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“Landslide Hazards and Planning” The U. S. Geological Survey and

“Landslide Hazards and Planning” The U. S. Geological Survey and The American Planning Association’s Project To Reduce Landslide Hazards Paula L. Gori, U.S. Geological Survey Reston, Virginia. Landslide Hazards and Planning.

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“Landslide Hazards and Planning” The U. S. Geological Survey and

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  1. “Landslide Hazards and Planning” The U. S. Geological Survey and The American Planning Association’s Project To Reduce Landslide Hazards Paula L. Gori, U.S. Geological Survey Reston, Virginia

  2. Landslide Hazards and Planning • Today’s talk will present the new report and explain the process that we used to formulate the report. • Authors of the report are Jim Schwab, Paula Gori and Sanjay Jeer.

  3. Guidebook entitled “Landslide Hazards and Planning” • Goal of the report is to to increase planners’ awareness and understanding of landslide hazards. • Planners will incorporate this new understanding into the planning process. • Losses from landslides will be reduced.

  4. Good land-use planning reduces losses from landslide hazards • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the American Planning Association (APA) are working together to inform land-use planners about landslide hazards.

  5. Why USGS and APA? • USGS is the recognized authority for understanding landslide hazards in the US. • USGS has the responsibility to issue disaster warnings. • APA is the professional society for land-use planners and planning officials. Among its responsibilities is to educate its 38,000 members. An area of concern is “safe growth.”

  6. USGS/APA partnership to educate land-use planners • A key mission of the USGS is to minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters. • An APA goal is to provide planners with information about innovative and effective planning practice. • USGS partnered with APA because of its ability to reach its extensive membership with quality outreach products.

  7. Good Planning Needs to Incorporate Understanding of Natural Hazards

  8. Why Is the Report Necessary • Most planners in the US do not adequately address natural hazards. • Planners lack adequate technical information and resources to identify and map hazards. • Some state and local governments lack adequate authority to regulate hazards.

  9. Landslides are a costly hazard in the United States • Landslides and debris flows result in 25-50 deaths and $3.6 billion dollars (2001 dollars) in damages each year. • The greatest damage occurs in the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacific Coast. • 1997-1998 el Nino rainstorms in the San Francisco Bay area produced thousands of landslides and caused over $150 million in direct public and private losses.

  10. Land-Use Planners make important decisions that minimize landslide costs • Capital improvement plans for public facilities and public utilities, especially transportation • Subdivision, siting and grading plans • Comprehensive plans and zoning

  11. Planners have tools to control landslides • Regulations • Geotechnical site analysis • Grading plans • Zoning and subdivision plans • Geologic hazard abatement districts • Transfer of development rights • Disclosure ordinances

  12. Planners can minimize human activities that cause landslides • Poor construction of transportation and other utilities • Poor construction practices on hillsides • Poor maintenance of irrigation and septic systems • Poor logging practices and deforestation • Wildland fire

  13. The landslide report addresses information planners need to reduce landslide hazards • Primer and Overview of landslide hazards • Planning tools for landslide hazards • Regulatory tools such as zoning and site plans • Other land-use tools such as geographic-information systems (GIS) and GHADs • Case studies of cities and regions

  14. Guidebook publication distribution techniques • Released as a “Planning Advisory Service Report” to subscribers, libraries, planning firms and universities. • For sale through APA http://www.planning.org/bookservice • Posted on American Planning Association website: http://www.planning.org/Landslides.

  15. Other outreach efforts • Journal articles. • University curriculums. • Emergency managers training courses. • APA annual conference sessions • April 2006 San Antonio. Texas

  16. CONCLUSION • Partnership between the USGS and APA has increased awareness of landslide hazards. • Guidebook is written in understandable language. • The guidebook is an example of cooperation between a scientific agency and a professional society sharing common interests. • The distribution and outreach efforts ensure the successful use of the guidebook.

  17. Use of Landslide Information in Oregon • USGS would like to assess the use of the Landslide Report by communities in Oregon. • USGS would like to increase the use of landslide hazard information throughout Oregon. • Contact Paula Gori pgori@usgs.gov 703 620-3156 • USGS landslides website: http://landslides@usgs.gov

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