Slipout in Samoa, Sinkhole Update + Landslide & Erosion Causes Explained

The recent weeks have seen slipouts, like the one seen here in Samoa, the loss of Fleener Creek’s parking lot and trailhead due to an ongoing landslide, and the emergence of sinkholes in Humboldt County.

Viewers reached out to Redwood News about one at College of the Redwoods, and another at the Sequoia Park duck pond.

Construction began Monday to fix the hole at College of the Redwoods.  The road under which the sinkhole appeared is still closed, and several large pieces of construction equipment including bulldozers are on-site.

Over the weekend, further erosion occurred at the parking area across from Fairhaven in Samoa. Two surfers complained that it would reduce parking in the area. Other folks weren’t surprised and were soaking up the sun jagged asphalt edges and all.

“It does this every year,” says Phineus, an avid beachgoer in Samoa, “but it but it started to get worse. Like as someone who’s lived here for 30 years. Every year it’s the most it’s ever been.” 

Coastal erosion is commonly caused by a combination of high winds and heavy rainfall, making the windy weekend we had after last week’s rainfall the perfect conditions for the erosion at Samoa beach.

Sinkholes are different, though, as these are usually caused by ground water, like the one at College of the Redwoods, thought to be the result of a crack or leak in a storm drainage pipe.

The ongoing landslides at Fleener Creek in Humboldt County and Last Chance Grade in Del Norte County are caused by saturated levels of topsoil after heavy rains. This leads to an unstable top layer which slides down the hill creating a flow of mud and debris.  Areas recently affected by wildfires are also at an increased risk of mudslides.