Concrete Slabs Pile Up in Santa Monica Channel During Storm

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Chunks of crumbling concrete were spotted strewn along the Santa Monica Channel during this week's storms, raising concerns about the channel's capacity. LA City Councilwoman Traci Park said the concrete material is from a layer installed in the 1970s that has since peeled away, reducing the channel's capacity by about 15%. Park assured residents the channel can still handle the storm flows, and city crews will remove the slabs once the storm passes.

Why it matters

The buildup of concrete debris in the Santa Monica Channel is a concern, as it could potentially impact the channel's ability to handle heavy storm flows and lead to flooding issues in the area. The situation highlights the need for ongoing maintenance and monitoring of critical infrastructure like flood control channels.

The details

According to Councilwoman Park, LA County Public Works field engineers have identified the concrete material as a layer installed in the 1970s that has since peeled away and accumulated in the channel. While the debris has reduced the channel's capacity by about 15%, Park said it will still be able to handle the current storm flows. City crews will not be able to remove the slabs until after the storm passes, but the channel remains under close watch in the meantime.

• This week's storms brought the concrete debris to light on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
• The worst of the rain had passed by Wednesday, February 19, 2026, but more showers were expected on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

What’s next

City crews will remove the concrete slabs from the Santa Monica Channel once the current storm has passed.