FLOOD06541 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-.r"'\ ~(J-Y JOlIN D. VANDERHOOF ~~~~ Governor \...-\ . ~~~1!1~~ . ~P"" /~"',_ ~~ ..-_51~ .''', '..." ,. . .. . . JOHN W. ROLD Director COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 254 COLUMBI NE BUILDING - 1845 SHERMAN STREET DENVER, COLORADO 80203 PHONE 892.2611 July 23, 1973 MEMO TO: John W. Rold I I FROM: William P. Rogers SUBJECT: Field investigation of the Marble Ski Area Development -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION. There have been several press and other reports of land slide and mudflow events on or near the Ski Area property during the past few months and versions of these events varied greatly as to seriousness, location, and other details. One purpose of this investigation has been to evaluate these reports for our own reference as well as to advise the Colorado Land Use Commission in any future action they may consider regarding the ski area development. In ad- dition, our agency has been deeply involved over the past two years in defining geologic conditions and constraints of the area and trying to encourage safe and environmentally acceptable land use decisions. Since, according to our informa- tion, Marble Ski Area is currently undergoing a major change in management it seemed to be an especially appropriate time for a reappraisal of the physical conditions of major areas of existing or proposed construction activity. Five days were spent in field inspection of the site during the past 2 months. This included a briefing from the new management team, approximately one-half day showing salient features of the area to Mr. Andrews and Ms. Loft of the Land Use Commission professional staff, a day with a group including Mr. Clifford of the Region 10 planning staff, and 3 1/2 days of independent study. Previous work by us on the development site includes a total of 3 to 4 months of field and office time spent preparing our reconnaissance report of the area and sub- sequently in office studies and conference time with the developer and his con- sultants and with various interested agencies. EVALUATION OF RECENT EVENTS AT MARBLE. 1) "Mudslide" of May 14, 1973. Our office received a telephone report of this incident within an hour of its occurrence and I was on the site by the middle of the afternoon the same day. Because existing roads of the affected area are not as shown on the plats and no lot corner stakes could be found,'the precise location of the slide could not be determined, but the slide appears to have in- volved the lower part of Condominium lots #30 & 31 and a large portion of lot #53. Nature of the Slide The slide started in thick water-saturated colluvium upon which a road fill had GEOLOGY STORY OF THE PAST... KEY TO THE FUTURE