Workers on Tuesday began building a berm in the Oso mudslide debris field. The temporary wall of rock and dirt, which will be approximately 2,000 feet long, will drain the water from the area around C-Post Road and Highway 530, allowing search and rescue teams to access previously flooded areas.
The end of the berm, starting on a portion of C-Post Road and jutting out into flood waters east of the Oso mudslide. The berm, which is only a temporary structure, is nearly 600 feet into its expected 2,000-foot total length when completed.
A truck dumps rock at the end of the berm on Wednesday morning. The berm will allow rescuers to pump flood waters out of the search area.
A rubber ball sits in flood waters along C-Post Road Wednesday morning. The terrain is unpredictable because of all the assorted slide material that’s come in.
Flood waters cover the path of C-Post Road during construction of the berm. A team of contractors is working with eight members of the Army Corps of Engineers.
Snohomish County Public Works Director Owen Carter talks about the construction of the berm. Dogs had been leading searchers to the area, but floodwater made it inaccessible, prompting the construction of the berm.
Michael Peele, standing on the right, is a civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers. He is working as the flood team lead in the construction of the berm.
A truck dumps rock at the end of the berm. Amphibious excavator vehicles were also there widening channels.
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