In 1983, Big Sur experienced one of the wettest years on record with 88.85 inches (2,257 mm) of rain.
Up to this time, McWay Falls fell directly into the ocean.
The huge rainfall resulted in several landslides and mudflows, including an extremely large mudslide immediately north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on March 1.
The mudflow entered the ocean immediately to the north of the falls, and Highway 1 was closed for a year while the road was repaired.
Reconstruction deposited nearly 3,000,000 cubic yards (2,300,000 cubic metres) of landslide material on the coast, at the base of the slope.
Wave action then transported some of the debris south to McWay Cove, forming a sandy beach beneath the falls where none had previously existed.
Loose material from the slope beneath the road is still contributing sand to the coastal system.
McWay Falls now meets the ocean only when the tide is in, but over time, the beach may wear away so that the falls drop directly into the ocean again.
In 1983, Big Sur experienced one of the wettest years on record with 88.85 inches (2,257 mm) of rain. Up to this time, McWay Falls fell directly into the ocean. The huge rainfall resulted in several landslides and mudflows, including an extremely large mudslide immediately north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on March 1. The mudflow entered the ocean immediately to the north of the falls, and Highway 1 was closed for a year while the road was repaired. Reconstruction deposited nearly 3,000,000 cubic yards (2,300,000 cubic metres) of landslide material on the coast, at the base of the slope. Wave action then transported some of the debris south to McWay Cove, forming a sandy beach beneath the falls where none had previously existed. Loose material from the slope beneath the road is still contributing sand to the coastal system. McWay Falls now meets the ocean only when the tide is in, but over time, the beach may wear away so that the falls drop directly into the ocean again.
McWay Falls