Landslide and Slope Movement Data

I am noticing there is interest for data regarding steep slopes and the movements (creep, slope movements, big slow movers, landslides) of earth in the mountain region of western North Carolina. The NC Geological Survey is the primary resource for data on slope movements in western North Carolina. They are a non-regulatory agency that is researching historical and current slope movements. Conversations have been taking place between me and the staff of the Asheville regional office of the NCGS in conducting training sessions on regional slope movements. Audiences we will be targeting are the geologist/geotechnician professionals.

One of the things that I have been advocating for in local ordinances is that all steep slope developments need to hire a geologist AND a geotechnician. This has been a recommendation of the NC Geological Survey. Now, this will not prevent slope movements. But, it may prevent loss of life. The reason for hosting a training program for these professionasl is that not all geologists and/or geotechs are solid with the conditions of western North Carolina slope movements. So, I will be assisting in developing refresher courses so that the public has professionals to rely upon. If you are interested in knowing when these will take place, send me an email and I will send you an email when they are scheduled.

For the general public, there is a tremendous amount of information on the Internet. Following are websites that I recommend for science-based data.

Geologic Hazards in North Carolina
http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/Landslide_Info/Landslides_recognition.htm#Landslide
This website provides background information on landslide types, events, causes and triggers, as well as rock and slope stability related to landslides

North Carolina Geological Survey
http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/Landslide_Info/costs.htm
This page summarizes actual and estimated costs attributed to geologic hazards in North Carolina. It provides the date(s) and level of events also.

The NC Geological Survey has also produced a book entitled "When the Ground Moves! A Citizen's Guide to Geologic Hazards in North Carolina, North carolina Geological Survey Information Circular 32 (IC32)" -- This colorful 23-page guide is an overview of several types of geologic hazards that occur in North Carolina. Pictures and diagrams illustrate the damage that can be caused by geologic hazards and the clues geologists look for when investigating these events. Perfect for non-geologists and teachers. This guide is correlated to the North Carolina Science Standard Course of Study. Price $5.00 (plus NC state sales tax and shipping). They also have copies at the Asheville Regional Office of NCGS. You can call 296-4500 and ask for the NC Geological Survey.

There are also two federal government websites that are descriptive and helpful.

Landslide images
http://landslides.usgs.gov/learningeducation/images.php

National Atlas – Government website
http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/geology/a_landslide.html

The Congo Initiative

I had the great pleasure to meet David and Kassie Kasali yesterday. They are a wonderful couple who are gathering information to support The Congo Initiative. David and Kassie have doctorate degrees in New Testament studies and Christian Education. The were visiting Warren Wilson College to learn more about the Triad (work, service, and academics). Their time with me was to understand Warren Wilson College's commitment to sustainability. They were particularly interested in the farming (cows, chickens, sows, crop rotations), the Green Drum that expedites the compost process, and how to clean water from cisterns so that they can drink the water.

I am working to gather additional information for them and will be posting it here on my blog. My thought is that others, whether in their community or here in western North Carolina, may also want this information.

I believe in what they are working to do and encourage everyone to go to their website and find a way to help - even if it is simply sharing your experiences and knowledge about sustainable living!

Countywide Planning

Our family received a letter from the Buncombe County Planning and Development stating that the Buncombe County Commissioners are "currently considering zoning that will impact" my property and that my family's property is considered or designated as "Open Use". Per the definition on the letter, open use would allow industrial activities such as asphalt plants, amusement parks, incinerators, or motor sport facilities.

Now I want to say that I am supportive of planning. It is a tool for a community to define itself. But I also believe that I, like ever other citizen, must be an active and engaged participant in the community by speaking with your neighbors deciding together what you want your community to become. That is what I am doing. Putting the soles of my feet to the road and speaking with my neighbors.

After I got the letter I called the Planning Department and asked what steps I needed to take to have my property considered residential rather than open use. They said that I needed signatures from 100% of my neighbors to get that changed. So, this past Saturday I typed up a petition and began the process of going to each one of my neighbors and asking if they agreed with the change. So far I have 22 homes/signatures. It took me three hours to go to this many homes.

After meeting with each of these people, I began realizing that not everyone knows who to call or how to do this. Every person in my neighborhood said either "I am glad you are doing this" or "I am glad you knew what to do because I sure didn't". So, I decided to call WLOS and share what I am doing. I did this for two reasons:
1) I wanted to let folks know how to get engaged
2) I wanted to spread the word to my neighbors that I have not reached to see if they want to participate in the petition.

I told Pat Simon, the newsreporter, that I have four things to say. If they didn't come across in the report, here they are:
1) I am thankful to David Gantt and the commissioners for supporting planning.
2) The proposed designation for my property does not reflect who we are - we are not an industrial park, we are a neighborhood. None of the designations reflect who we are and we want a designation that does.
3) I am trying to get the word out to my neighbors that there is a petition being circulated and we need 100% of the area in agreement to change the designation. This includes those along Dogwood.
4) We need, as a community, to support local farmers to help them stay in business. Research shows that 72% of the farms that existed in western North Carolina in 1949 have been converted to residential and commercial development. Tax breaks and economic support by buying local is needed.

Post your email or phone contact information here if you are interested in signing the petition.

A Mountain Home Guide

In 2001, I compiled a publication entitled "The Mountain Home Guide." This booklet was a guide to help those building or buying a home in the mountain region. The booklet covered topics such as building on steep slopes, onsite waste management, sources of drinking water such as wells or springs, sediment and erosion control, accessibility and much more.

It was overwhelmingly popular and even received praise in an Asheville Citizen Times editorial. Since that last printing, I have had folks approach me about revising and reprinting this publication.

I am happy to announce that I have been rewriting this publication. I am currently seeking resources to publish it. I hope to make it available in the next few months. This version will contain much more than previously. Check back here periodically as I will post how to obtain a copy once it is completed.

Until then, Timber Frame Magazine has posted an older version of it on the internet. Click HERE to view it. It is an Adobe Acrobat Reader file so you will need that software.

Clear Water Contractors

In 2001 Mike Goodson (of the NC Division of Land Resources) and I sat over a piece of pie in Hazelwood, NC and discussed the issues surrounding sediment and erosion control. On the back of a placemat, we began to outline the creation of a training program that has to date trained over 1,000 contractors working in western North Carolina.

The issues as we saw them were that contractors were not fully aware of the laws pertaining to sediment and erosion control; they were not installing technologies as they were intended; and there was disconnect between the design professional (like an engineer) and the contractor installing that designed measure. Furthermore, the landowner who was hiring the contractor is the person calling the shots - such as what corners would be cut to save money - but unaware that the fines for violating the law could be as high as $5,000 per day per violation.

The result is that we now have over 1,000 contractors working in western North Carolina who have sat through an eight-hour training program with instructors from state and federal agencies managing land disturbing activities. They know the law. They have knowledge of how to install the measures. And, they know who to call within the agencies to seek advice.

To help improve our streams, and preserve land, hire a trained contractor - one who knows the laws.

To the left are photos of some of the contractors that have taken this course. In order from top to bottom:
Macon County - 2001
Avery County - 2002
Cherokee County - 2002
Haywood County - 2003

Steep Slope Development - Social Perspectives

I saw a message on a hotel sign here in Candler that reflects my own opinion: Change is inevitable, growth is optional.

The trends of our communities reflect a continued growth in the number of residential units on steep slopes. The changes in our demographics demonstrate a shift to a larger percentage of people over 65 years of age. In all the reports that I have read the population of several mountain counties will range from 30 to 45 percent people over 65 years of age by the Year 2020. (I will be one of those people.) Should this population live in the rural areas on steep slopes, there is reason to be concerned about the access to services such as medical care. Emergency service personnel are already expressing concern accessing homes on steep slopes.

The NC Geological Survey is creating maps that show historical landslides and areas that are prone to slope movements due to a number of variables. I have and continue to be an advocate for this mapping effort. However, I am concerned that areas associated or identified as higher risk may lessen in value and create a shift in how land is valued economically. Left to market forces alone, high risk steep slopes could be the only places where the poor can afford to reside. We need to continue mapping high risk areas but we also need to ensure that we don't force people out of areas of lower risk due to increased property values.

Step It Up 2007 - National Day of Climate Action

Join Us On April 14th - National Day of Climate Action
Step It Up 2007 - Western North Carolina

In concert with a national day of demonstrations we are organizing two gatherings to call for our leaders in Washington, DC to STEP IT UP in addressing climate change. If you are interested in participating or partnering in either one of these gatherings, please contact us or leave a comment in the comment box below. We need as many people as possible in these two locations to represent the call for action from western North Carolina! We are grateful that SouthWings has agreed to photograph our group from the air.

Date? April 14, 2007
Time? 2 - 3 p.m.
Where? Asheville, NC (Exact Location To Be Announced)
Contacts? Phillip Gibson & John Huie

Partners: If you or your organization would like to assist with either of these efforts, please email Phillip Gibson at praygibson@hotmail.com. We will list those participating as they sign on.

• SouthWings
  
• Western North Carolina Alliance
• Mountain Voices Alliance
  

Questions? Post questions to the comment section (located below) of this Blog.


What is the catalyst for this event? Read the letter below:

From Our Friend Author Bill McKibben:

I’m writing to ask your help. I know you’ve already made changes in your own life to deal with climate change; I’m guessing that, like me, you feel a little helpless about the scale of the problem. Some of us who are eager to do something more are organizing a day of demonstrations for April 14. We’re calling ourselves Stepitup2007.org.

If everyone pitches in, we’ll have by far the largest action yet in this nation about global warming—large enough that Washington will notice and start to act. It’s going to be an unusual day. People will be rallying in many of America’s most iconic places: on the levees in New Orleans, on top of the melting ice sheets on Mt. Hood and in Glacier National Park, even underwater on the endangered coral reefs off Key West and Hawaii.

But we need hundreds of rallies [throughout the nation] outside churches, and in city parks, and in rural fields. It’s not a huge task—assemble as many folks as possible, hoist a banner, take a picture. Pictures of the protests will be linked together electronically via the web—before the day is out, we’ll have a cascade of images to show both local and national media that Americans don’t consider this a secondary issue. That instead they want serious action now.

We’re not an organization—we’re, in essence, a few people sending out invitations to a party. A potluck. This is going to be a homemade day of action.

The best science tells us we have ten years to fundamentally transform our economy and lead the world in the same direction or else, in the words of NASA’s Jim Hansen, we will face a “totally different planet.” We’re calling for 80 percent carbon cuts by 2050, which would be a good first step to warding off that future. But the exact numbers are less important than the underlying message to Washington: get serious. The recent elections have given us an opening, and polling shows most Americans know there’s a problem. But the forces of inertia and business-as-usual are still in control, and only our voices, united and loud, joyful and determined, can change that reality. Please join us. Bill McKibben www.Stepitup2007.org

Fishing with John Huie

I often have people ask me to take them flyfishing. Most do not want to get early or wade a river in the winter time. However, my boss, John Huie, did ask and was receptive to the idea of joining me Jan 3, 2007 on the North Fork of the Mills River. It was an unusually warm day as has been this whole winter season. The river was a bit up as it had rained a few days prior. I understood from passerbys that a dam had been removed from upstream which may account for some of the flow. However, it was a great day to be on the river. This was his first trip in many years and I was happy to have had the company. Here are a few photos of our day.