Benton Mine Access Road

In early February 2015, a significant rain storm passed over the area.  Flooding resulted which transported sediment in most streams.  Sediment and debris plugged nearly every culvert on this road which accesses the old Benton Mine.  Stream flow was diverted down the ditchline and over the road surface.  The road was insloped and had an outboard berm (MSHA ordered for safety).  The road's running surface is/was mine tailings layered over the years.  The diverted streams concentrated their flows on the road and cut down through the mine tailings.  At about half a dozen locations the diverted streams exited the road and washed downhill into Drain Creek.  Drain Creek is a high gradient, high energy stream which transported all of the mine tailings / road material down river.  Virtually none of the road/tailing material was left in Drain Creek.  Drain Creek reaches Whiskey Creek in short order which in turn drains into the Rogue River.

The pictures are taken beginning at the upper-most culvert failure and continue downhill/downstream/downroad over approximately half a mile.