Rancho Palos Verdes updates Portuguese Bend response as FEMA funding advances and monitoring shows post‑storm uptick in movement

Rancho Palos Verdes city staff told the City Council on Feb. 3 that recent winter storms and monitoring data have produced a measurable uptick in landslide movement and that ongoing dewatering and repair work remain essential to stabilizing the slope.

City geologist Mike Fipp said instruments and GPS monitoring show an average movement‑rate increase of about 14 percent across the slide during the most recent monitoring period, with Abalone Cove up about 18 percent and Portuguese Bend about 20 percent. Staff said those increases followed an unusually wet early season (November–December), during which the peninsula received about 8½ inches of rain that recharged near‑surface systems and produced an immediate response in some monitoring locations.

The city and the local dewatering operators (identified in staff briefings as ACLAD and KCLAD) reported that dewatering and winterization work is substantially complete. Ramsey, a city staff presenter, said the city’s pumping rates were temporarily reduced after three wells sheared; repairs began under contract the following day to restore pumping capacity. Staff emphasized that clusters of deep dewatering wells installed around Abalone Cove and along the toe of the slide show localized reductions in movement where they operate.

“Those heat‑map comparisons show the greatest decreases in movement immediately around the ACLAD deep dewatering wells,” Ramsey said. City and consultant presenters said the dewatering program is demonstrating effectiveness but must be maintained and adjusted as instruments and rainfall conditions change.

FEMA buyouts and additional assistance

Council also received an update on the city’s federal buyout applications. Community development staff said the first HMGP subapplication (for the 2022–23 rain events) sought funding to acquire and demolish 22 properties under a program with a total program estimate of about $56.04 million. That application had advanced to Cal OES review and staff said Cal OES planned to forward a funding recommendation to FEMA.

On a separate second‑round subapplication on a wait list (a rolling application tied to DR 4769, the 2023–24 rain events), Cal OES informed the city that $13.5 million in program funding is now available with a $10.16 million FEMA match; staff estimated that amount would fund roughly five buyout acquisitions from the city’s second‑round list. City staff said they will amend the subapplications and submit revised materials to meet a Feb. 17 deadline and will pursue additional federal rolls-of-funds to close the gap between the available awards and the city’s initial request.

Financial status and grants

Finance staff reviewed the landslide program budget (October 2022–June 2026) and the current fiscal year spending and encumbrances. The overall landslide program budget remains about $64.4 million. For the current fiscal year, the city reported revenues and transfers received to date and noted $447,000 in recent FEMA reimbursements tied to emergency protective measures and debris removal; other FEMA requests and appeals remain outstanding.

Loans made to local dewatering operators also were summarized: the ACLAD loan of approximately $1.66 million and the KCLAD loan (about $1.9 million) have been used primarily for well drilling, pumps and maintenance, staff said.

Council actions and public comment

During public comment, resident Nikki Nishkum urged the city to present vertical‑settlement (subsidence) monitoring alongside lateral movement graphs and asked whether permanent powering of dewatering wells (instead of generators) can be completed this year. Staff said they track vertical movement but that vertical measurements carry a larger margin of survey error and that they will present vertical‑displacement data in future updates. Staff also said permanent power work requires environmental and historic reviews as part of grant processes and that Southern California Edison is cooperating on concept plans.

On motions, council unanimously adopted motions to receive and file the landslide report, to direct certain federal funds into the CIP as applicable, to continue short‑term restrictions on two‑wheeled vehicles in affected areas for 60 days, and to extend local emergency declarations tied to the landslide response. Council also directed staff to include vertical‑displacement reporting in future updates and to examine whether watering at Ladera Linda (Mira Linda) playfields could be restored safely for community use.

Why it matters

The landslide affects neighborhoods, roadways and utilities in the Portuguese Bend/Abalone Cove area and has required an ongoing program of monitoring, dewatering, emergency repairs and property acquisitions. The updated FEMA funding and continued technical monitoring shape next steps for buyouts, long‑term mitigation and near‑term response. The council’s unanimous direction to pursue FEMA funding and to continue well repairs reflects the city’s dual track of short‑term stabilization and longer‑term acquisition and removal of at‑risk structures.

Next steps

Staff will submit revised FEMA subapplications by Feb. 17, continue scheduled well repairs to restore pumping rates, maintain dewatering operations and return to the council with vertical‑displacement data and any recommendations on restoring park irrigation at Ladera Linda.