Coastal geologic hazards and land-use planning in northwestern Oregon
Abstract
Detailed mapping of geology-related development risks was completed for seven small, relatively remote communities along the northern Oregon coast in Clatsop and Tillamook counties. More than 45 previously unmapped, active landslides up to 20 km2 in area were mapped along one 15-km section of the 26 km of coastline studied Additional geologic constraints to land use in the study area include marine erosion, ocean and estuarine flooding, wind erosion of dune areas, soil erosion, and, in one community, soil piping Recommendations made on the basis of this mapping were incorporated into comprehensive land-use plans prepared by each community as required by the State of Oregon The principal changes in land-use regulations in the area obtained from this investigation are the rezoning of large tracts of undeveloped land to better reflect geologic limitations, the requiring of site-specific studies by licensed geotechnical experts for developments proposed in certain hazardous areas, the adoption of Chapter 70 of the Uniform Building Code by several communities, and the addition of numerous special regulations on site preparation methods This article shows that geologic data of sufficient detail can be effectively incorporated into local land-use plans when required by state law This is facillitated when state and federal agencies provide good regional geologic information and land-use planning guidelines.
- Publication:
-
Environmental Geology
- Pub Date:
- December 1986
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF02524949
- Bibcode:
- 1986EnGeo...8..221R