Johnson Creek Landslide Project

Johnson Creek Landslide Research Project

The Johnson Creek Landslide Project was begun July 1, 2002, with support from Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and funds from the Federal Highway Administration. The project was supervised by ODOT and managed by DOGAMI. A final report summarizing findings was released as DOGAMI Special Paper 40 [Buy CD from Nature of the Northwest]. The following are some illustrations, the abstract from Special Paper 40, and a summary of the ODOT research problem statement.

Location map of Johnson Creek landslide

Location of the study area showing the backstops (eastern reach of coastal retreat) of three Pleistocene marine terraces numbered from youngest (1) to oldest (3). The remnant of a fourth terrace is preserved east of the third backstop at the ridge top between Spencer Creek and Johnson Creek. The Johnson Creek Landslide displaces the second youngest terrace. Figure is modified from Landslide Technology (2004).

Geologic map of the Johnson Creek Landslide. Large greens arrow depict direction of movement on the southeast margin of the slide based on offset of the east embankment of the Old Coast Highway; the two arrows illustrate uncertainty. Red arrows are directions of slide movement from inclinometer data; blue arrows are direction of movement from re-survey of survey markers between October 24, 2002 and April 17, 2003; brown arrows are in direction of movement from marker nails on fresh slide scarps monitored for small March 2003 slide movement.

Explanation for Johnson Creek landslide geologic map and cross section

Explanation for Johnson Creek landslide geologic map and cross section

Map explanation for geologic map and cross section.

Generalized geologic cross section A-A' for Johnson Creek landslide

Generalized geologic cross section A-A’. Strike and dip of tectonic faults (red dashed lines) are inferred faults that cannot be located more accurately than the spacing of the boreholes, so are not depicted on the geologic map. Purple dashed line is an internal slide structure with dip and offset best fitting borehole stratigraphy; lateral position between boreholes LT-1 and LT-2 is unknown. Dashed black line is the slide plane inferred from estimated depth of slide plane at inclinometer hole 76-1, but elevation and depth data for the slide plane at this hole have higher uncertainty than for inclinometers holes LT-1, LT-2, and LT-3 (solid black line labeled See Figure 5 for explanation of geologic units; vertical scale = horizontal scale.

Recent deformation of Highway 101 on the south side of the Johnson Creek landslide.

Northeast corner of Johnson Creek landslide showing recent clear cut and translational block failure at headwall. Note exposure of Pleistocene marine terrace sand that caps the Astoria Formation in this area. Headscarp is about 6-8 m high. Absolute elevation at the top of the headscarp is about 30 m above sea level. The north-south trending headwall graben is about 9-10 m wide. The east-west trending graben/fissure is 15 m wide and bounds the southern margin of the landslide in this area. Jonathan Allan of DOGAMI is on the ladder measuring the section in the right-hand picture.

Landslide toe at the sea cliff on Beverly Beach (looking north). Note deformed white bed above the soft, wet slide breccia/mylonite that forms the dark gray layer. Original dip of bedding in Astoria Formation is west but note that in far background beds dip steeply east. The small slide block at the toe is thus rotated back into the slope. There is no evidence of such large backward rotations in the larger slide blocks in the eastern part of the landslide.

Abstract of Special Paper 40

A five-year study indicates that the Johnson Creek landslide moves in response to intense rainfall that raises pore water pressure throughout the slide in the form of pulses of water pressure traveling from the headwall graben down the axis of the slide at rates of 1.4 to 2.5 m/hr in the upper part and 3.5 m/hr to virtually instantaneous in the middle part. Vertical arrays of piezometers measured infiltration at rates of only 50 mm/hr, so infiltration is too slow to affect saturated water pressure except in the headwall graben. The hydraulic gradient through the slide mass is small and groundwater flow appears to be nearly horizontal, roughly parallel to the slide plane. These observations and the rapidity of pressure transmission are consistent with a high effective hydraulic conductivity throughout the slide mass. Westward slope of the piezometric surface is consistent with better drainage in the western part of the slide. Movement episodes proceed by en masse movement when threshold pore pressures are reached followed by faster and faster movement of the middle portion of the slide when pore water pressure there rises above ~9.4 to 10.8 m head above the slide plane. In January 2003, slide velocity increased by an order of magnitude when head above the slide plane at the middle observation site reached 11.4 m while the western site reached ~9 m, ~2 m above its maximum for the following four winter seasons. Antecedent rainfall correlating with this accelerated movement was mean precipitation of 0.84 m in the previous 60 days and 2.1 mm/hr in the 62 hours immediately before the movement. Antecedent deformation correlating with the accelerated movement was extension of 1 cm in the lower part of the slide, possibly raising effective hydraulic conductivity there. This increased hydraulic conductivity may have caused a uniquely rapid pore pressure response in the lower part of the side and the unique 2-m increase in head. With respect to engineering solutions for slide mitigation, the reduction of water pressures at the headwall graben by dewatering (e.g., drains or pumps) should be effective given the inferred high hydraulic conductivity of the slide and sensitivity to pressure change at the graben. Limit equilibrium stability analyses indicate that 3 m of erosion would destabilize the slide for most of the winter season. This finding suggests that buttressing the toe of the slide is an effective long-term remediation option.

ILLUSTRATION OF SPEED OF WATER PRESSURE TRANSMISSION
FROM THE HEAD OF THE SLIDE IN RESPONSE TO A RAINFALL EVENT

(Above) Cross section through the Johnson Creek Landslide illustrating vertical percolation of groundwater and lateral water pressure transmission through the saturated zone after a rainfall event in February of 2007. Isochrones (black lines) are in 2-hr intervals for first response of grouted piezometers to pressure increase. Baseline is the time when the increase occurred at the LT-3p site at the head of the slide. Blue numbers are the first response time for grouted piezometers; black numbers separated by a back slash are response time for half of the total pressure response; red numbers are the same data for adjacent sand packed piezometers. Blue boxes list travel velocity of pressure response; (i) = virtually instantaneous response between the two monitoring sites. Green dotted lines are isochrones for downward infiltration of groundwater, assuming a mean rate of 50 mm/hr derived from observations of piezometers in the unsaturated zone. Gray vertical lines are observation boreholes; horizontal black bars are depths of piezometers; bold dark gray line is the base of the basal shear zone; brown line is the slide surface; blue dash-dotted line is approximate piezometric surface which approximates the water table. Vertical exaggeration is 1.6. Graphic is from Figure 50 of Special Paper 40.

Reference

Landslide Technology, 2004, Geotechnical investigation Johnson Creek Landslide, Lincoln County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Report O-04-05, 115 p, published on CD.

SPR RESEARCH PROGRAM

SECOND-STAGE

PROBLEM STATEMENT

FY03

Research Group

200 Hawthorne SE,

Suite B-240

Salem OR 97301-5192

phone (503) 986-2700

fax (503) 986-2844

I. PROBLEM NUMBER

RHGE-03-1

II. PROBLEM TITLE

DETAILED GEOTECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF LARGE TRANSLATIONAL LANDSLIDES IN SEAWARD-DIPPING SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

III. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT

Uplift of coastal mountain ranges in the Pacific Northwest over the last several million years has inclined sedimentary rock bedding planes toward the coastline, causing widespread translational landslides measuring thousands of feet in length and width. The Johnson Creek Landslide and others of similar nature (large translational slides in seaward dipping Tertiary sedimentary rock) pose an ongoing threat to public safety and are a continual, very expensive highway maintenance issue. In the Beverly Beach-Moolack Beach area alone there are 5 of these landslides, 4 of which constantly damage US Highway 101. To date remediation of most of these landslides was thought to be more expensive than continual repaving, but this decision is not based on a detailed understanding of the forces causing movement. Continual addition of asphalt to the highway may in fact be exacerbating the problem by adding load. An important policy issue in Oregon is the need to reduce the impact on the public beach of any remediation solution. For example, reduced impact might mean minimizing the footprint of a buttress and the associated factor of safety. Reducing the factor of safety requires a highly refined understanding of landslide geometry and relative importance of forcing mechanisms (pore pressure, wave erosion, etc.). If the main forcing mechanism were pore water pressure, then refined understanding of the hydrogeology (e.g., relative importance of permeable sedimentary layers versus water bearing fractures; orientation of fractures) might lead to more accurate and cost-effective drilling of horizontal, inclined or vertical wells. An effective dewatering scheme might avoid buttressing entirely and be more cost effective than continual repair of the highway. If forces promoting movement were small enough or could be reduced through dewatering, then a buttress with a small footprint might suffice. If wave erosion were the chief forcing mechanism, then reducing wave energy at the toe of the slide would be the only effective remediation alternative. Obtaining a refined understanding of the failure mechanisms and driving forces for these large landslides is therefore critical to making sound, environmentally responsible decisions on remediation, maintenance, and future highway design in the coastal zone.

IV. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The overall objective is to provide information and a process that can be used as a model for investigation and remediation of large translational landslides that are affecting the coastal transportation system here and in other parts of the US. The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) is uniquely positioned to help ODOT by supplying needed geological expertise, research personnel, and a recognized outlet for published, reviewed publications.

This pilot project will:

(1) Obtain preexisting and new geotechnical data on the Johnson Creek landslide;

(2) Determine landslide geometry by detailed mapping and drilling;

(3) Determine hydrogeology of the landslide by geologic mapping, drilling and monitoring of piezometers;

(4) Determine correlation of slide movement to wave erosion, rainfall and groundwater pore pressure changes by monitoring for 5 years wave erosion, slide movement, rainfall, and pore water pressure in cracks and rock or soil layers;

(5) Develop remediation options for the most environmentally sustainable, economically feasible solution, and

(6) Explore a new and evolving partnership between DOGAMI and ODOT that capitalizes on the technical and institutional strengths of both agencies.

NOTE: ODOT will have technical oversight of the project, being available to DOGAMI for technical advice.? ODOT will have authority to make needed adjustments to the project plan, if needed.?? DOGAMI will manage the project, handling all aspects of subcontracting and data collection.

V. WORK TASKS, COST ESTIMATE AND DURATION

TASK 1: Project management, monitoring, and technical reporting by DOGAMI:

Manage the project and supervise all subcontractors,
Characterize geology of the slide, including lithology of drill cores, geology of at least one excavation of the slide toe, and production of a detailed geologic map of the landslide and nearby areas;
Determine historical toe erosion and landslide expansion in cooperation with interested partners (see attached letter from Cheryl Hapke, USGS);
Monitor selected survey points, inclinometers (with manual inclinometer probe supplied by ODOT), piezometers, a rain gauge, wave erosion, wave data (deep ocean buoy data), and beach morphology at the toe of the landslide for 5 years. In times of particularly rapid slide movement or toe erosion, survey and inclinometer data collection will be monthly or bi-monthly, depending on rate of movement or erosion. Piezometers will be vibrating wire systems and, together with the rain gauge, they will be monitored with single channel data recorders supplied by ODOT.
Work cooperatively with ODOT, other partners (see attached letter from Cheryl Hapke, USGS), and subcontractors to provide a geologically reasonable model of slide movement and relative importance of forcing mechanisms.
Write all technical reports summarizing the findings of the project in collaboration with ODOT. An interim report will be produced after 2 years, followed by a final report after 5 years of data collection and analysis. Final report will be constructed to be published reference for future operations.

TASK 2: Subcontracted topographic survey of the slide at project start (year 1) and end (year 5).

TASK 3: Subcontracted detailed stratigraphic correlation in drill holes and outcrops.

TASK 4: Subcontracted geotechnical drilling, instrumentation, and interpretation (see attached map):

Drill boreholes, including: 4 for piezometers (depths set after slide plane depth established in nearby inclinometer holes), 3 for inclinometers (1 at 36.6 m and 2 at 35 m), and 1 core hole drilled to 30 m depth above the headwall of the slide to establish baseline stratigraphy and for piezometer data.
Install a rain gauge.
Install single channel data recorders (to be supplied by ODOT) on piezometers and rain gauge.
Test physical properties of drill hole samples and hand samples, including at least 3 ring shear tests to determine residual shear strength of main geologic units;
Train DOGAMI personnel in data collection from inclinometers, piezometers, and the rain gauge.
Produce, in collaboration with DOGAMI, slope stability and hydrogeologic models that account for pore water pressure, slide movement, and shear plane geometry information;*
Produce an alternatives analysis (cost, benefit, etc.) for remediation of slope instability and erosion.*

TASK 5: Technical oversight and review plus sample storage by ODOT:

Provide to DOGAMI available geotechnical data and history of slide activity at Johnson Creek;
Provide a temporary storage facility for drill hole samples;
Provide technical advice, review and oversight through quarterly meetings with DOGAMI supplemented by reviews of technical reports by DOGAMI.

TASK 6: Research Administration

* These tasks will be done by ODOT personnel, if they have time, but they reportedly will not have time for at least the next few years; hence, these tasks are shown as subcontracted. Appropriate budget will be allocated for ODOT in the event that their personnel become available in future years.

VI. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (note: all reports by DOGAMI are published through the agency)

Year 1: Geotechnical instrumentation, drilling, surveying, excavation of slide toe, geologic mapping, stratigraphic anlaysis, and monitoring of water pressure, rainfall, erosion and slide movement

Year 2: Interim report, after monitoring of water pressure, rainfall, erosion and slide movement

Year 3: Monitoring of water pressure, rainfall, erosion and slide movement

Year 4: Monitoring of water pressure, rainfall, erosion and slide movement

Year 5: Final report after final survey and monitoring of water pressure, rainfall, erosion and slide movement NOTE: Subcontractor will be used for quantitative landslide analysis only if ODOT personnel are not available.

VII. POTENTIAL BENEFITS

The Johnson Creek landslide is similar to many large landslides on the bluffed coasts of Oregon, Washington and California, so the information will have wide applicability.
Fully understanding the relative importance of erosion versus pore water pressure for slope stability will promote better, more cost-effective highway and remediation design in areas with similar geology.
Better models of landslide forces will avoid the need for over engineering remediation solutions, reducing both costs and the potential impact of engineering structures on the public beach.
Correlating landslide movement with rainfall, pore pressure changes, and wave parameters may provide a tool to predict what combination threshold values initiate movement significant enough to pose a threat to the public. This information may yield forewarning of dangerous movement when conditions approach threshold values. If, for example, rainfall turns out to be a quantitative predictor, then movement could be monitored very cheaply compared to direct monitoring of landslide movement.
Minimizing impact to the public beach will place ODOT in a more powerful position with regard to obtaining permits from Oregon Parks and Recreation (OPRD) should engineering works need to be placed on the public beach.
Scientifically defensible analysis of any remediation option will be critical when defending the decision in public hearings and regulatory appeals.
Exploring a new way for DOGAMI and ODOT to combine technical and institutional resources to solve a complex geotechnical problem will serve as a road map for future collaborations to better serve the public.