Summer 2020 Vol 63 No 3

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Vol. 63, No. 3 – Summer 2020

Special FEature

AEG VIRTUAL Annual Meeting

AEG Executive Council issues Statement on Diversity…

e h t e v Sa ate…for These Future AEG Events D Westin Riverwalk – San Antonio, Texas September 18–26, 2021

spots around. Perhaps most notable of all San Antonio’s missions is the Alamo in the heart of downtown. The Westin Riverwalk, located on the Riverwalk’s quiet end, is a beautiful upscale hotel decorated to emphasize the historic Texas surroundings while providing a warm and subtle Spanish Colonial look and feel. Don’t miss this opportunity to be adventurous and inspired in this amazing city rich in history and culture!

AEG 2023 Annual Meeting Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront – Portland, Oregon September 19–24, 2023

PHOTO COURTESY USGS

AEG 2021 Annual Meeting

AEG 2022 Annual Meeting Planet Hollywood Resort – Las Vegas, Nevada September 13–17, 2022

Once a frontier settlement in the Wild West, San Antonio’s unique culture stemming from its Spanish, German, and American roots offers an abundance of history, arts, and exciting cuisine. The city is famous for its scenic River Walk, which makes getting around downtown a breeze.

Stretching more than 24 kilometers from start to finish, the River Walk’s shaded pathways connect hundreds of shops, restaurants, hotels, historic landmarks, museums, and attractions. Take the River Walk to the north and you’ll find museums—filled with everything from Picassos to Western memorabilia—and the Pearl—an exciting culinary and shopping destination. To the south, the River Walk leads to four Spanish missions that once provided shelter for frontier settlers and still provide some of the best bird watching

Your fun begins on The Strip, Las Vegas’ main artery and home to bustling casinos, world-class restaurants, ornately designed resorts and over-the-top shows. Overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, our Annual Meeting hotel—Planet Hollywood Resort—is in the middle of everything you will want to experience. This Annual Meeting will be exciting, educational, and a great opportunity to reconnect with your colleagues and meet new ones.

The In-Person AEG 2020 Annual Meeting has been rescheduled for 2023.

Portland, Oregon’s largest city, sits on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, in the shadow of snow-capped Mount Hood. It’s known for its parks, bridges, and bicycle paths, as well as for its eco-friendliness and its microbreweries and coffeehouses. The city hosts thriving art, theater, and music scenes. Surrounded by Portland hot spots, the Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront hotel reflects the vibrancy of the city and is located directly on the waterfront in downtown, surrounded by more than 60 breweries. Wind down with friends by sampling some of the 150 types of whiskey at their on-site restaurant, Proof Reader. The hotel even helps you go green with complimentary car-charging stations, biodegradable straws and easy access to light rail from the nearby Morrison Subway Station.

At night, retire to elevated guest rooms with 24-hour room service, waterfall showers, free Wi-Fi, premium channels and views of Portland. Don’t miss all of the exciting Field Courses, Guest Tours and the Special Event at the Oswago Hills Vineyard planned for this incredible Annual Meeting.

AEG Sea-Level Rise Conference – Norfolk, VA May 5–7, 2021 While the media are focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, many scientists and engineers continue to follow research on other long-term issues, both nationally and internationally. AEG members are aware of changes that are coming as a result of climate change and the subsequent rise in sea level, which will have worldwide effects. Many researchers expect the eastern coastline of the United States will be affected dramatically. Because climate change and rising sea levels are of interest to professionals in a wide variety of disciplines, we expect to involve other organizations in the planning and execution of this conference. We have received interest from the US Army Corps of Engineers, the American Planning Association, and the American Meteorological Society.

Do you have ideas for talks you would like to see, or would you like to help plan this meeting? We welcome your input. Please send your suggestions/thoughts to Rick Kolb, Southeast Regional Director, (rick.kolb1@gmail.com), Ryan Fandray, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, (r.fandray@gaiconsultants.com), and Curt Schmidt Northeast Regional Director, (schmidtcas.aeg@gmail.com).

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Vol. 63, No. 3 – Summer 2020

AEG News (ISSN 0899-5788; USPS 954-380) is published five times a year by the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG). This includes three regular issues published in Spring (#2), Summer (#3) and Winter (#5) and two special issues: the Annual Report and Directory (#1) in March and the Annual Meeting Program with Abstracts (#4) in September (digital publication only). Digital copies of the Program with Abstracts are distributed at the AEG Annual Meeting. Association members receive an electronic copy of all five issues of the AEG News as part of their dues. Print subscription for Association members, which includes all three regular issues of the AEG News, is $40 in addition to annual membership dues. Nonmember annual subscription is $50 and includes only the three regular issues; the Annual Report and Directory issue is priced separately. Back copies of AEG News regular issues are $12 each. Inquiries should be sent to AEG Headquarters: Association Manager, 3053 Nationwide Parkway, Brunswick, OH 44212 330-578-4900.

Periodical Postage paid at Brunswick, OH, and additional mailing offices: POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AEG News, 3053 Nationwide Parkway, Brunswick, OH 44212, USA. AEG News is printed by Allen Press, Lawrence, KS, 66044, USA. © 2020 Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists—All Rights Reserved Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those officially representing the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists except where expressly stated.

Acquisitions Editor: AEG News Co-Editors Visty P. Dalal Anna Saindon news@aegweb.org Geotechnology, Inc. 11816 Lackland Content Editor: Road, Suite 150 St. Louis, MO 63146 Bill Roman 314-581-6286 wroman@gfnet.com news@aegweb.org

Managing Editor/Production Andrea Leigh Ptak Communicating Words & Images 6542 52nd Ave. So. Seattle, WA 98118 206-300-2067 www.andrealeighptak.com andrealeighptak@me.com

Table of Contents News of the Association

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The President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Vice President’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Headquarter’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Foundation Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Secretary’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Your Questions & Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Committee Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Technical Working Groups Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 The Acquisition Editor’s Pen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Women of AEG: Renee Wawczak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Special Feature: AEG Virtual Annual Meeting

16–25

News of the Profession

26

Update from the 2019–21 Jahns Distinguished Lectureship . . . . . . . . . .26 Professional Contributions

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The El Cajon Mountain Rock Avalanche and Debris Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Risk Susceptibility Mapping Based on the Urban Geology of the City of La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico (NE-SE portion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

On the Cover “Dam Risk Assessment – Lessons Learned” is just one of the Symposiums to be offered as part of the Technical Program of AEG’s Virtual Annual Meeting.

For full details, see our Special Feature beginning on page 16.

COVER PHOTO: LAKE ROLAND DAM, BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND PROVIDED BY VISTY DALAL

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The association

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Advertising in the News Contact AEG Headquarters at advertising@aegweb.org.

2019–20 Officers President: CYNTHIA PALOMARES Texas Engineering Extension Service, Texas A&M University, Caldwell, Texas, president@aegweb.org Vice President/President Elect: WILLIAM GODWIN Consulting Geologist, Carmel, California, VP@aegweb.org Treasurer: MADDIE GERMAN Geologist, Raleigh, North Carolina, treasurer@aegweb.org Secretary: NATHAN SARACENO Senior Geologist, DiGioia Gray and Associates, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, secretary@aegweb.org Past President: DAVID FENSTER Geologist (Retired), North Potomac, Maryland, PP@aegweb.org

Association Contacts Headquarters: Association Manager: SHERI MASKOW J&M Business Solutions 3053 Nationwide Parkway, Brunswick, OH 44212 330-578-4900, manager@aegweb.org AEG Foundation—President: WILLIAM FLANIGAN, president@aegfoundation.org

Submission Deadlines

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https://aeg.memberclicks.net/aeg-news Canada Agreement number: PM40063731; Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Station A, PO Box 54; Windsor, ON N9A 6J5; Email: returnsil@imex.pb.com

Summer 2020

AEG News welcomes your feedback. Letters should be sent with the writer's name, address, and daytime phone number via e-mail to news@aegweb.org. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

AEG NEWS 63(3)

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NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

A Year Like No Other

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Cynthia Palomares, 2019–20 AEG President

think I need a “redo” as 2019–20 AEG President.

In fact, I think we all could use a redo for at least the first half of 2020. As I took over the AEG President’s role at the Annual Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, in September 2019, I had ambitious plans to visit each Chapter, and to give a “State of AEG” presentation to Chapter members along with a technical presentation. At these Chapter events I also planned to reach out to individual members to hear how AEG has impacted or potentially could impact their careers. But I have to remind myself, as John Lennon once said, “Life happens while we are making other plans.”

As I write this report, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health risks, all in-person AEG Chapter meetings for the time being have been cancelled. I support this approach, with our members’ health and safety as a top priority. As such, I requested that Chapter-level activities be conducted via “virtual” webinars for now, and many Chapters have stepped up to the plate, and held or have planned virtual webinars for their members. In addition, a number of Association-level webinars have been held recently and are also planned for the near future. As of early June, four Association-level webinars have already been held, all with very good attendance numbers. This is a great way for members to stay connected with our profession and with AEG. Before the pandemic changed most of our travel plans, I did have the opportunity to attend several AEG Chapter meetings. In 2019, I visited and gave presentations in Texas in October, Seattle in November, Portland in November, and in January of 2020 I I made it to San Francisco, Fresno, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Thank you to all AEG Chapter officers and members for making me feel welcome and for your commitment to AEG! In mid-May, the Governor of Oregon mandated that no large gatherings may occur in the state through September 2020. Since our 2020 Annual Meeting was planned to be held in Portland in September, the AEG Executive Council had no choice but to move the meeting to a virtual format.

The dates will be the same—September 16–18, 2020—but the meeting will now occur online. The Annual Meeting Committee is currently looking at various virtual platforms to find the best fit for AEG. We plan to maintain a similar agenda with an opening session with a keynote speaker, technical sessions, poster sessions, an AEG Awards event, and a business meeting. We do plan to move the in-person Portland Annual Meeting to September 2023. This meeting will be held at the Portland Downtown Marriot Waterfront Hotel, the same location that was planned for the 2020 meeting. San Antonio, Texas, is the location scheduled for the 2021 Annual Meeting, and Las Vegas is the location selected for the 2022 Annual Meeting. Information on the 2020 Virtual 4

Annual Meeting is provided in this issue of AEG News and on AEG’s website: https://www.aegannualmeeting.org/ and updates will be available soon.

During this time of COVID-19, I would like to stress that well-reasoned science is a very important factor to be considered when making decisions. The integrity of the science is critical because of its limiting or empowering effects on decisions. This holds true whether the decisions are being made in our personal lives, the government or the courts.

Reasoned decisions must be based on methods generally accepted by the scientific community as valid and reliable, and whether the connection between data and conclusions is well reasoned. As a scientific association, AEG has an obligation to promote and advocate for well-reasoned science during decision-making processes and to strive to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society’s use of resources, response to natural hazards, and the health of the environment.

Finally, in order to improve member engagement with our younger professional and student members, I am working with Headquarters to enhance our social media platforms. Did you know that AEG currently has a number of social media plat…in order forms that you can engage to improve member with to see what’s going on engagement with our with our profession and younger professional and within AEG? We currently are on Facebook, student members, I am Instagram, Twitter, and working with Headquarters LinkedIn. In addition, a new to enhance our social Facebook group (different media platforms. from a page) has been set up to encourage more interaction between our members. You can post a variety of items to this FB group, and I encourage you to share information about projects you are working on, cool geology sites that you have visited, or other general information that may be relevant. A social media policy has also been developed for Chapter-level social media platforms and is now available to members on AEG’s website: https://aeg.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/MemberResources/S ocialMediaStrategySpring2020.pdf If your Chapter currently does not use social media platforms to communicate with members, look for changes in the near future.

Thank you for your continued commitment to AEG! If you have any comments or questions or would like to volunteer, please contact me at president@aegweb.org.

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AEG NEWS 63(3)

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Summer 2020

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Reflections of a Geologist

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William Godwin, 2019–20 AEG Vice President

s I write this article for AEG News, I am reminded that I have been practicing as a geoscientist for 40 years. I started my career with Petty Ray Geophysical working between the Powder River and Williston Basins of Montana and North Dakota in March of 1980. I was a Doodlebugger, a term that describes someone who works on geophysical exploration crews mapping the subsurface. A lot has happened in these succeeding years, most of it positive. My experience allows me to reflect on my personal growth, the progression of knowledge gained from studying the earth and the appreciation I have had to travel throughout the US, meeting interesting people and challenges. I am now at that point in my career where I can now give back, not only to young geoscientists starting their careers, but also to AEG. The challenges the Association faces, as touched on by my fellow Executive Council members in this edition of the News are formidable. Our premier event in Portland has been postponed due to the order of the Oregon Governor. This reminds me of when Mt. Saint Helens erupted in May of 1980 and the Governor of Montana shut down all outside work (including our field crew) for a few days due to the amount of ashfall and potential breathing complications. That was a good call, as is the Portland meeting now being a virtual meeting. I will admit I am a bit disappointed in that I will not assume the position as your AEG President in person this year. Nevertheless, I look at this experience as a lesson to all of us that change is good.

Your AEG committees are striving to address the challenges of staying vital, keeping communication and advocacy at the forefront. To many, an association such as AEG is about monthly chapter meetings and the occasional field trip or course. Those activities cannot happen effectively under

AEG Executive Council Statement on Diversity AEG supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Geosciences profession and in our organization. AEG leadership plans to further our efforts in promoting these values by challenging ourselves on what we can do better to encourage underrepresented populations to consider and obtain careers in the Geosciences and to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment within our Association and the Geosciences profession. We welcome and encourage you to join us as we strive to take meaningful, positive action. Please contact Cynthia Palomares, AEG President, at president@aegweb.org if you would like to help further develop these efforts.

Summer 2020

the current Shelter In Place and Social Distance Measurement guidelines. We will have to do our best to converse with other members via webinars, technical journals, and committee calls. We can always use committee volunteers, especially ones that want to stay connected to the profession.

Hard work—whether getting paid or volunteering— isrewarding. I remember laying out seismic cables in the Theodore Roosevelt Badlands in western North Dakota by hand in the heat and on soft crumbly slopes working right alongside other crews that got to fly in their equipment and personnel by helicopter. It gave us personal satisfaction to know we could do this work simply through perseverance and drive.

I do not know how many of you have had the chance to listen in on one of our AEG webinars. These are a great opportunity to hear from practicing geoscientists on a variety of subjects. I gave one recently on reconnaissance of damage from the 2010 Darfield Earthquake in New Zealand. I hope to soon give another one on blasting that will include a case study I am working on in the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains. I (as well as many of you) have always had a keen interest in blasting, which for me probably began while training with the shooter on that Petty Ray crew which was a shothole, Hi-Rez operation. It is funny how we experience something small or insignificant early in our careers, and later it becomes much grander and integral to our business or interest.

Please stay safe, as I want to eventually meet as many of you as I can in person somewhere in the field.

e t a r o p r o C Sponsors 2020 Glacier Peak The University of Arizona College of Engineering

(888) 658-2042 onlineengineering@arizona.edu https://online.engineering.arizona.edu/online-eng-mining/

Kilauea Lettis Consultants International, Inc. Earth Science Consultants (661) 287-9900 1000 Burnett Avenue, Suite 350 Concord, CA 94520 http://www.lettisci.com/

AEG NEWS 63(3)

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NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – TREASURER’S REPORT

A Stronger AEG

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Maddie German, 2019–20 AEG Treasurer

here is an old saying, “the cracks let the light in.” While intuitively that might not seem relevant, it is surprisingly clear. It is human nature to avoid discomfort as much as possible, to tolerate the known situation, even if it is not ideal, but inevitably something will happen, and the learning we experience allows us to grow, expand and become better, illuminated by the situation. 2020 has presented the world with an uncomfortable situation that has forced everyone to work and think and act differently than before. As AEG expands our horizons and we grow as individuals and as an association, we become stronger. We turn our weakness into our strengths, while also maintaining the competence and confidence in the areas we have always succeeded.

Just because things are still new and slightly uncomfortable does not give us a pass to be complacent, nor does it permit us to simply wait until things are familiar. AEG has a responsibility as an organization to continue to provide opportunities for continuing education, networking, and fellowship among geoscientists across the world. Despite the unique circumstances for 2020, we continue to be available for our members.

The fact that we are facing something new is an opportunity to be cherished. AEG now has the responsibility to bring your membership experience to the next level. With more options for online webinars and Chapter meetings, those folks who couldn’t always travel to see various speakers are now enjoying the same case studies, lessons learned, and research projects from the comfort of their home or office. With our updated website and Facebook groups, it is easier to get the information you need and interact (aka network) with your friends and colleagues. And this is just the beginning.

As AEG Treasurer, it is my role to keep the membership up to date regarding the financial health of the association, so why the pep talk? For two equally important reasons: 1) It is my goal to write a letter that you enjoy reading. I understand a sheet full of numbers and statistics might not be the most exciting and interesting, so I endeavor to present the information in a digestible fashion and with a smooth finish. Perhaps similar to your craft beverage of choice. 2) To demonstrate how AEG is moving forward as an association outside of our account balances.

Table 1. Income Comparison – 2020 vs. 2019 Account

May 2020

May 2019

Operations

$ 111,041

$ 208,654

Licensure

$ 100,009

$ 80,640

Treasurer’s Reserve

$ 344,000

$ 341,676

UBS Bank

$ 106,198

$ 105,070

Total

$ 661,248

$ 736,040

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AEG earns income primarily from the Annual Meeting and from membership. Overall AEG’s account balances are consistent with where we were financially at this time last year. Because of the uncertainty regarding the Annual Meeting due to the novel coronavirus, our Operations Income is down from this time last year; however, our other accounts are generally equivalent to where we were in May 2019 (See Table 1).

2020 Annual Meeting You may have received notification in your email or through the AEG Insider regarding the sad news about the in-person Portland Annual Meeting being re-scheduled for 2023. As much as we all were excited to visit Portland, experience the amazing field trips, and re-connect with our fellow geoscientists from across the globe, to protect public health and safety Oregon’s Governor will not allow conferences of our size without a reliable treatment or vaccine being available. Fortunately, the hotel was willing to work with us and offered the same terms for an Annual Meeting in September 2023.

Even though this year we cannot all be together in person, AEG is moving forward with our first Virtual Annual Meeting. You can read more about the meeting details in this issue of AEG News and at AEG’s website (https://www.aegannualmeeting.org/).

We are excited to offer several well-known keynote speakers, informative symposia assembled by our Technical Working Groups, happy hour breakouts, and a Special Event Wine Tasting with AEG’s own Scott Burns.

Since the Annual Meeting is a considerable investment in AEG’s financial structure for the year, I have been working with the 2020 Annual Meeting Contingency Planning Group to determine an alternative budget for our Virtual Annual Meeting. Obviously, the nature and structure for this meeting will be different. However, we are confident that the cost and expenses for this online event will balance out and not dramatically upset the whole of AEG’s financial stability.

Membership The second primary income source for AEG is membership dues. With a changing corporate climate and a younger generation with a differing view on association membership, AEG, along with many of our contemporaries, has observed a continued membership decline over the past five to seven years.

The following table compares the May 2020 membership numbers to the May 2019 numbers (See Table 2).

The table indicates overall membership and full membership have decreased from this time last year but also reveals encouraging developments in the post-graduate/early career and teacher categories. Moreover, student membership is 63 percent higher than a year ago. The Board of Directors is

AEG NEWS 63(3)

Summer 2020

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – TREASURER’S REPORT

Table 2. Membership Comparison – 2020 vs. 2019 Account

May 2020

May 2019

Total*

1,521

1,536

Full

1,085

1,160

Post Graduate

69

26

Teacher

44

28

Honorary

19

19

Emeritus

25

27

128

116

Life

51

53

Affiliate

40

46

International

60

61

895

549

Sr. Emeritus

Student (total) *Student members not included

determined to demonstrate that AEG is an important and integral investment for every professional geoscientist and continues to work to make our membership more accessible for young professionals. Additionally, the Board is developing options to provide more leadership opportunities at both the Chapter and Association level and promote the numerous committees and technical working groups.

Yes, COVID is still around, and each state and each country is handling their situation differently. Yes, things are different than they were at this time last year. Yes, there is still uncertainty about the future. Yes, you are in control of how you relate to your present circumstance. Yes, AEG continues to be available to provide continuing education, networking, and fellowship.

Thank you for being a member of our AEG family. As we continue to provide new options for professional development and leadership, please help us to create a stronger AEG. As an association working together with common goals, joined together at the local, national and international levels, we can truly accomplish anything.

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – HEADQUARTER’S REPORT

Headquarters Update

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Sheri Maskow, Association Manager

ith the world being turned upside-down

by COVID-19, webinars have become the new normal. AEG leadership has a terrific variety of topics available for Chapters who are looking to get one scheduled. In addition, past webinars have been recorded and are available on AEG’s website (https://aeg.memberclicks.net/webinars).

Our Annual Meeting is also moving to a virtual platform.

We will be utilizing a learning management system that integrates with MemberClicks, the new database program AEG

began using last fall, to ensure an easy process for registration and attendance.

A social media strategy and suggested guidelines were recently finalized and distributed to the Chapter Leaders to encourage additional presence across popular social media platforms. This initiative also included the creation of a new group on Facebook where participants can interact and share experiences and ask questions. See AEG Secretary Nate Saraceno’s report on the next page for pertinent links and more information.

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – FOUNDATION REPORT

Memorial Donation Campaign for Jerry De Graff

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Make Your Donation Before July 31!

n honor of Jerry De Graff’s service to the profession and AEG, a matching donation has been established with the AEG Foundation’s Jahns Fund. Jerry was the 2016–17 Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer. Jerry enthusiastically enjoyed interacting with students and the ability to travel to numerous universities. You can read more about Jerry’s contributions to AEG in the Spring issue of AEG News on our website.

Summer 2020

Please consider taking advantage of this matching donation opportunity and donating to the Jahns Fund in Jerry De Graff’s honor by July 31st. Making a donation on the AEG Foundation’s website is simple using the following link and completing the fields in the Jahns Fund line.

https://www.aegfoundation.org/donate/

AEG NEWS 63(3)

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NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – SECRETARY’S REPORT

Building Community While Remaining Distant here’s no doubt that the events of 2020 have been life changing. We’ve had to adapt to new and challenging work and social conditions. For many, working from home is becoming “the new normal” whereas the idea of working from home used to mean something temporary, often less than a day, until you could return to your regular setup at the office or in the field.

These challenges have spread beyond the confines of our workplace. You’ve no doubt cancelled personal plans, such as family gatherings and outings with friends. Many of our vacations and travel plans have been cancelled or postponed.

Our ability to meet face-to-face has been limited due to the risks associated with the ongoing pandemic.

Despite all of this, we are finding ways to not just cope, but to thrive. I’d be willing to bet that six months ago, the majority of our members would never have heard the word “Zoom” in the context of video conferencing. Many had never used online document editing and collaboration tools, or attended a webinar from their home. Today I’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t used one, if not all of these tools. In my own experience, my team members and I are making use of these otherwise underutilized resources to communicate more frequently and effectively, and are becoming a more efficient and cohesive team.

Similarly, AEG is adjusting to the challenges of this year and is coming out stronger for it.

In response to in-person meetings being cancelled, AEG Chapters have begun offering online webinars which have been incredibly successful! These webinars are being offered free to everyone throughout the pandemic, and will remain free for AEG members thereafter. https://aeg.memberclicks.net/webinars AEG’s social media platforms have always been a good source of relevant news. As a way to increase networking opportunities virtually we’ve recently added an AEG Facebook group, which allows members to post directly to the page to share content and participate in discussion. How are you doing these days? Please share with us, and use the #AEGatHome hashtag! https://www.facebook.com/groups/AEGmembers While the in-person Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, has been rescheduled for 2023 due to the pandemic, AEG will be moving forward with our first-ever Virtual Annual Meeting this September.

Many volunteers are helping to develop this program and are taking pointers from other organizations that have already successfully converted their in-person meetings to a virtual format. I am confident this meeting will be a rewarding 8

experience, and hopeful that the online format gives those who may not have otherwise attended the opportunity to participate. https://www.aegannualmeeting.org/ Perhaps now more than ever it is important for us as AEG members and members of the greater geoscience community to remain connected and supportive of one-another. There are many ways in which you can connect to and network within AEG, even remotely. I’ve already mentioned several.

Another way to connect is through volunteering. Our volunteer committees and technical working groups have been accomplishing significant and meaningful initiatives largely through email and phone calls for years. These are fantastic ways for you to expand your professional network, remain connected with your AEG colleagues, and to help support AEG members and the greater geoscience community. https://aeg.memberclicks.net/volunteer-main Another great way to stay connected is old-fashioned, but effective: use the phone! Hopefully you’ve collected the phone numbers of a few AEG colleagues in your time as a member. If not, our member directory is available on the AEG website (be sure to log in), where you can find contact information for your Chapter, Region, and Association members and leadership.

Whether using new technology or old, we can all continue to build our AEG community and support each other while remaining physically distant. To that end, I encourage you to get the most out of your membership by actively participating in one of the many ways available to you; whether by volunteering at the chapter or association level, or simply following us on social media and posting in the Facebook group. We want to know how you’re doing and how we can help you do better so that we can continue to build a stronger AEG for you.

We’re all in this together. Stay safe, stay healthy.

AEG NEWS 63(3)

© ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED BY SLANE CARTOONS LIMITED.

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Nathan Saraceno, 2019–20 AEG Secretary

Summer 2020

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Announcing a new column…

Your Questions & Answers Visty Dalal, AEG News Acquisitions Editor

Your

Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Questions &Answers

Q2) What are some of the minimum requirements to apply for PG License?

Except for Arizona’s licensing board, the rest of the 31 licensing boards require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in geosciences (BS/BA). However, if 30 minimum credit hours have been earned towards a degree program, then one can take the PG exam. Another requirement of all 32 licensing boards is the work experience of at least four to six years beyond the bachelor’s degree.

Get answers and information from AEG members on your industry and associationrelated questions.

The editorial staff of AEG News is pleased to introduce a new regular feature that provides another venue for AEG members to interact with each other by asking questions, providing recommendations/comments/insights/input to their peers (professionals in private, public and academic arenas), officials of the Executive Committee (EC; AEG President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary), Board of Directors (BOD), leaders and members of AEG operating committees and technical working groups, the AEG Manager, and leaders and members of various chapters, etc.

In each issue, questions sent by any member will be posted along with the response from the official to whom it is addressed. If the questions are general in nature, then the AEG News editorial staff will research it and post the response, otherwise a specific AEG official will respond to the question.

Please send your questions, comments, input, or suggestions to Visty Dalal, AEG News Acquisitions Editor at news@aegweb.org.

As soon as I receive your questions, I will determine who is the best person(s) within AEG to answer it and forward the question(s) to them. Your questions and responses to them will be included in this section in the next issue. This will serve multiple purposes as it will not only answer your question but also give others information about the subject at hand. It is a win-win situation for everyone, so do send in your questions, and no question or query is too basic to ask. We all are always learning from each other! Thanks!

Here are some basic level questions—all relating to geologic licensure—for starters for the profession. Hope they are helpful!

Q1) Which US states or territories offer licensing of Professional Geologists (PGs)?

Only 32 states or territories in the US offer licensing of PGs: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Summer 2020

Q3) What organization offers the ‘Fundamentals of Geology Examination’ and ‘Practice of Geology Examination’?

Both of these exams are offered by ‘National Association of State Boards of Geology’ (ASBOG) for all 32 licensing boards.

Q4) Where can I read more about these licensure exams and their requirements?

Please refer to the ASBOG’s website for more information (www.asbog.org).

Q5) Where can I learn more about pursuing or protecting licensure and other geology-related legislature?

Please visit the Licensure Resources for members webpage of AEG’s website: https://aeg.memberclicks.net/licensure-resources-members Also, see Duane Kreuger’s article on AEG’s bill-tracking system on p. 11 of this issue of AEG News.

Survey, Survey, Survey Hi everyone, after a span of over 40 years, AEG News needs an overhaul, and the editorial board is looking for an appropriate new name for starters. Do you have any suggestion(s) for a new name that reflects the true spirit of our magazine?

Please send your suggestion(s) by Sept. 1st to Visty Dalal at news@aegweb.org or by text: (443) 271-8122 (C).

Once all the suggestions have been received, another poll will be conducted to see which name is most popular with the AEG membership, and the winner whose suggestion is used ultimately will be awarded a free AEG T-Shirt.

Do send as many suggestions you have for a new name for AEG News. Thanks!

AEG NEWS 63(3)

9

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – COMMITTEE REPORTS

Communications Committee Bill Roman, Director

Communications Key to AEG's Success Communications are key, and failure to properly communicate underlies many of the challenges we face, be they personal, professional, or societal. Often, when analyzing the root causes of the challenges I encounter, I recall the indelible line delivered by the prison warden, as played by Martin Strother, in the movie Cool Hand Luke: “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.”

In its Strategic Plan, AEG recognizes the key role of communications in its first goal, which is “to improve the AEG experience and communicate it effectively.” The four objectives of AEG’s communication goal are to: 1) advocate for the profession through public and private outreach, 2) enhance external awareness by strengthening the AEG brand, 3) communicate internally in a cohesive manner, and 4) advocate for the Association and its members.

The Communications Committee (CC) supports AEG’s communication goal by overseeing AEG’s publications and website with a view to maintaining their continuing quality. The CC advises AEG’s Board of Directors (BOD) of ways that publications and other media may be improved and initiates and responds to proposals for enhancing communications within AEG and with outside audiences.

Since the September 2019 Annual Meeting in Asheville, significant communications-related developments include changes in the leadership of the CC, changes in the editorship of AEG News and Cities of the World, launch of a new AEG website, and revision of AEG’s social media policy. As AEG Vice President, Bill Godwin also serves as CC Manager, and Bill Roman became CC Co-chair following the 2019 Annual Meeting.

Monthly Call-ins Monthly CC call-ins are held primarily to discuss AEG publications, social media, the AEG website, and how the CC can support implementation of AEG’s Strategic Plan. The call-ins are scheduled as a recurring event at noon (ET) on the second Friday of the month. Call-in attendees have included AEG members and leaders including members of AEG’s Executive Council, Regional Directors, Strategic Initiative Coordinators, Section and Committee Chairs, representatives of AEG’s association management, and publication editors and editorial board members. AEG members desiring to contribute to or receive the CC call-in agenda or participate in CC call-ins are welcome to contact the CC Co-chair at wroman@gfnet.com.

Publications AEG publications are one of the many benefits of AEG membership and include Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, AEG News, AEG Insider, Geology of the Cities of the World, and special publications.

Abdul Shakoor (AEG) and Brian Katz (GSA) continue to serve as co-editors of Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (EEG), which is a quarterly joint publication of AEG and the Environmental & Engineering Geology Division of the Geological 10

Society of America. AEG members can access the May 2020 issue of EEG through AEG’s website (https://aeg.memberclicks.net/e-eg-journal) and archive issues through geoscienceworld’s website (https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/eeg).

The February 2020 issue was a special publication focusing on Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOAs) guest edited by R. Mark Bailey and Sarah Kalika. EEG’s editors invite contributions concerning all aspects of environmental and engineering geology and related disciplines. In addition to more submissions, EEG’s editors can always use more peer reviewers.

Visty Dalal is the new AEG News acquisitions editor, and Bill Roman is the new AEG News content editor. Visty and Bill are volunteers and have been greatly assisted by the professional services and guidance kindly provided by Andrea Ptak, who continues as the AEG News managing/production editor.

Visty welcomes your contributions (see AEG News Acquisitions Editor’s Pen, p. 14), and letters from readers are also welcome (contact news@aegweb.org). AEG News is published five times per year: March (Annual Report and Membership Directory), Spring, Summer, September (Meeting Program with Abstracts), and Winter.

AEG Insider is an e-publication, which is emailed to subscribers on Thursdays. AEG Insider is produced by Colby Horton, vice president of publishing, and Damon Sayles, senior content editor. These weekly messages contain headlines and short news items about AEG, conferences and meeting announcements, and links to other science news.

Ted Toskos has recently assumed the editorship of the Geology of the Cities of the World project, succeeding Bob Anderson, who stepped down in March 2020. The Geology of Sacramento is the next issue scheduled to be released in this series. Discussions are underway concerning future projects and their format. Current and past practitioners in New England are encouraged to contact Ted for reviewing parts of the new Geology of Boston issue, which is currently in the works.

Some items not published as part of a regular series or journal are available through the AEG website (https://aeg.memberclicks.net/other-publications). Bob Tepel’s Special Publication 7 (Professional Licensure for Geologists, and Exploration of Issues) was recently made available in PDF format through this AEG webpage. Certain publications are available upon request from the Association’s management firm.

AEG Website AEG’s new website was launched in December 2019. The CC has provided feedback to AEG’s management firm on several website issues, which have been quickly improved or resolved.

The Chapter Support Committee has been busy updating web resources available through the Chapter Toolkit webpage (https://aeg.memberclicks.net/chapter-toolkit). The CC welcomes your comments and suggestions for improving AEG’s website.

Social Media AEG currently has social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. AEG’s management firm recently developed a social media strategy, which was reviewed and approved by the CC. The strategy is a six-page

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Summer 2020

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – COMMITTEE REPORTS document, which serves as a guideline for effective use of current and future social media outlets at both the association and chapter levels. The document provides step-by-step instructions for getting started on various social media platforms, guidelines on content to be posted, resources available for creating content, suggestions on posting frequency and the most efficient times to post. The strategy is available on the Member Resources Library Quicklinks webpage (https://aeg.memberclicks.net/member-resources).

Webinars AEG has also launched a webinar series to stay connected with its membership and encourage communications. Currently attendance at these webinars is free to all but eventually will have a small fee to all non-AEG members. Webinars provide an opportunity to discuss the state of the association as well as to gain insights from an expert on a technical topic, while earning professional development hours, either as a presenter or an attendee. Webinars have allowed us to stay connected while practicing social distancing during this challenging time of pandemic. Webinar presenters currently scheduled for July are Scott Burns, Patty Bryan, and Maddie German. Recorded webinars and a list of webinar topics available to chapters can be found on AEG’s webinar webpage (https://aeg.memberclicks.net/webinars).

The CC certainly welcomes new members with new ideas on how we can improve the AEG experience and communicate it effectively. Prospective members are encouraged to contact CC Manager Bill Godwin (vp@aegweb.org).

Licensure Committee The “State” of Bill Tracking Duane Kreuger, AEG Past President In late 2019, AEG entered into a one-year contract with StateScape, a firm with proprietary bill-tracking software that was recommended and selected out of several firms we evaluated. Our contract with StateScape includes language, or key words, that their software uses as search criteria while scanning individual State House and Senate bills that are posted on-line. StateScape’s software searches the House and Senateposted bill listings for every state, every day. When a bill containing one or more of the keywords is detected, the StateScape software sends our volunteers an email automatically with a link to the bill, so the only requirement is that a volunteer check their email.

In the December 2019 issue of AEG News, President Palomares wrote about the importance of volunteers. She is succinct in her assessment that, collectively, our volunteers help shape our identity and are critical to our profession. After the AEG Board of Directors approved the proposal and associated expenses from StateScape, AEG put out a “call for volunteers.”

If you want to volunteer for this bill-tracking effort, just send an email to Nate Saraceno (secretary@aegweb.org). It is reassuring to know that our membership cares about bills that could impact geologist registration and the sound practice of Summer 2020

geology in their state. The list of volunteers, and associated members, has 70 names on it. We included the Regional Directors, so that there would be coverage for each state.

We also included the members of the Licensure Committee.

As of May 21, 2020, StateScape identified 328 bills from 49 sources, which includes 46 states. StateScape notifications provided useful, timely information regarding state bills, and here are a few examples: ■ A member in California reported that a bill would have allowed preferential treatment of some licensure applicants ■ A member in Illinois reported that a bill would have created a potential amendment to their licensing act and generated a review of the need for professional licensure.

■ A member in Missouri, responding to my question “Without StateScape’s notification, would you have been able to act as quickly?” stated, “Not only could we have not acted quickly, there is a question of whether we would have known about some of the bills at all.”

■ Greg Hempen noted, “Two bills passed in Missouri’s pandemicshortened legislative session, one of which has been signed into law by the Governor. The new legislation affects spouses, who are certified or registered in an occupation or profession in another state, of military personnel transferred to Missouri. The popular legislation enables them to quickly seek reciprocity to have the same occupation or profession in Missouri.”

■ Missouri is my home state, and we issued a “call to action” regarding a bill that would allow a convicted individual to return to their previous profession, as the requirement for “good moral character” would be repealed. Professionals must have the protection of their fellow citizen’s health and safety first, ahead of their own interests. Interestingly, the summary of the bill was “Fresh Start Act of 2020.”

■ A member in Alabama reported that the registration Board may not have been aware of the proposed changes for PGs in Tennessee.

■ Several volunteers indicated that they would not have had the ability to act as quickly without the StateScape notifications.

There may be some members who did not receive an email notice because of potential ‘spam’ identification. And, there were several volunteers who could not access copies of a bill from the StateScape e-mail links. I have reached out to these volunteers to see if we can find a solution.

Going forward, StateScape is a valuable tool, given the quantity and relevancy of the information it provides via its notification system. Ideally, if other geoscience associations were to realize the value in this system and pledge to participate with us, then AEG could share the cost of an annual subscription while at the same time increasing the number of volunteers who track bills at the state level.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Inspire participation and interest in your group by submitting a report of what you’ve been working on in time for the December issue of AEG News. Send a short synposis to Acquisitions Editor Visty Dalal at news@aegweb.org.

AEG NEWS 63(3)

11

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – TECHNICAL WORK GROUPS

Technical Working Groups 2019–20 Summary Coordinator–Dave Fenster, 2019–20 AEG Past President The following article updates information on AEG’s Technical Working Groups (TWGs) published in the March AEG News as part of the 2020 Directory.

Please review the listing below as several points of contact have changed and most of these technical committees are looking for members who want to get involved. The contact information below should be used where different from the information in the March Directory. I will be working with the TWG co-chairs and Headquarters to update their websites, as needed. The current TWG web pages are located on the AEG website by clicking on Volunteer and Technical Working Group.

If you are interested in learning about, staying current with, or advancing current technical practices please contact a TWG cochair at their listed email addresses or me at PP@aegweb.org.

Coastal Hazards Curt Schmidt has been serving as a Co-chair. During the last TWG meeting, Cheryl Hapke agreed to be a new Co-chair.

Curt Schmidt

schmidtcas.aeg@gmail.com

Cheryl Hapke

hapke.coastal@gmail.com or chapke@coastalsciencessoutions.com

Coastal Hazards Technical Working Group is charged with disseminating information, organizing conferences and workshops, developing training, and writing general and technical articles regarding geologic hazards along the coasts of the United States: Atlantic, Arctic, Caribbean, Great Lakes, Gulf, and Pacific. This group will foster the integration of engineering and environmental geologic information into policy and management actions in order to reduce the nation’s future vulnerability to these hazards and to create more resilient and sustainable environments along the nation’s coasts.

Coastal Hazards is currently planning a Technical Forum on sea level rise resilience and engineering along the Atlantic Coast. This is being planned as an interdisciplinary forum to be held in Norfolk, VA, May 5–7, 2021. Curt Schmidt and Rick Kolb are co-chairs for the forum and are looking for enthusiastic members who are willing to be on the Forum Organizing Committee. You can contact Curt and Rick at schmidtcas.aeg@gmail.com and rick.kolb1@gmail.com, respectively. Ryan Fandry is involved as the Mid-Atlantic Region Director. The TWG is seeking additional members.

Dams and Levees Kevin Richards & Cassie Wagner, Co-chairs Kevin Richards kevin.richards@comcast.net Cassie Wagner cwagner@usbr.gov This TWG has the responsibility of reviewing environmental, engineering geology, and geotechnical questions and issues 12

related to dam siting, construction, and safety. The group makes recommendations to the Board for consideration with respect to position or policy statements on dam-related matters. The technical working group activities include: informing our membership of new and emerging technologies; improving public awareness of dam safety issues and promoting our profession; providing input to local, state, or federal regulations; and publishing papers and organizing AEG dam symposia and short courses Holly Nichols and Bruce Hilton will be co-conveners for a symposium during the virtual Annual Meeting. This TWG has an active membership and has conducted several symposia at annual meetings and several successful technical conferences including a Forum on Dam and Levee Foundations in 2019.

They are planning another technical forum for late 2021.

Environmental Patty Bryan & Loren Lasky, Co-chairs Patty Bryan

pbryan@bryanenv.com

Loren Lasky

geolorenpg@gmail.com

The Environmental TWG disseminates information to the membership on regulations; regulatory guidance; and methods of investigation and remediation of soil/sediment, ground water and surface water impacted by releases of petroleum products, chemicals, mining wastes and naturally occurring contaminants such as asbestos and radon. Activities include providing information to the practitioners, public, and educators on the importance of geology in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the ecosystem from environmental contamination. The group’s activities include: quarterly conference call to pursue upcoming actions; providing input to local, state, or federal regulators; and organizing AEG’s environmental symposia, professional forums and field trips This TWG is planning to hold a symposium, Radon Recurrence and Remediation, during the virtual Annual Meeting and has been discussing the potential for a technical forum in 2021. Please notify Patty or Loren if you have been an environmental geology practitioner and would like to join their group.

This is a great opportunity for environmental practitioners to show they are essential to AEG and that this is the organization to be part of.

Geologic and Seismic Hazards Gerry Stirewalt, Co-chair; 2nd Co-chair TBD Gerry Stirewalt glstirewalt1@comcast.net Gerry Stirewalt is the new co-chair of this re-invented TWG which is newly reorganized and working on developing a scope. His goal is to expand the previous Seismic Hazard Technical Working Group (TWG) into this new TWG that will consider potential hazards related to karst issues and volcanism, as well as characterization of seismotectonic features that provides essential information to seismologists for analyzing seismically-induced ground motion as input to the design of critical facilities. In addition, the TWG will work to integrate the assessment of geologic hazards with geotechnical information

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Summer 2020

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – TECHNICAL WORK GROUPS obtained during characterization of potential sites for critical facilities. Please contact Gerry if you would like to join this “dynamic” group.

Landslides

Geophysics

Kevin McCoy

Doug Lambert has been the temporary lead but desperately needs a new co-chair.

Geologists identify active landslides and areas subject to slope instability so that they may be avoided or mitigated. Together, geologists and civil engineers develop and implement measures to improve the stability of slopes, repair existing landslides, and prevent damage from future landslides. Slope stability can be improved by removing material from the top of the slope, adding material or retaining structures to the base of the slope, and reducing the degree of saturation by improving drainage within the slope.

The Landslides TWG has organized and sponsored several symposia at annual meetings and several very successful technical forums, including a workshop on Debris Flows during 2019. This is a very active group of practitioners and is a great source of knowledge and are a nation-wide network. They are planning to hold symposia during our virtual annual meeting.

Doug Lambert dlambert@geotechnology.com This TWG was established to communicate information to the membership on methods, applications, and limitations of surface, subsurface, and on-water geophysical surveys for engineering and environmental projects. This group has some new members and is looking for other practitioners.

Greg Hempen (Hempen69@sbcglobal.net) is planning a Technical Forum on karst, tentatively scheduled for May 2021—which is the International Year of Karst. Karst is found throughout the US and is widespread in many eastern states such as Indiana, Missouri, Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Please contact Doug if would like to join the TWG and contact Greg if you are interested in participating in the forum.

Kmccoy@bgcengineering.ca

Sarah Kalika & Mark Bailey, Co-chairs

Josh Wagner & Brian Simpson, Co-chairs Julia Frazier was the temporary lead. jwag792@gmail.com

Bryan Simpson bksimpson@usbr.gov To ensure the TWG is being afforded a broad spectrum of perspectives, three panelists will be selected to assist in administrative tasks and to help source relevant content. A panelist will be selected by the co-chairs from one of each of these three sectors: academia, government, and industry (likely a consultant). Additionally, a fourth panelist may be considered to represent the perspective of a UAS data collection service provider or manufacturer. A list of potential members is currently being developed based on the co-chairs’ existing first-degree contacts. Once finalized, an inaugural conference call will be held to formally introduce the TWG to the attendees. TWG membership will initially be based on the outcome of the inaugural call and the level of interest it can solicit.

This TWG will focus on the applied use of UAS and ancillary technologies in geology and geotechnical engineering. Please contact Josh and Bryan if you are interested in joining.

Hydrogeology No Present Lead. We are seeking a new co-chair and active members.

The TWG on Hydrogeology serves to keep the membership informed of significant developments within the fields of ground water and karst control, usage, protection, and regulation.

Hydrogeology concerns are currently being considered by the environmental TWG but is broadly applicable.

Summer 2020

Casey Dowling cdowling@bgcengineering.ca

Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA)

GeoUAS (drones)

Josh Wagner

Casey Dowling & Kevin McCoy, Co-chairs

Sarah Kalika

sarah@georx.net

Mark Bailey

mark@asbestostemlabs.com

This TWG has the responsibility of communicating news and regulatory information regarding management, mapping, sample collection, laboratory analysis techniques, construction mitigation, education, and regulatory requirements related to the natural occurrences of asbestos and asbestiform minerals within the United States. The group’s activities include: quarterly dinner meetings with an invited speaker; improving public and industry awareness of the variety of issues related to NOA; providing input to local, state, or federal regulators; publishing papers and organizing AEG’s Naturally Occurring Asbestos symposia and field trips AEG’s NOA TWG is an active group and has sponsored symposia at annual meetings and successful technical forums. The co-chairs, along with colleagues in Italy and South Korea, have successfully petitioned IAEG to create Commission 39: Naturally Occurring Asbestos. IAEG Commission 39 and AEG’s TWG will work as a single group to advance the development of analytical laboratory practices and awareness of NOA and Elongate Mineral Particles on a global scale. They are planning a symposium for our virtual Annual Meeting. Please let the co-chairs know if you’re interested in joining their group. continued…

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AEG NEWS 63(3)

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NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS

Tunneling Paul Headland, Ike Isaacson, & Mike Piepenburg, Co-chairs Paul Headland pheadland@aldeaservices.com Ile Isaacson

iisaacson@brierlyassociates.com

Mike Piepenburg

michael.piepenburg@mottmac.com

This Technical Working Group has the responsibility of reviewing environmental, engineering geology, and geotechnical questions and issues related to feasibility, planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of tunnels and underground structures (tunnels, shafts, and caverns). The group makes recommendations to the Board for consideration with respect to position or policy statements on tunnels and underground structure related matters. The technical working group activities include: informing our membership of new and emerging technologies; improving public awareness of tunneling and underground projects (tunnels, shafts, and caverns) and promoting our profession; Improving public awareness of societal benefits associated with development of underground infrastructure; providing input to local, state, or federal regulations impacting underground infrastructure; outreach to high

schools and universities regarding careers in underground engineering; and publishing papers and organizing AEG tunneling symposia and short courses.

The Tunneling TWG has conducted symposia at the last two Annual Meetings and was planning a full-day symposium at the Portland AM. They will conduct a symposium during the virtual Annual Meeting instead. The Tunneling TWG has been discussing the potential for a technical forum during 2021. If you are interested in the participating in the forum, please contact our enthusiastic co-chairs.

The Geologic Resource Management; Rock Mechanics; Solid, Hazardous & Mine Waste Management; Subsidence; and Sustainability These TWGs have been inactive for several years. If you are interested in joining or providing leadership, please contact me at pp@aegweb.org.

The Rock Mechanics TWG practitioners have been working in the Landslide TWG (rock slope stability) or in the Tunneling TWG. The Solid, Hazardous & Mine Waste Management TWG has been largely incorporated into the Environmental TWG.

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – AEG NEWS ACQUISITIONS EDITOR’S PEN

It will be gneiss to know you, so won’t you collaborate?

H

Visty Dalal, AEG News Acquisitions Editor

i, my AEG family. I hope everyone is doing well and keeping safe in these turbulent times! These are hard times for all of us to keep an even keel, but we do have our friends and family to depend and lean on. We all have an extended family—AEG, with whom we find solace in our mutual times of need. I have really gained a renewed appreciation for my family and friends in these times when we all are sequestered at home and can’t go outside. I don’t know if I ever had so much time to spend at home with my family. So, I have and continue to cherish these times together and will be disappointed when we have to return to the “new normal” schedule in the near future.

Since last December, when I took over as the ‘Acquisitions Editor’ for AEG News, I have had the wonderful opportunity of knowing some of you through our communication for the News.

It has been a rewarding experience to say the least knowing you and what you all do for AEG, and in your professional and personal lives. Everyone that I have come in contact with has been extremely gracious in assisting the AEG News’ editorial staff (Andie Ptak and Bill Roman) with their valued contributions and experiences that they have readily shared. I want to take this opportunity of thanking everyone for their assistance and patience in working with me while I learned the “tricks of the trade.”

14

Looking forward, I would like to encourage all the AEG members to participate in our joint venture to grow and learn from and with each other. We can accomplish this by sharing our experiences—both professional and personal, with others through this and other mediums of expression. We at AEG News are always looking for new thoughts, suggestions, contributions, professional news, etc. that you would like to share with others. I would like to make AEG News a newsletter that you can’t put down once you start reading it and can’t wait until the next edition comes out. However, Andie, Bill, and I can’t do it alone as we need your assistance, contributions, thoughts, etc. to make it a joint success! So, won’t you help us out by sharing a part of your life story with us? I am only an email away, so when you have a chance just pen me an email and share those wonderful ideas with me. I look forward to that sincerely!

Meanwhile, enjoy this summer edition of the AEG News, with great contributions from a lot of people who have kindly spent time putting their pieces together for your reading pleasure. It will soon be your turn to return the favor!

I wish everyone a blessed summer and hope to interact with you in the ‘Virtual Annual Meeting’ in September. Looking forward to your professional contributions there! Contact me at news@aegweb.org or (443) 271-8122 (Cell).

AEG NEWS 63(3)

Summer 2020

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION – WOMEN OF AEG

Renee Wawczak, PG AEG Strategic Initiatives Coordinator I grew up playing in the dirt field next to my house and spent hours collecting and sorting all the rocks I would gather on my daily adventures. But I never dreamed I would become a geologist. In fact, I didn’t even know a job like that existed or was accessible to me until I went to college. When I started my journey as an undergraduate at Northeastern Illinois University, I was a declared marketing major. During my first Renee taking a break on the dive boat year, I took a few geology during a scuba adventure in Mexico classes to fulfill the necessary science requirements. I was immediately hooked and knew that I wanted to become a geologist from that day forward. I never took a single marketing class, but I took every geology and earth science course that my schedule allowed. I especially loved the field courses; any opportunity to get outside and get my hands dirty was always the highlight of my semester!

The decision to become a geologist has led me down various career paths. I became a licensed Professional Geologist in Illinois and have worked in the environmental consulting industry, in the insurance industry assessing environmental risk, and now as an environmental regulator. I still love fieldwork and firmly believe that a bad day in the field is still better than a good day at my desk! Geology is not only my profession, it’s my passion, one that I love sharing with my son who shows an unbounded excitement for all things STEM. We enjoy countless hours on hikes, rock and fossil collecting, and basically anything that can be done outside.

I started participating in AEG at the local level shortly after completing my undergraduate degree. Although I was employed in the industry, attending the local meetings allowed me to regularly connect with other industry professionals. AEG provided the opportunity for me to stay engaged with the profession and to gain an understanding of countless local, national, and international applied geology projects. The local leadership noticed my regular participation at these events and encouraged me to become a member of the Association.

Thanks to their encouragement, I became a member in 2009, and I immediately began volunteering in various capacities. I was elected as Treasurer of the North Central Section (now known as the Chicago Chapter) from 2010 to 2012, and as Chair from 2012 to 2016 (under the previous AEG structure, the Chair was by default a Board Member of the Association). I went on to serve on the Governance Committee from 2015 to 2018, and on several ad-hoc committees and work groups. I Summer 2020

became a Strategic Initiatives Coordinator (SIC) in 2018 and am currently serving in that role.

In this position, I work with the Executive Council (EC), Board of Directors (BOD), and the Operational Committees to implement the goals of the Strategic Plan. By participating in the Board Meetings and TOP: Renee and her son enjoy a swinging a break with other Operaduring visit to the Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum. tional Committees, I ABOVE: Renee's son explores a crevice at Arches have received price- National Park. less hands-on leadership training that I would have never received so early in my career. AEG has been and will continue to be a valuable resource when navigating my professional life. The Association has also meant a great deal to me personally. I have formed many lifelong friendships through AEG that I cherish greatly!

This column is intended to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the geosciences.

Please send your suggestions for future contributors to this column to news@aegweb.org.

AEG NEWS 63(3)

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AEG2020 – VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING

F

AEG is excited to host its first ever Virtual Annual Meeting!

or the first time in AEG’s history, we had no choice but to cancel the in-person 2020 Annual Meeting as originally planned for this September in Portland, Oregon due to the nation’s collective response efforts to COVID-19 and due to the Governor of Oregon mandating that no large gatherings take place through September 2020. We have replaced the anticipation of our Annual Meeting with the same zeal for a new and unprecedented opportunity to adapt and serve our members and the geology community.

We are offering the same great Technical Program with several fun events added. This is a great opportunity for everyone to attend and get a feel for what AEG Annual Meetings have to offer. This is a chance to hear from industry leaders and get a look at how our profession is pivoting to address the challenges we all face in this unprecedented environment.

Registration is just $100 for AEG members, $200 for non-members and $25 for students. This is an 80% savings off the normal cost to attend an Annual Meeting.

All sessions will be recorded so you can view them at any time.

Don’t miss this chance to learn from the experts, all from the comfort and safety of your home computer!

Opening Session Wednesday – 9:00am–12:00pm

2019–20 JAhns Distinguished Lecturer – Scott Lindvall Scott received his BS in Geology from Stanford University in 1984 and his MS in Geology from San Diego State University in 1988. Dick Jahns was Scott’s undergraduate advisor at Stanford, which makes this award especially meaningful to him. He has spent the majority of his career working for consulting firms specializing in seismic hazards and engineering geology.

He currently manages the Lettis Consultants International southern California office.

His interest in geology came at a young age growing up in the Transverse Ranges of southern California. His geologist father, Eric Lindvall, helped instill an appreciation of the outdoors

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Jahns Distinguished Lecturer Scott Lindvall pauses to enjoy a Kodak moment while mapping in California’s Owens Valley.

(and therefore geology) and was later instrumental in shaping Scott’s career. His interest in earthquakes was triggered at nine years old in the early morning hours of February 7, 1971, with the M6.6 San Fernando earthquake. Experiencing strong ground shaking from the main shock and several large aftershocks in the epicentral region, while dust was slowly rising from rock falls in the surrounding canyons, left a lasting impression.

Scott has performed detailed mapping of surface ruptures of earthquakes in southern California and Turkey, including the 1986 M6.6 Superstition Hills, 1992 M7.3 Landers, 1999 M7.4 zmit (Kocaeli), 1999 M7.1 Düzce, and the

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AEG2020 – VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING 1999 M7.1 Hector Mine earthquake ruptures. Scott’s experience in neotectonics, paleoseismology, and geomorphology has enabled him to pursue research projects designed to better quantify the timing of past events, slip rate, surface displacement, and style of deformation on active strike-slip and reverse faults throughout southern California. He has been awarded over a dozen research grants funded by the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC).

Scott has directed geologic evaluations and seismic source characterizations in a variety of tectonic environments ranging from active plate boundaries to stable cratons. He served on the Technical Integration Team for a multi-year study sponsored by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, US Department of Energy, and the Electric Power Research Institute to develop the Central and Eastern United States Seismic Source Characterization for Nuclear Facilities, which has served as the regional seismic source model for hazard evaluations of nuclear facilities since its publication in 2012. Scott has also served on the advisory committee of the EarthquakeInduced Landslides Working Group for the California Geological Survey’s (CGS) Seismic Hazards Mapping Program and, more recently, the CGS Special Publication 42 Advisory Panel to update the regulatory guidance on assessing fault rupture hazards in California.

Annual Meeting Presentation Crossing the San Andreas Fault: Improving the Resilience of the Los Angeles Aqueduct System This talk focuses on the Los Angeles Aqueduct crossing of the San Andreas fault in the Elizabeth Tunnel and describes the detailed surface and subsurface geologic investigations used to characterize the architecture of the fault zone at tunnel depth.

Historic fault displacement data from global strike-slip faults are presented along with deterministic and probabilistic fault displacement hazard analyses performed to address the new 2019 performance-based seismic design guidelines for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Cheryl Hapke PhD atop the high dunes at Fire Island National Seashore, NY

Annual Meeting Presentation Our Changing Coastlines: The Intersection of Geologic Processes & People Dr. Hapke’s presentation will provide a glimpse into the professional career of a research scientist whose passion of coastal geology has taken her from the steep slopes of the Big Sur Coast to the barrier islands of NY battered by Hurricane Sandy to the island beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of the location or the geomorphology of the coastline, Dr. Hapke explores how coastlines change in response to storms, tides and sea-level rise, focusing on the vulnerabilities that changing conditions bring to communities, infrastructure, and the natural environment around them. Over the course of her lecture series, she will explore how geology and humans intersect at the coast and how science can be used not only to understand how a coastal system works but also how that knowledge can be used to help managers, planners, and decision-makers best balance natural processes and societal needs.

2020–21 Jahns Distinguished Lecturer – CHERYL HAPKE, PHD Dr. Cheryl J. Hapke has decades of experience in studies of coastal geology and processes of coastal change as they relate to societal issues. She is presently the coordinator of the Florida Coastal Mapping Program and holds a research professorship at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science. She also runs a private consulting company: Coastal Science Solutions. She earned her PhD in coastal geology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and spent over 20 years as a research scientist with the US Geological Survey before taking early retirement from federal service in 2019. Her expertise spans a variety of coastal geomorphic settings, including barrier islands, rocky coastlines, and carbonate coasts. She currently is focused on helping coastal communities with sea-level rise adaptation planning.

Summer 2020

In Need of Professional Development Hours?

Take advantage of earning up to 2 CEU Credits and 20 PDHs offered throughout your entire Virtual AEG Annual Meeting experience at an incredible value!

The best part: Credits will be available for all educational sessions—regardless if you listen live or later!

Please visit our website to register and for all of the details, www.aegannualmeeting.org.

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AEG Outstanding Environmental & Engineering Geologic Project Award

Route 30 Landslide Remediation Award ceremony during the Opening Session will feature a presentation from the project team.

The landslide severed a key travel artery connecting eastern suburban communities to the Parkway East and downtown Pittsburgh. The highway has an average daily traffic count of 30,000 in the project area.

Project Team Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Gannett Fleming, Inc. Golden Triangle Construction Co., Inc.

National Significance of Project US Route 30 is a major east–west, coast-to-coast highway.

The roadway is the third longest US highway, extending 3,073 miles across the northern tier of the US from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Astoria, Oregon. The portion of Route 30 running through Pennsylvania is perhaps the most famous of all the US highways, the Lincoln Highway, known as one of the earliest transcontinental highway routes for automobiles across the US. Today, the route still connects the Commonwealth’s two largest cities—Philadelphia in the east and Pittsburgh in the west.

On April 6, 2018, on a four-lane stretch of the Lincoln Highway located in East Pittsburgh Borough, Allegheny County, engineers from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation 18

(PennDOT) and Gannett Fleming were investigating a troubled section of Route 30. The roadway, a principal artery between the suburbs and downtown Pittsburgh, was experiencing surface displacement problems.

The investigation revealed much more than expected. The team detected a crack in a retaining wall near the base of the slope below the highway, as well as signs that the retaining wall was beginning to shift— evidence that accelerating surface movements identified at the roadway grade, may be the result of underlying slope movement. Recognizing imminent danger, the team alerted police to evacuate a residential community at the base of the slope.

Within hours and shortly before daybreak on April 7, a landslide sent 300 feet of roadway and thousands of tons of soil plummeting 90 feet down the steep hillside, destroying a home and two apartment buildings.

Project Description The team’s decisive action to protect the public and remove residents from harm’s way likely saved dozens of lives. Police evacuated more than 30 residents from six apartment buildings.

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A landslide sent 300 feet of Route 30 and thousands of tons of debris plummeting down a steep hillside, destroying residences below. Engineers investigating roadway subsidence had initiated an evacuation just hours earlier.

Fortunately, no injuries occurred due to this catastrophic failure.

However, the closure of this major highway threatened to paralyze the region.

To restore the key artery and return displaced residents to their homes as quickly as possible, PennDOT partnered with Gannet Fleming and their on-call geotechnical maintenance contractor, Allison Park Contractors (APC), to perform investigation and design concurrently with emergency cleanup operations.

Working around the clock, Gannett Fleming delivered a comprehensive landslide remediation design and bid package in just ten days—when the industry norm is ten weeks or more, even under emergency conditions. During this time, APC also performed dusk to dawn demolition of damaged structures and careful excavation of landslide debris. This extraordinary effort kicked off final construction operations that continued 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, with no holiday breaks, allowing the highway to reopen in less than three months, instead of a more typical design and construction duration of two years.

Environmental and Engineering Geologic Principles Applied The engineers used an unconventional, aggressive approach to design a 400-foot-long retaining wall and 90-foot embankment, working together with PennDOT and emergency excavators as they began removing approximately 35,000 cubic yards (cy) of debris from the site. Although excavation began almost immediately, the team could not wait until debris was removed to begin geotechnical investigations and analyses; or until analysis was complete to begin wall design—standard procedure on most projects. By analyzing data and developing the design simultaneously, the team demonstrated an innovative application of existing techniques to achieve a successful solution in an exceptionally short period of time.

At the team’s direction, excavators removed debris from specific areas to enable drill rigs to access nine core sample Summer 2020

The delivery of a comprehensive remediation design and bid package to PennDOT within a two-week timeline enabled the reopening of the rebuilt highway just three months after the landslide occurred.

borings along the anticipated wall alignment. Geotechnical engineers analyzed samples on the spot to determine how actual conditions aligned with the estimates. Data was conveyed instantly from the field to designers, who refined the design models as needed.

To hit the two-week deadline, engineers gathered as much data on subsurface conditions as quickly as possible, even though layers of rubble still covered the site. They also began wall design immediately, using the data on hand, and continually adjusted the design as new data became available. The unique approach enabled rapid progress.

Available lidar imagery provided site mapping and surface contours and cross sections were cut through the landscape to identify the ground surface prior to the landslide. Mapping was supplemented by 3D aerial photogrammetry using a drone launched within days of the slope failure. With this information in hand, the team created a framework for remediation design options to present to PennDOT. The details of the retaining wall size, type, and location were then confirmed or adjusted as new information became available.

To minimize the environmental impact to the small urban community of East Pittsburgh, the team designed a durable rock embankment supported by an anchored wall. This remedial option was provided to keep the footprint of the reconstructed embankment as small as possible.

Benefit to the Public Fifty-four contractors and vendors attended the pre-bid for the project, and after 13 days from the original slide, bids were officially opened. Golden Triangle Construction (GTC) was the low bidder at $6.5 million. GTC used a proactive approach to complete construction within the tight timeline. Based on preliminary contacts made by Gannett Fleming, the contractor found a supplier that had in stock the 51 steel beams required for the retaining wall. They understood the importance of the project, so they took a gamble and locked up the steel prior to getting the bid.

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AEG2020 – VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING GTC immediately stepped into action, relieving PennDOT’s on-call emergency contractor, they continued the landslide debris removal and excavation operations. Working with their previously assembled team of subcontractors and vendors, GTC also began drilled shaft work within 23 days of the bid date. This team was remarkable in the fact that the galvanized soldier piles were delivered and installed in conjunction with the shaft work. The tie-back anchor activities occurred 12 days after the drilled shaft start date, which is further testament to great organization, scheduling, and teamwork. During those activities, 30,000 cy of PTM 510 rock and 14,000 cy of foreign borrow were delivered to the site and placed as the drilled shaft concrete cured. The road reconstruction and drainage were the last activities to occur, and by June 27, 2018, all physical work required to open US Route 30 was complete.

PennDOT Right-of-Way staff, along with Allegheny County Emergency Services and disaster relief organizations, were working behind the scenes during this timeframe assisting the 31 evacuated residents. They worked day and night to ensure

the displaced residents were provided with housing and essential needs. All apartment residents were displaced until construction was completed, and 11 of those residents’ apartments or homes were destroyed.

The remediation of the US Route 30 landslide and the attendance to the displaced residents were the epitome of the ultimate partnering and cooperative experience. Although not without challenges, the urgency and importance of the project was understood by all, and this project was completed three days ahead of an extremely aggressive schedule, and without injury. This could not have been achieved without the collaborative partnership between the designer, the multiple contractors, and vendors involved on the project, PennDOT, and the Federal Highway Administration.

I want to thank PennDOT’s crew for their countless hours and tireless efforts to get this project done quickly and safely. I am proud of the work we’ve all done together.

– Tom Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania

AEG 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting Sponsors (Thank you for your support of AEG, the meeting would not be possible without you!)

Pali Consulting Tim Blackwood, tim@pali-consulting.com, https://pali-consulting.com/ Pali Consulting has more than 25 years of experience in geotechnical work in the Pacific Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands. Our services include Geologic Hazard Assessments, Landslide and Rockfall Mitigation, Geotechnical Data and Design Reports, Foundation and Slope Stabilization, Forest Practices Geotechnical Assessments, MSE, Boulder and Gravity Retaining Wall Design, Foundation Design and Stabilization, and Geotechnical Forensics.

Landslide Technology A Division of Cornforth Consultants Benjamin George, BenjaminG@landslidetechnology.com, www.landslidetechnology.com We are a Portland, Oregon-based geotechnical firm established in 1983. Our firm specializes in complex landslide and rockfall evaluations and remediations. Our expertise has allowed us to provide these services both nationally and internationally for a wide range of transportation, power generation, natural resource and other lifeline infrastructure clients. Landslide Technology is a division of Cornforth Consultants.

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University of Pennsylvania

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Master of Science in Applied Geosciences lps@sas.upenn.edu www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/graduate/msag

AEG Sacramento and New York/Philadelphia Chapters We proudly support the 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting and the many dedicated members of AEG across the nation.

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The Master of Science in Applied Geosciences (MSAG) offers students a specialized degree that combines knowledge in theoretical areas of geology with technical expertise in geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, and engineering geology.

Show your support for AEG while building lasting recognition and good will for your company.

Visit www.aegannualmeeting.org for details.

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Technical Sessions and Symposiums Check the AEG Annual Meeting webpage for the latest updates and additional information. define worker protection procedures and limit the use of asbestos in consumer products.

Engineering Geology for Tunnels and Underground Construction Conveners: Paul Headland, Ike Isaacson, and Mike Piepenburg We will open this session with a 60-minute presentation by our Keynote Presenter Dr. Ed Cording, a distinguished consultant and professor emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois, who will discuss the early days of engineering geology in underground practice, the development of the many of the key tenants of our work, and then fast forward to the continued application of our ability to observe and record our findings in ever-increasingly more challenging work conditions. With over 60 years of experience in the field and around the world, Dr. Cording’s presentation should provide valuable lessons and insights for the listeners. Four other presentations will follow Dr. Cording and cover a wide range of topics (large and small diameter tunnels) and ground conditions (soft ground and rock) including; tunneling through carbonate reef structures and shale, developing a design for a microtunnel drive around a vertical curve through water-bearing sediments, and using directional drilling to locate old historic tunnels in the Rocky Mountains. With a wide variety of locations, tunnel sizes, and ground conditions, we hope there will be something of interest for all of our colleagues and hope you will join us.

Geology as Art – Chrysotile veins in serpentine – Diablo Range Fremont, CA – Thin section – PLM w/ crossed polarizers COURTESY OF ASBESTOS TEM LABS

Applied Geoscience Methods for Problem Solving – A Gallery of Practical Examples Conveners: Gerry L. Stirewalt and David F. Fenster

Environmental Symposium 2020: RADON Occurrence and Remediation Conveners: Patricia Bryan and Loren Lasky AEG’s Virtual Environmental Symposium 2020 will focus on radon, a naturally occurring, radioactive, and carcinogenic emerging contaminant. This half-day symposium, Wednesday afternoon, September 16, 2020, will feature an invited panel of Radon experts from academia and industry. Five in-depth presentations will highlight the latest USGS radon mapping results and discuss the cutting-edge remediation techniques available now for mitigation of radon, both in indoor air and in drinking water.

This technical session will focus on oral presentations that showcase a broad spectrum of practical examples that illustrate how a range of geoscientific methods were creatively and innovatively applied to evaluate potential problems, collect and evaluate data pertinent to those problems, propose solutions to resolve them, and communicate information in a manner that enables all interested stakeholders to understand the geoscientific basis for the proposed solutions.

Symposium – Dam Risk Assessments – Lessons Learned Co-Conveners: Bruce Hilton and Holly Nichols

Naturally Occurring Asbestos: Hindsight in 2020 and Lessons for the Future Conveners: Sarah Kalika and Mark Bailey Asbestos occurs naturally across the United States and around the world within mafic and ultramafic rocks as well as soils derived from these rocks. Join us to learn about naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) and elongate mineral particles (EMPs), what minerals are regulated as asbestos, where they are typically found, sampling and analysis methods, health effects from inhalation, and the varying regulations that apply to construction workers, the public, and waste soil. We will additionally discuss emerging issues relating to efforts to further Summer 2020

Session I – Risk assessments for dams, led by a keynote presentation by Doug Boyer with FERC, who will be discussing the evolution of risk-informed decision making and where the industry is headed.

Session II – Dam remediation and investigations, led by a keynote presentation by Brian Greene with Gannett Fleming, who will discuss the recent installation of a cutoff wall at the East Branch Dam in Wilcox, Pennsylvania.

Session III – Levee risk assessments, incidents, and repairs, led by a keynote presentation by Dave Rogers with Missouri University of Science and Technology, who is well versed in levee case histories.

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Landslide Symposium: Seeking Stable Slopes in a Time of Rapid Change View of the East Branch Dam prior to installation of the cutoff wall

Conveners: Kevin McCoy and Casey Dowling

PHOTO BY BRIAN GREENE, GANNETT FLEMING

Seeking stable slopes in a time of rapid change: This symposium will present case studies and field-based research of landslide processes and landslide hazard evaluation, management, mitigation, and risk reduction in the frameworks of historical and contemporary societal needs. Topics include field studies of landslide activity, morphology, and geometry, comparative evaluation of historical and contemporary mining-related geo-

hazards from a technical and social standpoint, and impacts of climate change on landslide processes.

Symposium – Hot Topics Panel In development: industry experts will discuss the topics most on the minds of engineering and environmental geologists today.

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Virtual Events All work and no play makes for a dull meeting. These online events will help provide some fun.

Women in AEG/AWG Happy Hour

Karl and Ruth Terzaghi Mentor Award

Wednesday, Sept. 16 – 4:45-5:45pm

This award, established in 2008, recognizes outstanding individuals for their achievements as mentors throughout their career. The recipient is an individual who has made lifelong efforts in providing professional, ethical, and technical mentoring for environmental and engineering geologists.

Join us for this fun and educational happy hour to discuss diversity in the geosciences.

Special Event Happy Hour with Scott Burns: Wine Tasting and Terroir Thursday, Sept. 17 – 4:15-5:15pm Escape the office for an evening and join us for an exciting Happy Hour with Scott Burns. Our very own Dr. Scott Burns will lead the wine tasting as he explains the importance of terroir— that is the relationship between geology, soil, climate, and wine.

Scott is the past IAEG President, past AEG President, and has established himself as the local expert on terroir in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. We will be providing a wine list of affordable Oregon Wines that can easily be purchased at your local Grocery store. Please join us for what promises to be a fun and memorable evening as we showcase Oregon region’s geology and wine!

Schuster Medal This joint award from AEG and the Canadian Geotechnical Society recognizes excellence in geohazards research in North America. Nominees must be residents of North America and meet at least two of the following criteria: professional excellence in geohazards research with relevance to North America; significant contribution to public education regarding geohazards; international recognition for a professional career in geohazards; influential geohazards research or development of methods or techniques; or teacher of geohazards students.

Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer in Engineering Geology A joint committee of AEG and the Environmental & Engineering Geology Division of the Geological Society of America selects the Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer. The lecturer presents an annual series of lectures at academic institutions in order to increase awareness of students about careers in engineering geology.

Floyd T. Johnston Service Award This award is presented to a member for outstanding active and faithful service to AEG over a minimum period of nine years to coincide with Floyd T. Johnston’s tenure as Executive Director.

Foundation & Student Awards Join us on Friday afternoon from 2:00–2:30pm to celebrate the AEG Foundation 2020 Student Scholar awardees and student poster competition winners.

Student Events

Scott & Glenda Burns in Antarctica

Student Poster Competition

Awards Ceremony

Wednesday, Sept. 16 – Thursday, Sept. 17 – All Day!

Friday, Sept. 18 – 4:00-5:00pm

Students have submitted poster abstracts that will be presented through videos. All attendees will be viewing the videos and voting on their favorite. Prizes will be awarded for First Place ($250), Second Place ($150), Third Place ($75), and Fourth Place ($25) based on the attendees votes. Winners will be announced in conjunction with the AEG Foundation Awards on Friday, Sept. 18, from 2:00–2:30pm.

This session will honor AEG’s prestigious award recipients.

Share in this celebration for the following awards:

Honorary Member AEG confers an honor of such high esteem that the distinction is recognized as a membership class: Honorary Member. This recognition is given to those persons whose careers have exemplified the ideals of AEG. Summer 2020

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Get a Job & Make It Your Own: A Presentation Seeking Students’ Comments and Discussion Wednesday, Sept. 16 – 12:15-1:15pm Greg Hempen, PhD, PE, RG AEG Honorary Member, Past President & 2013–14 Jahns Distinguished Lecturer, Consulting Geophysicist, EcoBlast, LC The talk seeks to gain students’ involvement and discussion via a PowerPoint presentation. Attendees are encouraged to interrupt the presentation to comment or inquire. The talk and response to inquiries attempt to provide the employer’s perspective, so the new professionals may assess how their job applications and interviews might be evaluated by prospective employers. The presentation also makes a few recommendations on how one’s career over time may be tailored to that individual’s goals. Students may change the direction or develop a concern particular to that audience or to a particular industry or employment availability.

Slide2

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Student/Professional Networking Happy Hour Wednesday, Sept 16 – 4:45-5:45pm Grab your favorite beverage and come prepared to meet fellow AEG Student Members from across the country. Keep checking the website for details as they are developed.

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We look forward to connecting with you this September at our Virtual Annual Meeting.

Visit www.aegannualmeeting.org to register and view the latest exciting details as they are finalized.

2021 Annual Meeting Sponsors Thank you to our 2020 Sponsors that are supporting AEG by transferring their sponsorships to 2021.

AEG Nevada Student Chapter

Pali Consulting

James Ingraffia, ingraffiajames@gmail.com

Tim Blackwood, tim@pali-consulting.com, https://pali-consulting.com/

AEG Sacramento Chapter John Murphy, John.Murphy@Waterboards.ca.gov https://aegsacto.wordpress.com The Sacramento Chapter of AEG was the original and founding section of AEG in 1957 and proudly supports the 2019 AEG Annual Meeting and the many dedicated members of AEG across the nation.

Geokon

Pali Consulting has more than 25 years of experience in geotechnical work in the Pacific Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands. We leverage our passion and experience to meet your goals in a way that is safe, practical and respectful of the land.

Our services include geologic hazard assessments, landslide and rockfall mitigation, geotechnical data and design reports, foundation and slope stabilization, forest practices geotechnical assessments, MSE, boulder and gravity retaining wall design, foundation design and stabilization, and geotechnical forensics.

Joelle Lang, jlang@geokon.com, www.geokon.com

PanGEO

Geokon manufactures a full range of high-quality geotechnical instrumentation suitable for monitoring the safety and stability of a variety of civil and mining structures including dams, tunnels, foundations, mine openings, piles, etc. Geokon’s sensors exhibit excellent long-term stability, accuracy and reliability even in the most adverse conditions.

Stephen Evans, sevans@pangeoinc.com, www.pangeoinc.com

Spotlight Geophysical Services

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Lettis Consultants International Hans AbramsonWard, abramsonward@lettisci.com, www.lettisci.com Lettis Consultants International, Inc. (LCI) offers high technology, innovative Earth science consulting services to clients around the world. LCI geologists, seismologists, and engineers have comprehensive worldwide experience providing earthquake hazard analyses, engineering geology and geotechnical services, water resources expertise, and licensing and regulatory strategy and compliance.

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Summer 2020

PanGEO is a full service geotechnical consulting firm based in Seattle, Washington. We provide geotechnical studies for infrastructure on public and private projects, including bridges, highrise buildings, seismic retrofit, and landslide stabilization efforts.

Spotlight Geophysical Services provides innovative geophysical services for geotechnical and environmental applications. We have over 25 years of experience using geophysics to characterize complex subsurface conditions. We own and maintain an inventory of state-of-the-art geophysical tools, including microgravity, EM, land and marine seismic, GPR, and ERI. Spotlight Geophysical Services is available for projects throughout the United States and abroad. Based in South Florida, we are conveniently located for quick response to projects in the Southeastern US, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

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NEWS OF THE PROFESSION

An Update from the 2019–20 Jahns Distinguished Lectureship

l

Scott Lindvall

want to give all readers of AEG News an update on the 2019–20 Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lectureship in Applied Geology.

This year began with travel to several AEG chapters and universities in California, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Nevada, where I had the pleasure of meeting with many colleagues, professors, and students. I am very appreciative of the great hospitality afforded during my travels, especially memorable time spent with Greg Hempen and Terry West.

through June were all cancelled by the host organizations.

These included trips to Oregon, Washington, Colorado, the Carolinas, and additional engagements in California.

In early May I experienced a personal setback and had to undergo an emergency procedure to repair a blocked artery. I am feeling well, on the road to a strong recovery, and very thankful for modern medicine. This situation has temporarily delayed my presenting Jahns lectures through the AEG webinar series, but I’m looking forward to scheduling these soon.

The landscape is continuing to evolve regarding COVID-19 with some universities opening in the fall and others remaining closed. The AEG Annual Meeting will now be a virtual meeting format and webinar-based presentations appear to be the format for Jahns lectures in the near future. I hope to provide a lecture as part of the virtual Annual Meeting in September.

My lecture topics still include: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Crossing the San Andreas Fault: Improving the Resilience of the Los Angeles Aqueduct System A Tale of Three Dams Along the Owens Valley Fault System Characterizing Fault Displacement Hazards: Significant Progress and Significant Uncertainties Seismic Source Characterization for Evaluating Nuclear Power Plants in the Central and Eastern US Careers for Students in Applied Geology: Options to Consider

Scott Lindvall discussing the geology of Los Angeles County’s Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area during a field trip along the San Andreas fault for 11th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering.

Following presentations in Las Vegas at the Southern Nevada Chapter on March 10 and UNLV on March 11, however, travels for the Jahns Lectureship came to a grinding halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Las Vegas was crowded those two days with nearly half the hotels sold out due to large events, such as an international construction expo and the Pac-12 basketball tournament. The very next day (March 12), competition at the Pac-12 basketball tournament was halted and cancelations for my planned Jahns presentations began rolling in due to the need for social distancing because of the COVID-19 virus. Scheduled presentations for the remainder of March

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PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS

The El Cajon Mountain Rock Avalanche and Debris Flow San Diego County, California

T

Mike Hart, mwHart40@gmail.com

he El Cajon Mountain Rock Avalanche and resulting debris flow (EMRA) is located 6.5 miles east of the community of Lakeside and approximately 1,000 feet west of El Capitan Reservoir in San Diego County, California. The EMRA occurred on the east side of a finger-like ridge that projects southward from the peak of El Cajon Mountain (el. 3,675 ft.) composed of Corte Madera Monzogranite (Todd, 2004). Interpretation of topographic maps and aerial images indicates that a large slab of granitic rock measuring approximately 3,400 feet in width detached from the steep flank of El Cajon Mountain along a master joint system. The height of the resulting scarp is nearly 1,500 feet. As the rapidly moving avalanche impacted the adjacent valley it incorporated and liquefied nearly saturated valley colluvium and alluvium into the debris to enable a nearly one-mile runout into the San Diego River channel. The resulting 4,100-foot-wide debris lobe nearly dammed the San

Diego River (Figure 1). Hungr and Evans (2004) describe similar failure mechanisms for other large rock avalanche/debris flows in the Canadian Rockies. The toe of the western two-thirds of the EMRA has a steep, somewhat bulbous front that is locally near vertical as a result of erosion by the San Diego River. The toe of the eastern third has been partially modified and buried by modern debris flows resulting from re-establishment of the creek bed that existed prior to the avalanche and ensuing runout onto the valley floor.

Evidence for a rock avalanche/debris flow origin for the debris lobe instead of a more mundane alluvial fan resulting primarily from fluvial action is as follows: 1. The ridge on which the avalanche occurred is strikingly asymmetrical with the east side (the scarp area) being relatively planar and much steeper than the west side of the ridge (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

El Cajon Mountain Rock Avalanche and Debris Flow (high-angle oblique image looking north).

Avalanche likely initiated along a northeast trending joint system.

Top of headscarp shown by yellow dotted line.

The avalanche transitioned to a debris flow by incorporating wet colluvial and alluvial soils from the canyon slopes and valley bottom. A smaller rock avalanche deposit (Qra) occurs 1000 ft. west of the EMRA. Blue Star: location of rock quarry; Yellow Star: location of Figure 3.

LEGEND Qra: Rock Avalanche deposit Qdf: El Cajon Mountain Rock Avalanche and debris flow (EMRA) Kcm: Corte Madera Monzogranite Klb: Tonalite of Los Bancos

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PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS 2. The presence of a master joint system at the upper edge of the steep scarp. The joint system provides a low strength discontinuity in otherwise very strong rock. This is an essential condition for the slab failure.

3. Alluvial fans, even when made up of a combination of fluvial and debris flow action, generally have very low gradients of 2 to 6 degrees and a concave up profile.

Debris flow deposits typically have steeper gradients, have flat profiles, and usually a steep rounded front. The EMRA has an average gradient of 10 degrees.

4. Most of the boulders exposed on the surface of the debris flow are huge, some exceeding 20 feet in the longest dimension. The catchment area would seem too small to support a fluvial system that could transport such large “clasts.”

One feature of the EMRA that was at first puzzling was the generally round to sub-round appearance of the large boulders exposed on the surface of the debris lobe. It seemed that a rock avalanche origin for the deposit would demand that the large rocks making up the debris lobe should be more angular. This could be explained by rounding in place by exfoliation that is occurring on many of the boulders (Figure 2). Such weathering is even occurring in the subsurface where a road cut for a transmission line has exposed completely grussified boulders.

The age of the EMRA is suggested by an approximately 2.5-foot-thick soil profile consisting of a well-developed A horizon underlain by a stone zone containing numerous 1.1- to 1.8-cm-diameter pisoliths or ironstone concretions overlying a weak, slightly argillic B horizon (Figure 3). Pisoliths in the soil are interpreted to have formed in San Diego County under coniferous forest conditions in the Pleistocene when the climate was cool and wet.

Acknowledgements Thanks to Tom Rockwell, professor of Geology, San Diego State University, for information on the environment required for formation of pisoliths and to Bill Elliott; a classmate, and colleague who many years ago suggested the possibility of landsliding on El Cajon Mountain.

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Figure 2. 8-foot-diameter (2.4 m) boulder in debris lobe undergoing exfoliation

Figure 3. Soil profile in road cut for power line road at approximate midpoint of debris lobe showing A-Horizon, stone zone with pisoliths at base (arrows) underlain by a weak B-Horizon

References Hungr, 0., Evans, S.G., 2004, Entrainment of debris in rock avalanches—an analysis of long run-out mechanisms: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 116, p. 1240-1250.

Todd, V.R., 2004, Preliminary geologic map of the El Cajon 30’ X 60’ quadrangle, southern California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 20041361, scale 1:100,000.

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Risk Susceptibility Mapping Based on the Urban Geology of the City of La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico (NE-SE portion) Joel Hirales-Rochin

Abstract Geology, as a tool to identify areas of geological risk, is useful for examining the close relationship between a city’s geological environment and its sustainable development. By understanding this relationship, one can respond to the growing demand for solutions to both environmental and urban problems. In the study area, the need to create new urban areas is growing at the national, regional, and local levels. However, urban development has not been linked to an adequate analysis of the geological environment and an understanding of the main factors that control risk conditions. Consequently, the risks and their impacts have manifested themselves due to several factors. The methodology to achieve the objectives was based on a characterization of the geological, hydrogeological, and geomechanical conditions of one of the main urban settlements of the city of La Paz, capital of the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and generation of a set of thematic maps using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology, and finally a risk susceptibility map for flood events, debris flows, rock falls, and landslides. The results represent the first phase of a larger-scale project to develop new information supporting a more detailed zoning of geographic risks, which will provide for the sustainable growth of the population of the state capital, the improvement of current construction standards, and the corresponding zoning to provide for the city’s orderly development. Finally, it is thought that this type of risk susceptibility mapping (urban settlement scale) provides an analysis of the risk conditions, which any city citizen can use to find their location and understand their level of civil protection, as opposed to most risk studies that offer broad-scale results and only offer a general view.

Key words: Geological risks, sustainable urban development, RS (Remote Sensors), GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

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Figure 1. General location map of the study area

1. Introduction.

The natural hazards that occur on our planet are always linked to the Earth’s geodynamics, which include geological and hydrogeological processes. Therefore, it is very important to understand and apply the knowledge we have of the Earth’s geodynamics in order to prevent and mitigate their effects.

Geology and its environment make up the geological environment with which human beings constantly interact. This interaction is in a constant dynamic and evolution, which leads to processes that affect both the natural and human environment.

The former is shaped by geology, biology, and edaphology, and the latter is the anthropic, represented by cities, infrastructure, public works, populations, etc. Both environments interact constantly, and in the case of the study area, a planned and sustainable relationship that allows a harmonious relationship between the two has not yet been established. The search for this “empathy” between the environment and the human being has come to shape disciplines such as Urban Geology, which, in recent years, has gained relevance in Mexico, and is

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PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS becoming a new and important urban development planning tool. The concepts of hazard, vulnerability, and geological risk can help to evaluate the tight-knit relationship between changes in the geological environment and urban development [1-2].

Most of Mexico rests on the southwest corner of the North American plate, which is bordered by the Pacific plate carrying the Baja California peninsula, and the Rivera, Orozco, Cocos and Caribbean plates. Mexico is located along the Ring of Fire, where tectonic activity is high, and which accounts for 80 percent of worldwide seismic and volcanic activity. In addition, the country is located within four of the six cyclone generating regions in the world, which influence the territory of Tehuantepec, the Eastern Caribbean Sea Region, the Campeche maritime platform, and the Eastern Atlantic Region. In total, this geo-climatological location encompasses 17 Mexican states, containing almost half the Mexican population, in areas of vulnerability and risk [3]. Therefore, the geological, hydrogeological, and meteorological conditions of the environment encompassing the city of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, are determining factors in its urban geology, since these elements play an important role in potential risks (floods and landslides) in the city’s urban and suburban areas.

In the study area, the need to create new urban areas is growing at the national, regional, and local levels. However, urban development is not linked to an adequate analysis of the geological environment and an understanding of the main factors that control risk conditions. Consequently, the adverse impacts of urbanization manifest themselves due to various factors, such as: (1) global climate change, (2) inadequate land use planning, (3) ignorance of the geological environment, and (4) uncontrolled urban-population growth. This disconnect is reflected in several natural disasters that have occurred in various Mexican population centers. Examples include the population centers of Minatitlán, Jalisco [4, 5], Meztitlán, Hidalgo.

[6], Chapala, Jalisco [7], and Totomoxtla, Puebla [8], where floods and landslides have wreaked serious damage.

The purpose of this research is the continuation of the assessment of geological hazards at the local level in the southeast part of the city. This assessment will focus on the interaction between the geological environment and the urban environment. Study of the geologic risk factors will increase the understanding of the pre-development conditions in the southeastern portion of the city of La Paz. Thus, the need becomes apparent for an update of the understanding of the geologicalurban environment that supports the state capital’s sustainable urban-population growth, improvement of current construction regulations, and the corresponding mapping to plan for the city’s development in an orderly manner.

ricanes that develop in the Eastern Pacific. Over the last decades, the average annual rainfall is 164.59 mm.

The city of La Paz is characterized by a topography dominated by basins and mountains, which are the result of the interaction of magmatic and tectonic processes. Holocene alluvial material consisting of sand to sandy gravel fills the modern streams in deposits of varying thickness and reaching a few meters thick in the main streams [11]. Geologically, sedimentary and volcanic rocks (sandstone and volcanic conglomerates, rhyolitic tuffs, andesitic lahars and lava flows) are mapped as the Comondú Formation, with an age between 30 and 12 Ma in the central portion [12–16]. Structurally, the valley of La Paz is formed by a graben with north-south orientation, bounded on the east by the La Paz Fault on the slopes of the Las Cruces mountain range, and on the west by the El Carrizal Fault [17]. The geological-structural conditions place the study area in a setting with permanent micro-seismicity.

The total population of the city of La Paz is 251,871 inhabitants [18]. The study area has a size of 85.96 km2 and is located in the southeast portion of the city of La Paz, located between coordinates UTM 12 R 569000-575000 E and 2664000-2674000N (Figure 1).

3. Methodology The risk mapping consists of the delineation and characterization of a space and / or area of the physical environment according to certain properties and constitutes one of the pillars of urban planning. The complexity of these interrelationships makes it difficult to estimate hazards in an integrated manner, so viewing the hazards individually is considered to be more appropriate with respect to the sustainability scheme that is to be factored into the planning of the territory and particularly into the risk mapping. Thus, an adequate mapping of risks must encompass the study of the specific risks that, due to the action of each of the identified natural hazards, occur in an area. By this methodology and with the support of several tools and guide classifications [19–20], it is possible to characterize risk conditions (including their dimensions) (Figure2).

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method used in this paper is a mathematical method created to evaluate alterna-

2. Study Zone La Paz, capital of the State of Baja California Sur, is located in the southern part of the peninsula of Baja California, Mexico.

The predominant hydrogeological conditions of the southern region of the Baja California peninsula are classified as arid to semi-arid (average temperature of 30.37 ° C) [9, 10], which leads to a high incidence probability for tropical storms and hur30

Figure 2. Methodology applied to the study area

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PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS tives when several criteria are considered. The method is based on the principle that the importance and understanding of the factors are as important as the data used in the process. The AHP developed

by Saaty (1980) [21] consists of matrix analysis and involves value judgments. By this method, a hierarchical matrix of the selected criteria was established, which generated the weighting of the eight selected variables. It was based on the understanding of the study area, the documentation and local studies generated to date, and the criteria of the specialists.

3.1. Estimation and Numerical Assignment of Slip Factors.

Table 1. Values assigned to the conditioning factors for areas susceptible to geo-hazards No Factor

Class

No.

Weight (wi)

Index Observations

1

Lithography

Slope

3

Elevation(m)

4

Use/Soil Cover

5

Drainage density(m)

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2

20

2

Aluvium Sandstone Tuff Conglomerate Rhyodacite 0.0–10.8 10.8–21.6 21.6–32.4 32.4–43.2 >43.2 0.0 –76 77–153 154–229 230–306 307–382 Urban settlements Urban zone Forest soil 0.0–59.7 59.7–119.4 119.4–179.2 179.2–238.9 238.9–298 0–5.6 5.6–11.2 11.2–16.8 16.8–22.4 22.4–28 0.0–6 6–8 8–9 9–21 21–25 <100 >100

20 40 60 80 100 16 32 48 64 80 15 30 45 60 75 14 28 42 12 24 36 48 60 10 20 30 40 50 8 16 24 32 40 5 10

The determination of the numerical allocation of the landslide risk assessment factor is a numerical 6 Density of urban roads(m) system that depends on the relevant factors. By superimposing the elements or parameters that indicate geological and hydrological 7 Density of Structural features hazards, a zoning map of suscepti(No./m²) bility can be developed, as well as a delineation of the possible risk areas, granting each factor a 8 Rainfall specific weight and value, and analyzing the situations site by site, with the help of the various thematic maps [22].

The AHP uses comparisons between pairs of elements, building matrices from these comparisons, and using elements of matrix algebra to establish priorities among the elements of a level, with respect to an element of the immediately higher level.

In the study area, specific factors of the physical environment were identified and numerical values were assigned to the factors according to the degree of influence. The different classes within each causal factor were also assigned values according to their influence, to give a more precise assignment of each causal factor and their respective subclasses.

Relevant factors for the zoning mapping of susceptibility to landslide risks include lithology, slope, elevation, land use and land cover, urban road density, line density, drainage density, and precipitation. The maximum numerical estimate of the sliding risk evolution factor for different categories is determined based on their estimated probability to cause instability.

The important factors responsible for the geo-hazards (landslide & floods) area were assigned numerical values (range) on a scale of 1 to 5 in order of significance (Table 1).

This part of the methodology is the basis for giving weight (wi) to each parameter and defining its relative probability to Summer 2020

16

15

14

12

10

8

5

The lithology with the greatest susceptibility to slip is the rhyodacite due to its high degree of fracturing and accumulation of rock masses.

The highest percentage of the slope is concentrated in moderately inclined (25 ° -28 °) to inclined. The slope aspects of north, northeast, and northwest are located in the high parts of the relief where the areas of depletion and fallen rocks are located.

The highest elevation is located NE of the city increasing the possibility of landslides, rock fall and floodplain.

The use of soils is dominated by its use in housing, with surrounding areas of soil and endemic vegetation.

Drainage flows through the urban center of the study area, which increases its risk influence.

Landslides in forms of depletion and/or falling rocks do not occur near the communication routes.

Fractures, stratigraphy and foliation planes are a factor to consider in the vicinity of inhabited areas.

The average annual rainfall for the El Cajoncito basin, where the area is located, is 200mm/year. The climatological station near the study area provides rainfall data over a period of decades.

induce landslides (Ri). These weighted factor maps were superimposed using a multivariate criteria analysis to prepare a risk susceptibility map (MSR) for the study area [23].

3.2. Mapping Risk Vulnerability The risk vulnerability map is based on a zoning of landslide risk (rockslide, debris flow, and rockfall), which was prepared when calculating the landslide potential index and classifying the slip potential index in several lands susceptible to landslide, as low, medium, high and very high.

The slip potential index (SPI) is defined as: SPI = ⌺n i = 1 (wi * Ri) (1)

Where wi denotes the weight for the factor i and Ri denotes the classification of the class of the factor i. In this study, the total number of factors (n) is 8, where the class classification varies from 1 to 5. The landslide model was created and the weighting and classification are assigned to each category. Depending on the issues and their impacts, different areas were delineated.

The total estimated zoning of landslide risk (ZLR) was calculated as follows: Value ZLR = L + SL+ ELE + SL/U-SL + DD+ URD + SFD + RF

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PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS Where, Value of ZLR = Sum of ratings of all the causative factors, ZLR = Lithology + Slope+ Elevation + Soil/Use Soil + Drainage Density+ Urban Road Density + Structural Density + Rainfall.

The different thematic layers were reclassified using the Jenks method, which is based on Jenks natural break algorithm, thereby minimizing the internal variability of the classes and maximizing the differences between classes. In addition, the Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) was used to prepare the risk susceptibility map (RSM), whereby all the layers of the map were superimposed and validated using the landslide incidence points collected during fieldwork.

Based on this methodology and through the use of the ArcGIS software, several thematic maps based on and related to the digital elevation model (DEM) were generated: general geological map, elevations, slope, aspect, drainage, land/vegetation use, precipitation, and as a final product, a susceptibility map.

4. Results and Conclusions The methodology employed by this research work resulted in the generation of vulnerability (susceptibility) maps for geological risks that for the first time are focused on different geological issues of the urban and suburban area, and that can be used as a basis for the future sustainable urban development of the city of La Paz. These areas include urban development zones where streams are located and that are susceptible to flooding, as well as hill slopes having characteristics susceptible to landslides. This research work also highlights the methodology used, the possibility of evaluating susceptibility conditions at the state and regional level, and the employment of statistical methods to complement the work, as has been done by other authors [24–29].

Due to its climate, topography, type of soils and slopes, the Valley of the City of La Paz, BCS, Mexico, has a surface hydrology characterized by runoffs that drain through small channels (streams) to the Bay of La Paz. Low velocity runoff generates significant areas of flooding in the suburban areas of the NE-SE portion, which extend and cross, sometimes causing severe damage to the population (Figure 3).

The urban geology of the study area is characterized by an isolated sequence of rocks outcropping in its southwest portion, which consist chiefly of volcanic and volcano-sedimentary rocks. These rocks are mapped within the Comondú Formation, which is known within the area for its geomechanical condition and anthropic action. In an appendix, families of structural data were analyzed, and it was possible to distinguish a series of alignments and irregularities in the drainage pattern corresponding to a series of failures with a normal component that cuts off the top of the lithological sequence and which have a length of about 10 meters with dominant course as possible failures or fracture.

One fault and three main joint orientations were recognized (Faults N10°E/28°SE, Fracture 1: N20°W/50°SW, Fracture 2: S 45°E/85°NE and Fracture 3: S70°E/85°SE). Discontinuity data were represented on stereographic diagrams and kinematic maps to identify the areas of greatest susceptibility.

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Figure 3. Map showing the spatial-vectoral analysis of hillslope aspect, stream conditions and buffers, and areas vulnerable to flooding

The lithological conditions and their characterization are related to other factors (hydrogeological, hydro meteorological, and geomechanical) that generate the movements of removal of masses and blocks of rock.

Based on the above conditions, fall processes, landslides and/or rock flows were recognized. Of these two sets, only 6 debris flows and 35 rockfalls (within high-temperature volcanic clastic deposits), in the upper and middle parts of the topography, without soil identification in these processes were identified in the area. Both occur in events mainly in falling movements, such as simple translational and block sliding that end up as slow movement flows according to the classification of Dikau et al. (1996) [30]. The failure mechanism and detachment mode are controlled by geological and geotechnical factors. The volumes of rocky material removed in each removal process range from the order of meters to hundreds of cubic meters, and the individual blocks weigh from 5 to 50 tons.

The movements were generated by a combination of geological factors (slope, lithology and geological structure), hydrogeological (drainage density), and geotechnical (mechanical behavior of materials). The mechanism of failure and mode of detachment were controlled by geological and geotechnical factors.

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Figure 4. (A, B, C, D, E) Panoramic showing areas susceptible to flood

xThis aspect of the results coincides with the research carried out by Momeni (2016), [31] Ahmed (2014), [32] when affirming that in landslides and fallen rocks, slope and aspect play an elementary role in the flow of material since the slope provides speed and aspect indicates the direction of that slope.

These phenomena coincide in the location of urban settlements of this type that are established at the foot of the existing topography. Therefore, it is considered useful to carry out more in-depth studies on the aspects that generate these landslide processes.

The distribution of these events was located within the slopes (27° to 40°), which is limited by the main streams: El Cajoncito and Los Bledales. The streams cross the northeast and southeast portion of the city of La Paz and in turn coincide with some important urban settlements (San Pablo Guelatao, La Escondida, Lazaro Cardenas, Francisco Villa, 20 de Noviembre, Roma, Flores Magon, Costa Azul, La Rinconada, Agua Escondida, El Cardonal) since they are established along the margins of the hills and streams (Figure 4). This geohydrology and hydrometeorological condition denotes the poor urban planning and the high risk for its population, being settled in areas susSummer 2020

ceptible to flooding and landslides (debris flow and rockfalls).

The results obtained based on this geotechnical characterization (Geological Strength Index (GSI)) turn out to be very homogeneous and close in parameters, since it is a volcanic and vulcanosedimentary lithology with a similar genesis in processes and evolution time. The geomechanical behavior of the lithology is based on the observations at the outcrops level where the structure of the lithology formed by welldefined rock segments in two to three directions is appreciated, which constitutes normal failure and fractures in joints (Figure 5). The conditions of the discontinuities are very good to good (range 70 to 80) since the surfaces are weather-resistant (Figure 6) [33].

The processes of removal of rock masses and blocks of rocks are confined to the upper and middle part of the topography (100 to 50 meters above sea level) with 90% of events represented by only a single lithology: Rhyodacite. These events are basically simple block and/or translational landslides, which has a high influence by the factors of structural geology, erosion and gravity as sliding mechanisms.

The current research presented a methodological model for the evaluation and zoning of the susceptibility of geo-risks according to the characteristics of the study area.

It also highlights the proposed methodology, the possibility of evaluating the conditions of susceptibility at the state and regional level, complementing this work with statistical methods and the generation of an inventory of landslides (mass and fallen movements), which will allow comparing their results and coherence in the distribution of the occurrence of all present and future landslides, rockfalls or any geological risk.

In addition, the percentage and geographical distribution of risk susceptibility in this Northeast and Southeast portion of the city is clearly observed (Figure 6â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7).

The methodological proposal also complements the results obtained with a new map of susceptibility of geological risks (Figure 7), which did not exist until today and that allows defining urban areas of urban development susceptible to these phenomena at urban settlement scale (1: 50,000).

Acknowledgments The author thanks the Technological Institute of La Paz for the logistical support provided.

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PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS [6] Lugo-Hubp, J.L, García-Arizaga, T, Zamorano-Orozco, J.J., Salas-García, O., Gallegos, G., 1995, Deslizamiento de tierras en Meztitlán, Hidalgo: Ciencia y Desarrollo, 20, 121, 323–343.

[7]Hernández-Madrigal, V.M., 1999, Estudio de un deslizamiento de ladera en el km 0+500 de la carretera Chapala-Ajijic, en el municipio de Chapala, Jalisco, México: Morelia, Michoacán, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Tesis profesional, 87 p [8] Capra, L. y J. Lugo-Hubp., 2006, “Fenómenos de remoción en masa en el poblado de Zapotitlán de Méndez, Puebla: Relación entre litología y tipo de movimiento,” Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas, vol. 20 núm. 2, pp. 95–106.

[9] Köppen, W. & Geiger, R., 1936: Das geographische System der Klimate [10] García, E., 1981, Modificaciones al sistema de clasificación climática de Köppen, adaptado para las condiciones de la República Mexicana: 3ª Ed. Offset., Lario Ed. S.A. 252 p.

[11] Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI).

Consultado 20-05-2018 en http://www.inegi.org.mx/geo/ contenidos/geodesia/default.aspx.

[12] Aranda-Gómez, J.J., y Pérez-Venzor, J.A., 1988, Estudio Geológico de Punta Coyotes Baja California Sur. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geología, Revista, v. 7, p. 1–21.

[13] Aranda-Gómez, J.J., y Pérez-Venzor, J.A., 1989a, Estratigrafía del Complejo Cristalino de la región de Todos Santos, Estado de Baja California Sur. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geología, Revista, v. 8, p. 149–170.

[14] Aranda-Gómez, J.J., y Pérez-Venzor, J.A., 1989b, La Evolución geológica del Complejo Cristalino Mesozoico a lo largo de la zona de falla de La Paz, Baja California Sur. Tercer simposium sobre Geología Regional de México, organizado por Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geología, del 29 al 30 de mayo, resumen en memorias, p.11.

[15] Ortega-Gutiérrez, F., Mitre-Salazar, L. M., RoldánQuintana J., Aranda-Gómez, J.J., Morán- Zenteno D., Alaniz-Alvarez, S. A., y Nieto- Samaniego, A. F., 1992, Texto explicativo de la Carta Geológica de la República Mexicana 5a. ed. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geología; y Secretaria de EnergíaMinas e Industria Paraestatal, Consejo de Recursos Minerales. Mapa con texto explicativo, escala 1: 2 000,000, 74 pp.

[16] Pérez-Venzor, J.A., 2013, Estudio GeológicoGeoquímico del borde oriental del bloque Los Cabos Baja California Sur, México, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) Tesis de doctorado, 294 pp.

Figure 5. Estimation of the Geological Strength Index, GSI, based on a Geological Description of the Rock Mass (Marinos & Hoek, 2000) [17] Alvarez, A. A. D., S. H. Rojas and M. J. J. Prieto, 1997. Geología de la Bahía de La Paz y Areas Adyacentes. In: Urban R. J. y R. M. Ramírez (editores), 1997.

La Bahía de La Paz, Investigación y Conservación. UABCS-CICIMARSCRIPPS. pp. 13–29.

[1] Corominas, J., Copons, R., Vilaplana, J.M., Altimir, J., Amigó, J., 2003, [18] Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). Consultado 10-06Integrated Landslide Susceptibility Analysis and Hazard Assessment in the 2018 en http://www. inegi.org.mx/geo/contenidos/geodesia/default.aspx.

Principality of Andorra: Natural Hazards, 30, 421–435.

[19] Bergren B., Fallsvik J., Viberg L., 1992, “Mapping and evaluation of [2] Magliulo, P., Lisio, A. D., Russo, F., 2009, Comparison of GIS-Based Methodlandslide risk in Sweden” Proceedings of the sixth International Symposium ologies for the Landslide Susceptibility Assessment. Geoinformatica, 13(3): on Landslides, Christchurch, pp. 873–878.

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[20] Soeters, R. and van Westen, C.J., 1996, Slope Instability Recognition [3] Manea, V.C., M. Manea, and L. Ferrari, 2013, A geodynamical perspective on Analysis and Zonation. In: Turner K.T. and Schuster, R.L., Eds., Landslides: the subduction of Cocos and Rivera plates beneath Mexico and Central Investigation and Mitigation, Special Report No. 247, Transportation America. Tectonophysics. 609.: 56–81. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.

Research Board National Research Council, Washington DC, 129–177.

[4] Aguayo-Figueroa, I., 1959–1960, Ciclón: Colima, Ediciones Escuela de Arte y [21] Saaty, T.L., 1980, The Analytic Hierarchy Process, New York: McGraw Hill.

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PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS [24] Guzzetti F, Carrara A, Cardinali M, Reichenbach P., 1999, Landslide hazard evaluation: a review of current techniques and their application in multi-scale study, Central Italy. Geomorphology, 31:181–216.

[25] Xie, M., Esaki, T. and Zhou, G., 2004,GISbased probabilistic mapping of landslide hazard using a three-dimensional deterministic model.

Natural Hazards, 33(2), pp. 265-282. DOI: 10.1023/B: NHAZ.0000037036.01850.0d [26] Saha AK, Gupta RP, Sarkar I, Arora MK, Csaplovics E., 2005, An approach for GIS-based statistical landslide susceptibility zonation—with a case study in the Himalayas. Landslides, 2 (1):61–69. Doi: 10.1007/s10346-004-0039[27] Aristizábal, E. García, and C. Martínez, 2015, “Susceptibility assessment of shallow landslides triggered by rainfall in tropical basins and mountainous terrains,” Natural Hazards, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 621–634. [Online]. Available: http://link. springer.com/10.1007/s11069-015-1736-4 187.

[28] Chau, K. T. and Chan, J. E., 2005, Regional bias of landslide data in generating susceptibility maps using logistic regression: Case of Hong Kong Island, Landslide, 2, 280–290.

[29] Hirales-Rochin, J., Urcadiz-Cazares, F. J., 2019, Geo-hazards associated with urban geology in the City of La Paz Baja California Sur., Mexico: AEG News, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 32-37.

[30] Dikau, R., Brunsden, D., Schrott, L. & M. L. Ibsen (Eds.). 1996, Landslide Recognition.

Identification, Movement and Causes. Wiley & Sons, Chichester.

[31] Momeni, R., Aplin, P., Boyd, D. S., 2016, Mapping Complex Urban Land Cover from Spaceborne Imagery: The Influence of Spatial Resolution, Spectral Band Set and Classification Approach. Remote Sensing, 8, 88 [32]Ahmed B., 2014, Landslide susceptibility mapping using multi-criteria evaluation techniques in Chittagong Metropolitan Area, Bangladesh.

Landslides. Doi: 10.1007/s10346-014-0521 Google Scholar.

[33] Marinos, P. and Hoek, E., 2000, Estimating the mechanical properties of heterogeneous rock masses such as flysch. (Submitted for publication)

Figure 6. Table showing the distribution of risk susceptibility

About the Author Joel Hirales-Rochin: Geologist, Head of Research Projects and Professor of Earth Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering, Technological Institute of La Paz, Boulevard Forjadores of Sudcalifornia. La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Joelhirales@itlp.edu.mx.

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8802-0919.

Figure 7. Map showing the vulnerability by urban settlement in the northeast-southeast area [22] Chingkhei R.K., Shiroyleima A., Singh L.R., Kumar A., 2013, Landslide hazard zonation in NH-1A in Kashmir Himalaya, India, International Journal of Geosciences 4: 1,501–1,508.

[23] Gupta, R.P. and Joshi, B.C., 1990, Landslide Hazard Zonation Using the GIS Approach—A Case Study from the Ramganga Catchment, Himalayas.

Engineering Geology, 28, 119–131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(90)90037-2.2

AEG News is seeking technical papers for our December issue.

Papers should be submitted to news@aegweb.org by October 26, 2020.

A style guide is available from AEG's website at https://aeg.memberclicks.net/ Summer 2020

AEG NEWS 63(3)

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