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<br />Mitigation <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />The best way of deal ing with rockfalls is to stay out of <br />areas where rockfalls are naturally prevalent. If highways <br />or other activities put people In rockfal I areas, expensive <br />methods can be ut i I i zed to decrease the II ke I i hood and <br />severity of rockfall damage. Some methods are removing <br />unstable rocks, securing rocks to the slope so they <br />wi 11 not fall and sheltering the Improvements with earthen <br />berms, fences, or other structural protection. In some <br />instances of existing development, monitoring devices can be <br />Installed to warn approaching traffic of a rockfall. This <br />measure could save I ives, but wi 11 not protect property. <br /> <br />Land Use <br /> <br />The most appropr i ate I and use in rockfa II hazard areas is <br />open space. land development beneath or within rockfall <br />areas should include evaluation of the hazards during the <br />planning stage so structure5 can be located where rockfal I <br />damage is minimized. Unstable rocks can be removed or <br />stab! I Ized at considerable cost. In many cases periodic rock <br />removal is necessary. <br /> <br />Case History <br /> <br />Two large rock masses loom precariously on the mountainside <br />above the town of SI \ver Pluma. One Imperi 15 the post <br />office; the other a saloon; and anyone or anything in their <br />path. Natura I processes are at work and eventua II y both of <br />the rock slabs wi II fall. 1~ltlgation measures could Include <br />moving objects in their paths or del iberately initiating the <br />falls to avoid 1055 of I ife. The town has been notified of <br />the hazards and is contemplating the solutions. <br /> <br />Case History <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />In MarCh, 1974, a boulder the size of a small car hurtled <br />down the steep west side of the Lyons hogback in Jefferson <br />County. It bounced into a new subdivision and stopped after <br />penetrating a wall in the back of an expensive home. No one <br />was injured. Property damage was about $10,000, including <br />the cost of measures to prevent s I mil ar i nc I dents at that <br />site In the immediate future. The incident eQuId have been <br />prevented easily in the subdivision development stage but it <br />was not recognized. <br /> <br />33 <br />