News Release from Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. A study released by Oregon geologists found more than 3,000 landslide locations along the Curry County coastline – an area that’s known for landslide issues. The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) study identified and mapped existing landslide locations. Because land that has previously slid is more likely to slide again, knowing where landslides have occurred in the past is critical to understanding where landslides may occur in the future. Landslides cover approximately one quarter of the 170-square-mile study area, says Bill Burns, DOGAMI engineering geologist. “Mapping existing landslides provides the fundamental data for understanding the landslide hazard in any area,” says Burns. “For coastal Curry County, that landslide hazard is moderate to high.” Landslides are common geologic hazard along the Oregon Coast. Excessive precipitation, steep slopes, landslide-prone geology, and earthquakes are factors in reactivation of existing landslides as well as the formation of new landslides. As new development takes place in Curry County’s coastal communities, understanding and considering landslide hazards is incredibly important, Burns says. “We can’t predict when and where the next landslide events will occur, but communities can become more resilient to the hazard by making well-thought-out development decisions,” he says. “These maps help guide those decisions.” The Curry County landslide locations are included in version 3.2 of the Statewide Landslide Information Database for Oregon (SLIDO), released online today, which compiles all landslides that have been identified on published maps. The SLIDO interactive map at www.oregongeology.org/sub/slido makes locating landslides as simple as entering an address.
