Draper neighborhood again hit by mudslide

DRAPER — The same area hit by a mudslide Wednesday was slammed Saturday afternoon when two storm cells in a row dumped rain on the fragile, saturated soil of Corner Canyon.

"It was just like a train coming out of the trees," said homeowner Frank Maylett, whose immaculate backyard was torn up by the pair of floods. "A whole wall of water and rocks came flowing down the hill."

Saturday afternoon's mud and debris flow missed houses due to a flood-prevention canal and a "slippery slide" of rocks and plastic tarp created on-the-fly on the Maylett property.

"It was like the rocks were surfing on the water, just rolling and rolling," said Maylett.

The slide started about 4 p.m. and lasted an hour, throwing football-size rocks at aspen trees, witnesses said. The mud flow made its way through yards and between two houses before continuing down the Bear Mountain Drive. It left several inches of coffee-colored sludge all along the street, lawns and sidewalks.

"It's actually kind of sad, I think," said Lisa Brook, a Draper resident who volunteered Saturday, scraping mud and filling sandbags. "Someone started that fire and we're still realizing the negative consequences."

Brook was referring to a wildfire that hit the Corner Canyon foothills in summer 2008. When the fire burned away vegetation along the slope, the destabilized land created perfect conditions for a mudslide.

Hay bales and debris fences were put up in preparation for a disaster, said Draper spokeswoman Maridene Hancock, but they proved insufficient to hold up the heavy black dirt.

"I can't remember a June this wet," she said. "It's been hard-hitting, heavy storms every day. ... It's Mother Nature just showing us who's boss."

After the rain stopped about 7 p.m. Saturday, Draper's entire fleet of heavy trucks and tractors was on the hillside cleaning up the mess.

They were aided by Unified Fire Authority firefighters and about two dozen local volunteers.

"It was pretty tragic, but it's looking good now," said homeowner Chris Telesco after glancing at cleanup efforts on his street. "It's supposed to dry up next week. That will give us time to clean up."

Hancock said the city continues to monitor news and weather reports and will return to its emergency operations center on Sunday in case of more rain.

So far, Maylett has spent his own time and money on the "slippery slide" in his yard, he said. But the homeowner blames the city and U.S. Forest Service for failing to fix a water culvert pointed directly at his house.

"This is an inconvenience. This is a financial hit," said Maylett, denying that the slide was tragic. "If it dries out, it will be great and then we can fight with the city."

E-MAIL: rpalmer@desnews.com