channel.

Chautauqua was closed to traffic in both directions this morning due to the tree that fell at Vance Street, according to Sharon Kilbride, a Boca resident and The Canyon Alliance board member. By noon, the tree had been cut into pieces that were waiting for pickup, but the road remained closed.

On the bike path along Will Rogers Beach, sand covered stretches near the base of the Canyon, which Kilbride, the Canyon representative to the Pacific Palisades Community Council, reported to the county for cleanup.

Since the rain had stopped, a crew also came to assess the blockage caused by pieces of concrete overlay that broke apart like a giant jigsaw puzzle and rushed down the Santa Monica Canyon Channel on Monday. (See previous Canyon News article here.)

Doug Suisman, alsoa Boca resident and Alliance board member, talked with a seven-person, five-vehicle team of crew and engineers from L.A. County Public Works that arrived this morning to assess the damage and develop a plan for removal and repair.

“They will walk channel to survey and determine best approach,” Suisman said. The '“project will likely take place over weeks/months.”

Windy weather has been forecast for today followed by another storm Thursday morning.

The fallen tree along Chautauqua cut into pieces. Photo: Courtesy of Sharon Kilbride

The concrete blockage of Santa Monica Canyon Channel. Photo: Courtesy of Chad Billmyer

A channel full of concrete. Photo: Courtesy of Chad Billmyer

Part of the L.A. County Public Works team that came to assess the concrete slab blockage this morning. Photo: Courtesy of Doug Suisman

Sand covered the bike path on Will Rogers Beach. Photo: Courtesy of Sharon Kilbride