Hold That Silt: CCC's Battle Against Erosion in Santa Barbara, 1930s

This silent film documents the Civilian Conservation Corps' (CCC) efforts to combat soil erosion in the Los Padres National Forest near Santa Barbara, California. Reel 1 paints a picture of the area's natural beauty and infrastructure, including panoramic city views, mission buildings, and the city's water management systems, before showing the destructive impact of a 1933 forest fire and subsequent siltation of the reservoir due to rain. CCC members are seen implementing soil conservation measures by sowing mustard grass. Reel 2 focuses on the construction of check dams to manage silt flow, detailing the process from excavation and dynamiting to the setting of steel forms and pouring of concrete, highlighting the CCC's role in environmental preservation.