Landslide Photo Collections

Searchable USGS Photo and Multimedia Archive with Ordering Information

High-intensity short-duration rainfall produced debris flows in the late afternoon of July 11, 1999 in the community of Forest Falls. Forest Falls is located along the south side of a major canyon, Mill Creek Canyon, in the southeastern part of the San Bernardino Mountains, in California. Mill Creek Canyon is a very steep-walled canyon developed along the Mission Creek strand (

  • Mill Creek channel at Forest Falls. View looking downstream (west). (Photo by Doug Morton, U.S. Geological Survey).
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  • Snout of stabilized boulder debris flow on undeveloped part of the old debris flow surface. This snout is a characteristic feature of the distal end of debris flows (Photo by Doug Morton, U.S. Geological Survey).
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  • Debris flow-scarred yellow pine tree near crest of the debris flow levee where the debris flow(s) left the channel. Height of scarring is about 8 feet above debris flow surface; the elevation of the debris flow surface prior to July 11 was lower than the present surface (Photo by Doug Morton, U.S. Geological Survey).
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  • Destroyed home and buried car (partly visible in central part of left side of photo). (Photo by Doug Morton, U.S. Geological Survey).
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  • Destroyed cars in the medial part of the debris flow (Photo by Doug Morton, U.S. Geological Survey).
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  • View looking south up Spring Creek debris flow channel at the 400 bend in the channel. Fragments of trees in the foreground are located where the debris flow left (topped) the debris flow levee. Water following the debris flow(s) has modified the channel bottom. Yucaipa ridge is in the background. (Photo by Doug Morton, U.S. Geological Survey).
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  • Recently cleared access road into Forest Falls. Photo taken about 3PM, July 12, 1999. Debris flows covering the road came down Slide Creek to the left of the road. View is looking toward west. (Photo by Doug Morton, U.S. Geological Survey).
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  • Destroyed homes in area where debris flow(s) spread laterally, unconfined by channel walls. (Photo by Doug Morton, U.S. Geological Survey).
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