Chunks of Concrete Fall Off Santa Monica Channel During Storm

Debris won't be moved until the storm ends, county workers say

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Large pieces of concrete fell off the Santa Monica channel during a recent storm, with residents reporting the sound of "a freight train" as the rushing water pulled the cement from the sides of the channel. County Public Works says the debris cannot be removed until the rain stops, and the channel capacity has been reduced by 15%. Local officials are concerned about the structural integrity of the channel and the ongoing issues with how channels are used to move water and debris.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure like flood control channels, especially during extreme weather events. There are concerns about the structural integrity of the Santa Monica channel and the broader issues around how these channels are designed and used to manage water and debris flows.

The details

The chunks of concrete that fell off the Santa Monica channel are pieces of overlay laid in the 1970s. County Public Works says the debris cannot be removed until the rain stops, as the channel capacity has been reduced by 15%. Local Councilwoman Traci Park has asked residents to stay away from the channels during the next storm, and engineers plan to closely inspect the walls of the channel as soon as the rain is over.

  • The incident occurred during the recent rainstorm in the area.

The players

Traci Park

A local councilperson who has been working with county officials and residents on the issue.

David Levine

A resident whose house is located next to the Santa Monica channel and who has never seen anything like this before.

County Public Works

The local government agency responsible for maintaining the Santa Monica channel and other flood control infrastructure.

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What they’re saying

“It sounded like a freight train”

— Local residents

“The channel capacity has been reduced by 15%”

— Traci Park, Councilperson

“My house is right next to it, and I've never seen anything like this!”

— David Levine, Resident

“We need to come up with a better solution. We have been speaking about this for years. It's not only a matter of pollution, it's a matter of safety and we need to start dealing with it now”

— Traci Park, Councilperson

What’s next

Engineers plan to closely inspect the walls of the Santa Monica channel as soon as the rain stops, to assess the structural integrity of the channel.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure like flood control channels, especially during extreme weather events. It raises concerns about the structural integrity of the Santa Monica channel and the broader issues around how these channels are designed and used to manage water and debris flows, which local officials have been discussing for years.