Landslides Along the Columbia River Valley Northeastern Washington

105 Pages·2010·18.14 MB·English

Landslides Along the
Columbia River Valley
Northeastern Washington
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 367
Landslides Along the
Columbia River Valley
Northeastern Washington
By FRED O. JONES, DANIEL R. EMBODY, and WARREN L. PETERSON
With a section on Seismic Surveys
By ROBERT M. HAZLEWOOD
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 367
Descriptions of landslides and statistical
analyses of data on some 2OO landslides in
Pleistocene sediments
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1961
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Thomas B. Nolan, Director
The U.S. 'Geological Survey Library has cataloged this publication as follows :
Jones, Fred Oscar, 1912-
Landslides along the Columbia River valley, northeastern
Washington, by Fred O. Jones, Daniel R. Embody, and
Warren L. Peterson. With a section on Seismic surveys, by
Robert M. Hazlewood. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print.
Off., 1961.
v, 98 p. illus., maps (part col.) diagrs., tables. 30 cm. (U.S.
Geological Survey. Professional paper 367)
Part of illustrative matter in pocket.
Bibliography: p. 94-95.
1. Landslides Washington (State) Columbia River valley. 2.
Seismology Washington (State) I. Embody, Daniel R., joint
author. II. Peterson, Warren Lee, 1925- , joint author. III. Hazle
wood, Robert Merton, 1920-IV. Title. (Series)
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington 25, B.C.
CONTENTS
Page Statistical studies Continued
Abstract _ ________________________________________ 1 Statistical analyses, by Daniel R. Embody and Fred
Introduction, by Fred O. Jones___________ ____________ 1 O.Jones _-_-_-_-____-__-___-_-_-- _ _____--- 46
Regional physiographic and geologic setting________ 3 Analysis and interpretation of landslide data_-_ 46
Cultural developments. _ ________________________ 4 Recent slump-earthflow landslides ________ 46
Acknowledgments.. _ _-_--_-__--_______-_____._ 5 Qualitative variables. _ ______________ 47
Landslides, by Fred O. Jones and Warren L. Peterson___ 5 Quantitative variables _ ____________ 48
Topography on the surficial deposits. ______________ 5 Tests of significance for materials and
Types of landslides.. ____________________________ 6 ground water____ ________ _________ 49
Slump-earthflow landslides. __________________ 6 Equation for the prediction of HC: VC
Multiple-alcove landslides. _ __________________ 6 ratios of landslides. .-_.--__ _._--_---- 50
Slip-off slope landslides. _____________________ 7 Ancient slump-earthflow landslides. _______ 51
Mudflows- __---_____-___________---________ 7 Slip-off slope landslides. _ ________________ 52
Landslides along Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. _____ 10 Multiple-alcove landslides. _______________ 53
Areas of extensive landsliding ____________________ 12 Landslides off bedrock.. . ________________ 53
Reed terrace area ___-_-_-_--____---___-____ 12 Uniformity experiment _.__________---__-_--- 53
Culture __ _____-__-___-__-_-_-________ 13 Summary of analysis of HC: VC ratio of
Geology ____-__--_____--_____--________ 13 landslides_____- _-_-_---___-----_----- 54
Geologic history. ____ ___________________ 14 Summary of analysis of original slope. _ _ __ 54
Surface-water and ground-water conditions_ 14 Summary of analysis of submergence
Landslides, ____________________________ 14 percentage- ___-_____-_-_____-___-__-- 54
Lake fill in the Reed terrace area _________ 19 Summary of ground- water analysis. _______ 55
Cedonia area. ______________________________ 19 Summary of material analysis ____________ 55
Ninemile area. _ ____________________________ 20 Summary and interpretation of uniformity
Geology. ______________________________ 20 experiment results ___________________ 55
Landslides ___-______-----_-_-__________ 21 Slope-stability investigation.- ________-__---_- 55
Seatons Grove-Koontz ville area --___-________ 21 Summary of analysis for the discriminant
Seatons landslide (No. 7) ________________ 21 function ___________________-------_- 56
Seatons mudflow (No. 320) _ ___________ 25 Summary of analysis of variance for the
Koontzville landslide (No. 5)__-_-_____-_- 26 discriminant function _ ___________---_- 57
Nespelem River area. ____-_____-__-_-__-____ 28 Use of the discriminant f unction __ ________ 57
Geology. ___._________-____--___-_.____ 28 Results of experiment- _---_--_----_----- 58
Glacial history. _-__-_.-_____-__________ 28 Application of landslide and slope stability data, by
Landslides _____________________________ 28 Fred O. Jones and Daniel R. Embody. __ ________ 58
Landslides in the Columbia River basalt. __ ________ 29 Recognition of potential landslide areas_ _______ 60
Summary of possible causes of landslides. _ _______ _. 31 Estimation of landslide extent in this and similar
Economics. ____________________________________ 31 geologic settings.. _ _______________________ 61
Landslides at Grand Coulee Dam_______ ______ 31 General application of methods _________--__- 61
Costs of landslides.- ________________________ 33 Illustrations of application of landslide and slope
Statistical studies _________-_-___-__-___---__-__-___ 33 stability data- ________________-_--___--_- 61
Field observations and methods, by Fred O. Jones. 33 Ninemile area (Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake) _ 61
Landslide type groups. _ _____________________ 35 Geology and landslide classification of the
Classification units and measurements of the Alameda Flat area (Lake Rufus Woods) _ 68
geologic environment. _____________________ 39 Statistical techniques, by Daniel R. Embody __________ 69
Material-classification categories.- -__.____ 39 Assumptions made in the analysis of variance ______ 69
Ground water. _ ________________________ 41 Reconciliation of properties of field data and theo
Terrace height... ______________________ 43 retical requirements for validity _______--____--- 70
Drainage of terrace surface. _ _____________ 43 Experimental logic, tests of significance and precision, 71
Original slope of terrace scarp ____________ 44 Specific methods and sources- ____________________ 71
Submergence. _ _________________________ 44 Summary of reconnaissance seismic surveys, by Robert
Culture. --_--_--____-_-_-___-__-__-____ 44 M. Hazlewood. __________...._____-_-_-_---_-___--- 72
Material removal _______________________ 44 Field measurements. ____________--___--____--_-_ 72
45 Results.- ___._______________-__--___-----_---_- 73
Landslide measurements HC: VC ratio_ 45 Reed terrace area_ ______________________________ 73
IV CONTENTS
jnnaissance seismic surveys Con. Page Page
Ninemile areeaa __ 74 _____ _______ 74
Nespelem B iver area 74 _____ _______ 94
Conclusions 74 Index ____-_._-__-_ 97
ILLUSTRATIONS
[Plates are in pocket]
PLATE 1. Geologic map of the Reed terrace area.
2. Hydrography and landslide fill in Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake.
3. Geologic map and landslide classification of Ninemile area.
4. Sections of Seatons and Koontzville landslides.
5. Geologic map of the Nespelem River area.
6. Geologic map and landslide classification of the Alameda Flat area.
Page
FIGURE 1. General index map of the Columbia River valley of northeastern Washington ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________ - 2
2. Nomenclature of the parts of a landslide _ ___ ______ ______ _______________ 6
3. An ancient slump-earthflow landslide exposed by recent sliding. __ _ _ _ ___ _ _ ___________ _ ______ 7
4. Aerial view of a recent multiple-alcove landslide. __ _ .__. ____ __ ___________----_--_- 8
5. Multiple-alcove landslide and cross section __ _ __ _ ------ ____ ____ ___________________ _. 8
6. Photograph of a typical slip-off landslide... _ _ _ _ __-____. -__-_-____ ______ 9
7. Slip-off slope landslide and cross section. _ _ __._ _ _ _ _.-_ ______________ _ _ _ _ . 9
8. Slip-off slope landslide, Kettle Falls area _ ___--_-___.___-_--_- _______ 10
9. Mudflow in Hopkins Canyon.... __ __ __________ _________ __________ 11
10. Index map of the Columbia River valley of northeastern Washington __ ____ ___ ____ ____ ___________ 12
11. Aerial oblique photograph of the Reed terrace taken May 15, 1951 ---_-_---_- ___ ____ _____-___-__---. 16
12. Aerial oblique photograph of the Reed terrace taken on August 1 , 1 952. __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____-_.-__ _ _ _ . 17
13. Slump-earthflow landslide, Reed terrace area. _ _ _ _ ... _________ _ - -_-_____ 19
14. Terrace of sand with some interbedded silt and clay. _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ ____-____-___. 20
15. Aerial photograph of Seatons landslide.... __ . __ _ ___ _ _ __ _____ ____ _ _______ 22
16. Diagram of Seatons landslide., ________ ___ _ __ _ _ _____ ______ _ _ _--_____- 23
17. Slickensides showing the upward and riverward movement of the Seatons landslide. __ __ __ ________ 24
18. Mudflow at Seatons Grove - _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ ____ ____ __ _ _ ______ _ . 25
19. Photograph showing the Koontzville landslide ____ ____ _ _ ___ ______ 26
20. Diagram of the Koontzville landslide _ _ _ . ____ _ _ _ _____-_. 27
21. Aerial photograph showing landslide in Bailey Basin ___ _ ___ _ _ __ __________ 30
22. Ancient slump-earthflow landslide and cross section. ___ __ _ ___ _____ ______________ 30
23. Histogram showing estimated frequency of all landslides along Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, 1941 to 1954. __ 31
24. Slump-earthflow landslide in lacustrine silt and clay _ __ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _________ 32
25. Great Northern Railway landslide near Marcus, Wash_ _ _ _ _____ ___________ 34
26. Deadman Creek landslide _ __ _ _ ___ _ _____________ 35
27. Landslide data card (front)- _ _ _ __ __ ___________ 36
28. Landslide data card (back)__ ___ ___ _ _ __ ____ _ - _ ----_______ 37
29. Slump-earthflow landslide limited by bedrock- _ _ _ _ __ _____ _ _________ 38
30. Failure of an artificial slope __ _ _______ _____________ 39
31. Dry earthflow ______ ___ _ ___ ____________ 40
32. Sediments included in material category 1, Reed terrace area.. __ _____ _ _____ 41
33. Sediments included in material category 1, Hunters-Nez Perce Creek area ___ _________ 41
34. Sediments included in material category 2, Ninemile area_ _____ _ _ ____ ___ 42
35. Sediments included in material category 2, Wilmont- Jerome area ____ ____ ____ ___ ___. 43
36. Sediments included in material category 3, Hawk Creek area_ _ __ _ ___ ____ 43
37. Sediments included in material category 4, Cedonia area _ _ _______ 44
38. Sediments included in material category 5, Cedonia area _ _ ___ _________ 45
39. Cross section of a landslide showing HC and VC measurements _ ______ _ _ ____. 46
40. A slope on sand judged to be very stable _ __ ___ _ _________ 59
41. A slope on interbedded silt, clay, and sand judged to be nearly stable _ _ _ _ _ _____ 59
42. A slope on silt and clay judged likely to be affected by landslides __ __ ___ _ ___ 60
43. Sample time-distance curves and bedrock profiles for Reed terrace area_ _ _ _ ________ ____ 72
CONTENTS V
TABLES
Page
TABLE 1. One hundred sixty recent slump-earthflow landslides used in statistical analysis._____________________________ 75
2. Forty-two slip-off slope landslides used in statistical analysis-_____________________________________________ 79
3. Thirty-seven ancient slump-earthflow landslides used in statistical analysis_________________________________ 80
4. Classification and landslide data.______________________________________________________________________ 82
5. Landslide-classification data, Alameda Flat area_____________________-_-______--___--_--___-_-_____----__ 84
6. Miscellaneous landslides data recorded for special studies, including landslides not sufficiently complete for
type-group analyses or summaries-_________________________________________---_-________------_----_ 85
7. Uniformity experiment recent slump-earthflow landslides.-________--__-_--_____-_____--_-__-__---_--__-- 87
8. Slope-stability investigation, Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake_________________________________________________ 89
9. Landslide date and time data_________-____--_______-_______-_-____-__-_-_-----_--_--__--_-------___-- 92

LANDSLIDES ALONG THE COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON
By FRED O. JONES, DANIEL R. EMBODY, and WARREN L. PETERSON
ABSTRACT made of the lakeshore land in the Ninemile area along Franklin D.
Landslides occur so frequently in the surficial deposits along Roosevelt Lake and in the Alameda Flat area along Lake Rufus
the upper valley of the Columbia River that they affect greatly Woods (the Chief Joseph Dam reservoir).
engineering developments and land use. Most of the recent The techniques of geologic classification and statistical analysis
landslides took place in the Pleistocene deposits bordering described in this report will assist geologists and engineers in
Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, the Grand Coulee Dam reservoir, judging the stability of natural slopes and in estimating the
which was slowly and intermittently filled during the construction extent of impending landslide action.
of Grand Coulee Dam (1933 to 1942). Many landslides occurred
while the lake was filling; many have occurred since. Down INTRODUCTION
stream from Grand Coulee Dam landsliding has occurred in
several places since the beginning of construction. Geologic By FRED O. JONES
investigations were made intermittently from 1942 to 1948 and
Landslides occur so frequently in the surficial deposits
continuously from 1948 to 1955 in an effort to establish criteria
for predicting the probable amount of land that will be affected along the upper valley of the Columbia River that they
by sliding. The area of study extends along the upper 200 miles become an important factor in engineering develop
of the Columbia River valley in Washington, reaching upstream ments and land use. Geologic investigations of the
from Grand Coulee Dam along Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake to
landslides were made intermittently from 1942 to 1948
Canada and downstream from Grand Coulee Dam along the
and continuously from 1948 to 1955. This report sum
Columbia River nearly to Chief Joseph Dam. Many fresh land
slides in a nearly uniform physical setting presented an unusual marizes the results of these investigations. The area
opportunity for a study of geologic processes and for a statisti included in these studies extends along the upper 200
cal analysis of landslide data. miles of the Columbia River valley in Washington,
More than 300 landslides in the Pleistocene terrace deposits
reaching upstream from Grand Coulee Dam along
were examined. Slides were classified into type groups, so that
Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake to the international bound
each type might be analyzed and compared with the others. The
geologic environment was subdivided into the classification ary, and downstream from Grand Coulee Dam along the
factors material, ground-water conditions, terrace height, drain Columbia River nearly to Chief Joseph Dam (fig. 1).
age, original slope, submergence, culture, and material removal. Such a large number of fresh landslides in a nearly
These factors were again subdivided into quantitative or qual
uniform geologic setting presented an ideal opportunity
itative categories that could be determined by field examinations.
for study of landslide processes and for a statistical an
The key measurement of a landslide was taken to be the ratio
alysis of landslide data. The application of statistical
HC: VC, where HC and VC are, respectively, the horizontal and
vertical distances from the foot to the crown of the landslide methods is a new approach to the analysis of landslides
taken at midsection normal to the slope. The HC:VC ratio and the stability of natural slopes.
was correlated with the classification units of the geologic en Most of the recent landslides have been related to the
vironment. The most extensive statistical analysis was done on
construction of Grand Coulee Dam, especially to the
data from slump-earthflow landslides. Of the eight classifi
consequent filling of Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake (the
cation factors analyzed, only material, ground water, original
slope, and submergence proved to be significantly related to the Grand Coulee Dam reservoir). Construction of the
HC: VC ratio. A formula was developed for predicting the dam was begun in 1933. The level of the backwater
HC: VC ratio of slump-earthflow landslides. was slowly and intermittently raised as construction
The stability of natural slopes was investigated by comparing
proceeded until the dam was completed and full reser
data from slopes on which slides have not occurred with data
voir level was first attained in 1942 thus creating a lake
from slopes on which slides have occurred. The analysis in
cluded a consideration of material, ground water, terrace height, 144 miles long and raising the water level 350 feet at the
original slope, and submergence. A formula was developed for dam.
predicting the stability of natural slopes. Landslides occurred with unusually great and unex
The glacial geology of selected areas was mapped. The land
pected frequency in the bordering Pleistocene deposits
slides in these areas are described.
as Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake filled. Because of the
To illustrate the practical application of the slope stability
and landslide data, detailed landslide-classification studies were damage to property adjacent to the reservoir and the
LANDSLIDES ALONG THE COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON
30' 118-00'
48° 00'
30'
FIGURE 1. General index map of the Columbia River valley of northeastern Wasbington.
threat to .human lives, a study of the landslides was Service, the two Federal agencies most concerned with
begun by the senior author in 1942 for the Bureau of administrative problems of property adjacent to the
Reclamation. The geologic conditions and topographic lake.
relations were examined, and the 600 to 700 miles of In 1950, in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers,
lakeshore lands were classified generally into five groups: investigations were extended to include a section of the
landslides likely, landslides unlikely, slide areas, bed Columbia River valley between Grand Coulee and Chief
rock, and indeterminate. The indeterminate classifica Joseph Dams. A geologic setting similar to that of
tion was necessary as data were often insufficient to Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake exists in the upstream part
make a valid determination of the landslide potential. of the Chief Joseph reservoir (Lake Rufus Woods).
Particular attention was directed to areas where land Landslides had been frequent along the river in this
slides might destroy private property or endanger lives. stretch, and because it was possible to study the valley
Where privately owned land was found to be potentially before flooding by Lake Rufus Woods, investigations
dangerous, the U.S. Government offered to purchase the were extended to include that part of the reservoir
property. which had similar geologic conditions. The investiga
In 1948 the Geological Survey began research studies tions were discontinued in 1955.
on Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake in technical cooperation The practical purpose of these investigations was to
with the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park establish criteria for predicting the probable amount of
INTRODUCTION
land which will be affected by landslides so that maxi Of the several minor extensions of the plateau lavas
mum use may be made of lands along the lake. More north of the Spokane-Columbia River valley, only two
than 300 landslides have been studied in relation to are particularly significant. One of these is the tri
their geologic environment. Classifications were de angular-shaped Okanogan Plateau bounded on the
vised to subdivide the environmental factors so that south by the Columbia River, on the northeast by the
their separate and combined effects on groups of similar Omak Lake valley and on the northwest by the Oka
landslides could be analyzed and evaluated. nogan River valley. Omak Lake valley is an informal
Statistical methods employed consisted of the analysis name used here for the large valley that contains Omak
of variance and covariance, chi-square tests, multiple Lake and extends from the Okanogan River valley to
regression, and discriminant-function analysis. Each the Columbia River valley. The second significant
important analysis is presented in brief summary and minor extension is the Spokane Plateau, an irregular
computational detail is omitted. The section headed group of tongues of the Columbia Plateau which extend
"Statistical techniques," page 69 discusses methods north of the Spokane River (Weaver, 1920).
used and the purposes which they were intended to The Columbia River enters the United States at
accomplish. about longitude 117°38' (fig, 1). It flows southwest-
The only topographic maps available for studies ward for 40 miles in a moderately broad valley which is
made along Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake in the years between the Rossland Mountains on the northwest and
1942 to 1946 were the river survey sheets, "Plan of the Chewelah Mountains on the southeast. At the
Columbia River, International Boundary to Rock Is southern tip of the Rossland Mountains the Columbia
land Rapids (below Wenatchee) Washington, Depart River is joined by the Kettle River from the north and
ment of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey," which the Colville River from the southeast. Downstream
were surveyed in 1930. These maps were used though from these junctures, the Columbia flows southward
they were limited in extent and accuracy and were inade for 60 miles in a broad valley which lies between,the
quate for the work. To provide a basis for detailed geo Kettle River Mountains on the west and the Huckle
logic and engineering studies, as well as for other uses, berry Mountains on the east. The rocks exposed in
the Geological Survey began the topographic mapping of the valley walls along this upper 100 miles are princi
all the 15-minute quadrangles along the Columbia River pally limestone, marble, quartzite, schist, gneiss, and
valley from the Omak Lake valley to latitude 48°30' granite of Paleozoic and Mesozoic ages (Pardee, 1918;
N. These new topographic maps became available Weaver, 1920).
during the last few years of investigation. The Coast A few miles below its confluence with the Spokane
and Geodetic Survey made a hydrographic survey of River, the Columbia turns sharply to the westward
Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake in 1947 and 1948. This and follows a sinuous north-northwest course along the
hydrography and the new topography of most of the edge of the Columbia Plateau. The sharp change in
project area, along with repeated aerial photography, the course of the river resulted from the creation of the
have provided an invaluable basis for the geologic and lava plateau in Miocene time. From the mouth of the
engineering studies of the landslide features. Spokane River to the Omak Lake valley, bedrock for
mations on the left bank 1 of the valley are principally
REGIONAL PHYSIOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC
lava flows of the plateau and bedrock formations on
SETTING
the right bank are granitic rocks of the Colville batholith.
Northeastern Washington is comprised of two strik During the Pleistocene epoch the Cordilleran con
ingly different physiographic subdivisions the moun tinental glacier formed one or more times in the inter-
tainous highlands to the north and the nearly flat montane plateau region of British Columbia (Dawson,
Columbia Plateau to the south. The boundary be 1891; Johnston, 1926). The number of ice invasions
tween these subdivisions, with minor exceptions which into the United States area is not known but during
are outlined later, follows the general east-west trend the -Wisconsin stage ice lobes pushed down southward-
of the Spokane and Columbia Rivers (fig. 1). The trending valleys into eastern Washington, Idaho, and
plateau on the south is a part of the vast lava plains western Montana. Three of these ice lobes entered
which spread over a large part of the Pacific Northwest. the area considered here: the Okanogan lobe which
The highlands, which lie north of the boundary, are occupied the Okanogan River valley, the Sanpoil lobe
made up of north-south trending valleys between low which occupied the Sanpoil River valley and the
subparallel mountain ranges. The principal north- Columbia lobe which occupied the part of the Columbia
south valley is occupied by the Columbia arid Kettle River valley north of the Columbia Plateau. The
Rivers and is a southern extension of the Selkirk Trench.
i Left and right bank refer to the left and right as one is facingJdownstream.