Burned Areas Reseeded to Prevent Mudslides

Santa Barbara County officials have begun work to prevent floods and mudslides that could occur as a result of the recently contained Gaviota wildfire.

The fire scorched 7,400 acres, denuding hillsides of vegetation and making the area more vulnerable to erosion during heavy rainfall.

Some of the areas that were burned will be reseeded in hopes of growing enough plant life to prevent mudslides.

But not on California State Park land, where about one-quarter of the fire took place. There, officials will wait for fast-growing native grasses to recover on their own.

“If we have some good coastal fog, we should see some plants coming back in the next few months,” said ecologist Virginia Gardner.