Portable camera monitors creek levels during recent storm

For the first time, the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department of Transportation placed a portable camera at a creek and captured live footage of the activity during the recent storm.

The camera was hidden on a bridge at San Ysidro Creek on San Leandro Lane, which was hit hard by the Jan. 9 mudslide.

The decision to monitor the creeks during storms came in the wake of the tragedy.

“We want to be able to get out there and do assessments and get our maintenance crews out there as soon as we can to respond to these kinds of storms and events,” said deputy director Chris Sneddon.

The camera allowed crews to see what was happening in real time and make decisions based on creek levels and flow.

“It’s important to know where your water levels are at and if the water is staying in the creeks, what it’s bringing down with it,” said Sneddon. “Is it flowing clear, is there debris in it?”

The county’s flood control division already has fixed cameras at various locations, typically mounted at debris basins.

Sneddon said the portable camera can be placed strategically at creeks which may need close monitoring.

“It worked really well and we have a plan to put it strategically where we need to and perhaps get more, if more are warranted,” he said.