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<br /> <br />Mitigation <br /> <br />The best way of dealing 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 like Ii hood and <br />severity of rockfall damage. Some methods are removing <br />unstable rocks, securing rocks to the slope so they <br />wi II 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 lives, but wi I I not protect property. <br /> <br />Land Use <br /> <br />The most appropriate land use in rockfall hazard areas Is <br />open space. land development beneath or within rockfaJ I <br />areas shou~d include evaluation of the hazards during the <br />planning stage 50 structures can be located where rockfal I <br />damage .Is minimized. Unstable rocks can be removed or <br />stab II' zed at cons i derab I e cost. I n many cases per I ad i crock <br />remova I I s necessary. <br /> <br />Case History <br /> <br />Two large rock masses loom precariously on the mountainside <br />above the town of Silver Plume. One Imperils 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. I~itigation measures could include <br />moving objects in their paths or del iberately initiating the <br />fal Is to avoid loss of life. The town has been notified of <br />the hazards and is contemplating the solutions. <br /> <br />Case History <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 simi lar Incidents at that <br />site In the Immediate future. The Incident could have been <br />prevented eas II y in the subd i vis ion deve I opment stage but It <br />was not recognized. <br /> <br />33 <br />