Could Oregon experience mudslides like California? The slide area in California was created after a wildfire burned off vegetation. But it's a different situation with the Eagle Creek burn area in the Columbia River Gorge. A major slide likely won't happen there for years, according to Portland State University geologist Scott Burns. He says the hills in California had small trees with shallow roots. However, the gorge has larger trees with much deeper roots. Even though the trees burned away, their roots will stay intact for the next four or five years and help keep the slopes stable.