Rockfall in Arroyo Seco Canyon, Monterey County, California

A small rockfall along a road in Arroyo Seco Canyon (Monterey County). Many similar small rockfalls occurred along roads and trails during and after a short, but intense, rainstorm in the Ventana Wilderness region of the coastal Santa Lucia Range. Some rockfalls are initiated when plant roots expand and dislodge rocks during winter rains come after a long, dry summer season. Also, flowing water, change the balance and stability of loose rock and soil by the addition of the weight of rainwater, and possibly other factors induce rockfalls and landslides after storms.

The URL of this page is http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/landslide/big/1.htm