Mudslide – La Conchita, CA. The Problem 4 placemark takes you to an ENE view of a steep, seaward-sloping face behind the flat, coastal sea terrace on which people have built homes. The placemark is positioned on the most recent, active mudslide, which is the infamous La Conchita mudslide. Why do you think this mudslide occurred? Choose one: A. The weight from numerous homes on the slope caused it to be unstable. B. Water from septic fields and sprinkler systems from homes above the slope lubricated the underlying rock layers. C. The exposed granite cliff experienced a major rockfall, leading to the collapse of the slope. D. Heavy rainfall saturated the soil and destabilized the over-steepened slope.

Mud slide or mud flow is a form of mass wasting in which slope moves downward due to instability of the materials. They usually influenced by the effect of gravity on steep slopes.

Prior to the mass moving event on the in the county, there was an unprecedented 14-15days streak of rainfall.
The rain saturated and lubricated the soil bringing a reduction in their cohesion and ultimate movement.
This led to the sliding down of the masses on the slope.