Landslide Hazard Assessment, Town of Peace River, Alberta

Abstract

The Town of Peace River is over hundred years old. It was heavily urbanized by the late 1970s. Development extended to the geologically immature valley slopes of the Peace River and its tributaries. Triggered by various agents, landslides caused damage to houses and infrastructure developed on marginally stable slopes. Landslides directly affect the long-term planning and sustainable development of the community. Landslide related hazards are frequent common and their impact has increased as more developments have been initiated. This study has provided significant progress in analyzing mechanisms and influences of landslides in the present and foreseeable future on the town of Peace River. The main idea of this study was to identify general conditions of the local areas and understand processes initiating those conditions. The temporal and spatial characteristics including geological and geomorphological histories, meteorological variations, economic developments, and demographic distributions over time are also discussed. Geomorphic and geological characteristics that may impact the landslides in the study area are identified. By analyzing temporal variations in geomorphologic features, major causes that induced landslides in the past can be determined. Recent landslides observed in the study area are analyzed in order to determine overall landslide characteristics that can be used for quantifying the relative contributions of actual landslides. Monitoring surface or subsurface movements of landslides explicitly and directly enables estimates of time intervals to peak landslide velocities. The landslide hazard assessment conducted by geologic and geomorphological methodologies can well delineate the current state of landslide hazards in the study area by showing with a good feasibility which delineated areas where landslide problems have been continuously reported are consistent with the unstable areas designated by the proposed landslide hazard assessment. The proposed landslide hazard assessment can be readily adapted to other areas if proper information is provided. Results of this study may be used as a basis for assessing landslide risks and their managements. Appropriate actions or decisions and corresponding countermeasures can also be derived from these outcomes.