Tense moments in Mosquito Flats neighborhood as slope slumps, tipping huge trees over homes

There were some tense moments Tuesday night in the Mosquito Flats neighborhood after a steep slope slumped, tipping several large trees precariously over homes on Second Avenue East. 

Residents David and Lesli Nadel said the dogs were barking so they looked out back of their home and saw the steep slope above their house starting to slide, with the roots of trees exposed. 

They alerted neighbors who called City of Columbia Falls officials, as a big chunk of the slope is actually platted as a city alley, though it’s at least 45-degrees steep. 

The city responded quickly, bringing in an arborist, J.D. Thinning, to remove the trees, huge Douglas firs, by cutting them and hauling them delicately out of the area with a large crane. 

The Nadels, like many of their neighbors, evacuated their home just in case. The said they took their camper for the night to the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

City manager Susan Nicosia said a ¾-inch service line to a home was leaking, further contributing to sandy soils that were already saturated by recent rains.  

“The city immediately called in the needed resources, city crews and contractors, to remove and mitigate the immediate threat to public safety and repaired the water service line. The city is now in the process of assessing, mitigating, and removing the trees and debris due to the slope giving way,” Nicosia said in an email to the Hungry Horse News. “Looks like it was a perfect storm with water, soil conditions, slope, and the types of trees. I am very proud of the city’s immediate response to the emergency incident and appreciate the cooperation of the adjacent homeowners that had to be evacuated and as well as those that were without water service for approximately 30 hours.” 

The city also discovered that a larger main water line wasn’t leaking, Nicosia said. 

“After the completion of a thorough investigation, we know that the 6-inch water main does not have a leak in that area. There were two leaks in the service line, a split several inches long as well as a nickel-sized hole. The water pressure in that area is about 80 psi so the leaks would’ve generated substantial water. The bank is still damp and wet, but not running water, it will take warm weather to dry it out.” 

But we’re not expected to get warm weather in the coming days. If anything, heavy rains could be falling Monday and Tuesday the National Weather Service is predicting. 

Neighbors of the Nadels said they have concerns about two large cottonwood trees that may be compromised by the slope, as dirt is pushed up against them and one has a crack in its trunk. 

Those trees, however, are on private property.