Laserfiche WebLink
Memo to Berry/Boulay <br />Jumbo Mountain Landeliding <br />page 2 <br />Dames and Moore further observed; "There is no evidence of current <br />instability on the lower, bench portion of the landslide. In fact, <br />the lack of any surface evidence of past movement indicates that <br />this area has been stable for a long period. Scarps up to 12 feet <br />high are present in the upper, steeper south part of the landslide <br />mass as shown on figure 1. These scarps indicate recent movement. <br />The largest of these scarps are evident on both 1974 and 1992 <br />aerial photographs. This indicates that sliding is occurring <br />slowly - probably less than one foot per year of overall downslope <br />movement." My examination of the recent cracking and landslide <br />movement which has occurred does not refute any of Dames and <br />Moore's conclusions. <br />Examination of 1996 Landslide Deposits <br />Approximately 30 to 50 acres of the SW1/4 of Section 24 has been <br />affected by recent landsliding. Mr. Mautz reports that minor <br />cracking was noted by his ranch hands on the roads within the <br />affected area in the fall of 1995, followed by extensive <br />landsliding in May / June of 1996. This is in keeping with my <br />observations of annual spring/summer landsliding in the North Fork <br />Valley over the past 17 years. Cracks and graben-like (steep-sided <br />trapezoidal) extensional troughs up to ten feet wide and five feet <br />deep were examined in several locations towards the middle to lower <br />portions of the landslide deposit. The more common features are <br />cracks 3 to 12 inches in width. Cracks can be traced for lengths <br />in excess of 100 feet. Most cracks evidence translational offsets <br />indicative of downslope and lateral movements. Cracks occur along <br />contour, parallel to the fall line, and at random orientation. No <br />discrete conclusions could be made about the actual depth of the <br />basal failure plane of the landslide mass(es). The features I <br />observed are typical of large landslide masses in the Williams Fork <br />formation. These landslides occur prolifically throughout the <br />North Fork Valley on slopes of varying gradient and aspect. The <br />largest and most notorious active landslide in the area is the <br />Muddy Creek Landslide, east of Paonia Reservoir. <br />The immediate area of the rejuvenated landslide movement is grossly <br />headed by the large (up to 50' vertical relief) headscarp mapped by <br />Dames and Moore in their 1993 report. The active landslide mass <br />appears to be approximately 1,600 in length between approximately <br />the 7450-foot and 7150-foot elevation contours. While numerous <br />extensional cracks were examined, I did not discern a major <br />compressional zone, but our logistics did not allow me to examine <br />the lower third of the landslide where I would expect compressional <br />features to predominate. Norm Every of MCC, who has examined this <br />area recently, did not recollect a significant compressional or <br />overrun area. Translation of the sliding debris can be <br />