Water Hazards : Rain Storms Cause Flooding, Create Potholes on County Roads

Into everyone’s life a little rain must fall. Such was the case in March when more than 9 inches deluged parts of North County.

There are several city and county roads, especially near lagoons and creeks, that routinely flood during rain storms. The other calling card left by all that water: potholes.

Where are the most common flooding spots in North County?

Much of the flooding that occurs consistently with almost every storm happens on county roads.

Camino Del Norte just east of Rancho Santa Fe Road, De Luz Road in Fallbrook and La Bajada where Encinitas Boulevard changes to La Bajada in Rancho Santa Fe are all heavily flooded streets during a storm, said Glen Fletcher, assistant division superintendent for the county’s public works department.

Water collects in dips, shallow cement gullies where the road crosses a creek or river, said Fletcher. The dips on La Bajada and Camino Del Norte fill with water that comes from Escondido’s flood channels before heading out to sea.

Flooding in Carlsbad generally occurs on roads that cross lagoons or are next to them, said Ralph Anderson, utilities and maintenance director for the city. Common flood areas include La Costa Avenue east of I-5 when Batiquitos Lagoon gets too deep and Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad and Oceanside when Buena Vista Lagoon gets too deep.

In the older section of Carlsbad, on Elm Street, where there are few underground storm drains, heavy water flow presents problems to some businesses, Anderson said. When a storm coincides with a high tide, there are several problem areas on Carlsbad Boulevard north of the Encina Power Plant, Anderson said.

In Del Mar, street flooding is relatively minor and rarely warrants a street closure, said Richard Andrews, director of public works for the city. Although standing water does not effect the travel lanes, in the flattest section of town, between 24th and 26 Streets on Camino Del Mar, water puddles in the road and standing water in the bike lane is typical, he said.

What’s done to control flooding?

The only real way to deal with flooding is to close the road and wait until the water recedes, said Bernardo Garcia, field maintenance manager for the San Diego County Public Works Department.

“We monitor very closely and when it gets to the point where it isn’t safe for small vehicles to go over, we close the road,” said Glen Fletcher. “When the water recedes, we reopen. I think during the storm (in March) we closed both La Bajada and Camino Del Norte for three days,” he said, adding that alternative routes were provided.

When it closes a road, the department reports the closure to the radio stations so they can alert the public.

In Carlsbad, where there is flooding near lagoons, the city opens up the mouth of the lagoon by removing the cobble or river stones that accumulate. This promotes drainage, said Ralph Anderson.

To quell the flooding in business sections, sandbags and other diversion methods are used, Anderson said. A project for underground storm drains along Elm Street is about a year from completion, he said.

Also, a capital project is pending to build a three-foot high seawall along the section of Carlsbad Boulevard near the Encina Power Plant to help protect the roadway from surf damage and drifting sand, Anderson said.

To keep storm drains flowing, maintenance crews also try to keep drain grates free of debris.

Is there a fine or penalty for driving through a flooded area?

Apparently there is a little Evel Knievel in a lot of us. During the March storms, there were at least four rescues along the Escondido Creek, all caused by motorists who thought they could make it across the four-foot deep flood zone, even in those areas that were barricaded.

Even if you are lucky enough to make it through without flooding out, you may not be lucky enough to dodge the law. If you get caught going through a closed, flooded area, you could face a fine of $200.

What is a pothole and what causes them?

Potholes are those annoying craters you find in the road, usually when you are driving over the speed limit and drinking a cup of coffee. Besides their ability to ram your kneecaps up into your skull, potholes can cause significant damage to your car, like tire blowouts and broken axles.

The two greatest factors that makeup a pothole are weight and weather, said Tom Nipper, a spokesman for the California Department of Transportation. Severe moisture, such as rain, softens the asphalt and the weight of traffic deteriorates the soft area even further until holes form.

The March rains left behind several of these potential land mines and city and county street crews are scrambling to fill them in.

How are potholes repaired?

Usually, all road maintenance is done through the public works departments of each city. Every city in North County has its own road repair schedule and multiple tasks that need to get done, but most public works directors agree they try to deal with severe pothole problems within a 48-hour period.

Potholes can be repaired two ways. For a temporary fix, workers can use what is called a “cold mix,” a black asphalt/concrete concoction that can be applied cold and is durable enough to last until a permanent patch can be laid.

A permanent patch consists of the same black asphalt mixture and is applied warm with a spreader. According to the road gurus, this pothole patch should last the life of the road.

Where do I report a pothole?

Potholes and other unsafe road conditions can be reported to the different cities’ street maintenance divisions. The numbers are:

Carlsbad: 438-7753

Del Mar: 755-3294

Encinitas: 944-3375

Escondido: 741-4668

Oceanside: 966-4508

Poway: 748-6600

San Marcos: 744-9240

Solana Beach: 755-2998

Vista: 726-7944

If the road is in San Diego County jurisdiction, call the county’s Public Works’ North County division headquarters in San Marcos at 744-0606. They can either take the report or connect you with the appropriate road station.