Sustainable Debris Basins for Post-Fire Protection

Debris basins are often a component of flood control systems in areas that experience flooding, debris flow, and wildfires. Debris basins protect drainage systems and communities in the watershed. This protection is the key benefit of debris basins and has saved thousands of lives throughout the world. Billions of dollars in property damage has been prevented due to the design and construction of these basins throughout the world. Debris basins have a significant impact on the ecosystems where they are placed. The removal of sediment degrades streams below the basin, depletes beaches by removing sediment supply, prevents fish passage, and acts as a barrier for recreation and animal interactions within canyons. Sediment removal costs are also a long-term maintenance concern for many basins in highly urbanized areas. Finding the balance between protection of life and property, the environment, and other beneficial uses of the stream and canyon systems requires further evaluation of the design and placement of debris basins within the natural environment. This paper discusses the need for the basins, historic debris basin configurations, recent advances in basin designs, and the potential benefits to be gained.