Seattle Landslide Study

Table of Contents

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VOLUME 1.  GEOTECHNICAL REPORT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PREFACE

1.0  INTRODUCTION

1.1  Purpose
1.2  Scope of Services
1.3  Report Organization
1.4  Authorization
1.5  Limitations 

PART 1.  LANDSLIDE INVENTORY AND ANALYSES

2.0  GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS 

2.1  Topography
2.2  Stratigraphy

2.2.1  Tertiary Bedrock
2.2.2  Pre-Vashon Deposits
2.2.3  Vashon Glacial Deposits
2.2.4  Holocene Deposits

2.3  Groundwater and Wet Weather

3.0  METHODOLOGY

3.1  Data Sources
3.2  Data Description

3.2.1  Landslide Identification
3.2.2  Landslide Characteristics
3.2.3  Stratigraphy (Geology)
3.2.4  Landslide Trigger Mechanisms
3.2.5  Roads and Public Utility Impact
3.2.6  Damage and Repair (Mitigation)

3.3  Data Processing

4.0  LANDSLIDES

4.1  Landslide Types

4.1.1  High Bluff Peeloff
4.1.2  Groundwater Blowout
4.1.3  Deep-Seated Landslides
4.1.4  Shallow Colluvial (Skin Slide)

4.2   Timing of Landslides
4.3   Landslide Areas
4.4   Causes of Landslides
4.5   Potential Slide and Steep Slope Areas

PART 2.  GEOTECHNICAL EVALUATIONS

5.0  PURPOSE AND SCOPE

5.1  Purpose of Geotechnical Evaluations
5.2  Scope of Geotechnical Evaluations

6.0  TYPICAL IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO LANDSLIDE TYPE

6.1  Geologic Conditions that Contribute to Landsliding and Instability
6.2  Typical Approaches to Improve Stability
6.3  High Bluff Peeloff Landslides
6.4  Groundwater Blowout Landslides
6.5  Deep-Seated Landslides
6.6  Shallow Colluvial Landslides

7.0  DETAILS REGARDING IMPROVEMENTS

7.1  Surface Water Improvements

7.1.1  Tightlines
7.1.2  Surface Water Systems - Maintenance

7.2  Groundwater Improvements

7.2.1  Interceptor Trench Subdrains and Finger Drains
7.2.2  Springhead Drains
7.2.3  Drainage Blankets
7.2.4  Drilled Drains
7.2.5  Other Subsurface Drainage Systems
7.2.6  Monitoring and Maintaining Subsurface Drainage Systems

7.3  Retaining Structures

7.3.1  In Situ Walls
7.3.2  Gravity Walls

7.4  Soil Reinforcement

7.4.1  Reinforced Soil Walls
7.4.2  Soil Nail Walls

7.5  Grading

7.5.1  Drainage Improvements
7.5.2  Decrease Driving Weight
7.5.3  Increase Resisting Weight
7.5.4  Increase Soil Strength
7.5.5  Remove Unstable Soil 

7.6  Catchment or Diversion Structures
7.7  Vegetation

8.0  COST ESTIMATE
9.0  CITY UTILITIES AND STREETS

9.1  Streets

9.1.1  Reduce Infiltration
9.1.2  Storm Water Runoff Control
9.1.3  Subsurface Drainage
9.1.4  Structures and Grading Improvements

9.2  Buried Utilities

9.2.1  Subsurface Drainage
9.2.2  Groundwater Controls
9.2.3  Old Buried Utilities
9.2.4  Grading Improvements
9.2.5  Other Considerations

PART 3.  LANDSLIDES IN THREE STUDY AREAS
WEST SEATTLE, MAGNOLIA/QUEEN ANNE, MADRONA

10.0 GENERAL

10.1  Purpose and Scope
10.2  Actions by City
10.3  Actions by Private Property Owners
10.4  Additional Considerations

11.0  WEST SEATTLE

11.1  Site Description
11.2  Soil Stratigraphy
11.3  Groundwater
11.4  Landslide Types

11.4.1  High Bluff Peeloff Landslides
11.4.2  Groundwater Blowout Landslides
11.4.3  Deep-Seated Landslides
11.4.4  Shallow Colluvial Landslides

11.5  Landslides with Debris Flows
11.6  Timing of Landslides
11.7  Severe Storm-Related Landslides
11.8  Potential Slide Areas
11.9  Stability Improvements

11.9.1  23rd Avenue S.W.
11.9.2  Admiral Way
11.9.3  Fairmount Gulch
11.9.4  Harbor Avenue
11.9.5  Alki Avenue
11.9.6  Boyd Place/Chilberg Place
11.9.7  Jacobsen Road
11.9.8  Beach Drive/Atlas Place
11.9.9  47th Avenue S.W.
11.9.10  Seola Beach

12.0  MAGNOLIA/QUEEN ANNE

12.1  Site Description
12.2  Soil Stratigraphy
12.3  Groundwater
12.4  Landslide Types

12.4.1  High Bluff Peeloff
12.4.2  Groundwater Blowout Landslides
12.4.3  Deep-Seated Landslides
12.4.4  Shallow Colluvial Landslides

12.5  Landslides with Debris Flows
12.6  Timing of Landslides
12.7  Severe Storm-Related Landslides
12.8  Potential Slide Areas
12.9  Stability Improvements

12.9.1  Perkins Lane North
12.9.2  Perkins Lane South
12.9.3  32nd Avenue W.
12.9.4  W. Galer Street
12.9.5  Magnolia Way
12.9.6  Kinnear Park
12.9.7  West Queen Anne
12.9.8  Northwest Queen Anne
12.9.9  East Queen Anne

13.0  MADRONA

13.1  Site Description
13.2  Soil Stratigraphy
13.3  Groundwater
13.4  Landslide Types

13.4.1  High Bluff Peeloff Landslides
13.4.2  Groundwater Blowout Landslides
13.4.3  Deep-Seated Landslides
13.4.4  Shallow Colluvial Landslides

13.5  Landslides with Debris Flows
13.6  Timing of Landslides
13.7  Severe Storm-Related Landslides
13.8  Potential Slide Areas
13.9  Stability Improvements

13.9.1  Hillside Drive
13.9.2  32nd Avenue E.
13.9.3  Madrona Drive
13.9.4  Madrona Park
13.9.5  Lake Dell
13.9.6  Lakeside North
13.9.7  Lakeside South

PART 4.  LANDSLIDES IN NORTH, CENTRAL, AND SOUTH SEATTLE

14.0 GENERAL

14.1  Purpose and Scope
14.2  Actions by City
14.3  Actions by Private Property Owners

15.0  NORTHWEST SEATTLE

15.1  Site Description
15.2  Stability Improvements
15.3  Broadview
15.4  25th Avenue N.W.
15.5  Carkeek Park
15.6  Blue Ridge
15.7  Golden Gardens
15.8  Shilshole  

16.0  NORTHEAST SEATTLE

16.1  Site Description
16.2  Stability Improvements
16.3  Burke Gilman
16.4  Inverness
16.5  Laurelhurst

17.0  CAPITOL HILL

17.1  Site Description
17.2  Stability Improvements
17.3  North Capitol Hill
17.4  Interlaken
17.5  West Capitol Hill

18.0  SOUTH SEATTLE

18.1  Site Description
18.2  Stability Improvements
18.3  Mount Baker
18.4  25th Avenue S.
18.5  West Beacon Hill
18.6  Duwamish
18.7  Rainier Beach

PART 5.  POTENTIAL SLIDE AREAS

19.0  PURPOSE AND SCOPE
20.0  BACKGROUND
21.0  RESULTS
22.0  REFERENCES




LIST OF TABLES

PART 2

2-1  Typical Improvement Unit Costs (4 pages)

PART 3

3-1  Stability Improvement Areas, West Seattle, Magnolia/Queen Anne, Madrona

PART 4

4-1  Stability Improvement Areas, Northwest, Northeast, Capitol Hill, South Seattle


LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No.

PART 1

1-1 Idealized Geologic Conditions, Typical Seattle Hillside
1-2  High Bluff Peeloff Landslide Type
1-3  Groundwater Blowout Landslide Type
1-4  Deep-Seated Landslide Type
1-5  Shallow Colluvial (Skin Slide) Landslide Type
1-6  Landslide in Fill Material
1-7  Annual Distribution of Landslides
1-8  Monthly Distribution of Landslides (sheet 1   sheet 2)
1-9  Human Influence on Landslides
1-10  Types of Landslides

PART 2

2-1  Typical High Bluff Peeloff Landslide Stability Improvements (sheet 1   sheet 2   sheet 3)
2-2  Typical Groundwater Blowout Landslide Stability Improvements (sheet 1   sheet 2)
2-3  Typical Deep-Seated Landslide StabilityImprovements (sheet 1   sheet 2   sheet 3)
2-4  Typical Shallow Colluvial Landslide Stability Improvements (sheet 1   sheet 2)
2-5  Typical Landslide in Fill Material Stability Improvements
2-6  Typical Tightline Anchoring Detail (sheet 1   sheet 2)
2-7  Typical Trench Subdrain Interceptor Trench and Finger Drain (sheet 1   sheet 2)
2-8  Typical Drainage Dam Detail
2-9  Typical Springhead Drain Detail
2-10  Typical Drainage Blanket Detail
2-11  Typical Horizontal, Directional and Vertical Drain Sketch
2-12  Typical Soldier Pile Wall, Design Criteria (sheet 1)
2-12  Typical Soldier Pile Wall, Backfill and Drainage (sheet 2   sheet 3)
2-13  Typical Crib Wall with Subdrainage and Backfilling
2-14  Typical Section, Ecology Block Wall
2-15  Typical Geotextile Soil Wall Section
2-16  Typical Geogrid Reinforced Soil Wall Section
2-17  Typical Section Geotextile-Reinforced Slope
2-18  Typical Fill Buttress
2-19  Typical Soldier Pile Catchment Wall

PART 3

3-1  Idealized Geologic Conditions, Duwamish Head Area
3-2  Idealized Geologic Conditions, West Magnolia Bluff



VOLUME 2.  MAP FOLIO AND LANDSLIDE DATABASE

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX A MAP FOLIO - CITYWIDE MAPS

Figures

A-1  Shaded Relief Map of Seattle
A-2  Map Legend
A-3  Site Plan of Seattle
A-4  Zone of Particular Landslide Hazard
A-5  Landslides by Decade
A-6  Storm-Related Landslides
A-7  Landslide Types
A-8  Totally Natural Landslides
A-9  High Bluff Peeloff Landslides
A-10  Groundwater Blowout Landslides
A-11  Deep-Seated Landslides
A-12  Shallow Colluvial Landslides
A-13  Landslides and Potential Slide Areas
A-14  Landslides and Steep Slope Areas
A-15  Debris Flow Landslides

APPENDIX B MAP FOLIO - STUDY AREA MAPS, WEST SEATTLE, MAGNOLIA/QUEEN ANNE, MADRONA

Figures

West Seattle

B-1  Site Plan
B-2  Groundwater Blowout Landslides
B-3  Deep-Seated Landslides
B-4  Shallow Colluvial Landslides
B-5  Debris Flow Landslides
B-6  Landslides by Decade
B-7  Storm-Related Landslides
B-8  Landslides and Potential Slide Areas
B-9  Stability Improvement Areas

Magnolia/Queen Anne

B-10  Site Plan
B-11  High Bluff Peeloff Landslides
B-12  Groundwater Blowout Landslides
B-13  Deep-Seated Landslides
B-14  Shallow Colluvial Landslides
B-15  Debris Flow Landslides
B-16  Landslides by Decade
B-18  Landslides and Potential Slide Areas

Madrona

B-20  Site Plan
B-21  Groundwater Blowout Landslides
B-22  Deep-Seated Landslides
B-23  Shallow Colluvial Landslides
B-24  Debris Flow Landslides
B-25  Landslides by Decade
B-26  Storm-Related Landslides
B-27  Landslides and Potential Slide Areas
B-28  Stability Improvement Areas

APPENDIX C MAP FOLIO - NORTH, CENTRAL, AND SOUTH SEATTLE

Figures

C-1  Site Plan of Seattle
C-2  Northwest Seattle Vicinity Map
C-3  Northwest Seattle Stability Improvement Areas
C-4  Northeast Seattle Vicinity Map
C-5  Northeast Seattle Stability Improvement Areas
C-6  Capitol Hill Vicinity Map
C-7  Capitol Hill Stability Improvement Areas
C-8  South Seattle Vicinity Map
C-9  South Seattle Stability Improvement Areas

APPENDIX D MAP FOLIO - POTENTIAL SLIDE AREAS

Figures

D-1  Existing Delineation of Potential Slide Areas
D-2  Proposed Delineation of Potential Slide Areas
D-3  Losses and Gains of Regulated Land due to Proposed Revisions of Potential Slide Areas

APPENDIX E SEATTLE LANDSLIDE DATABASE

Seattle Landslide Database

City of Seattle
Department of Planning and Development (DPD)