Concrete Flume

From 1939-1940, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began multiple projects along and in Sausal Creek. These projects were with a goal of controlling and subduing the creek's flow. They built this concrete "flume" that runs down the hillside and stops right above the creek where you can also see a stormwater drain cover. This flume is an attempt to control erosion water pouring over the above hillside from a parking lot, as well as several houses and streets. All of these surfaces sheet off rainwater rather than allowing it to seep naturally into the soil and add to the creek flow more slowly. The flume directs water as if it were itself a small creek feeding into the larger creek. Unfortunately, this adds to the creeks overall flow quickly, and causes flooding rather than preventing it.