Landslide Geoscience Webpage

12/29/21: Updated Surface Extensometer Monitoring Report

10/12/21 Update:

Despite weather delays the field crews were able to make some good progress last week. To date 73% of the total planned drilling has been completed including Borings 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2A, 2B, and 3A (see attached). Drilling is still on schedule to be completed by the end of October.

Drill Crew No. 1 is currently at Boring 3B. They should finish drilling at this location in the next day or two. This drill rig will move to Boring 1E next. Boring 1E is located in the middle of the slide path, about halfway up the slope from Beach Road. Yesterday an operator from Southeast Roadbuilders made a small pad for the drill rig at Boring 1E. The helicopter will move the drill rig to the pad later this week, depending on weather.

Drill Crew No. 2 completed drilling at Boring 1D this weekend. The helicopter will fly grout and instrument casing supplies to this location tomorrow, weather permitting. After the casing is installed this drill rig will move to Boring 3C next, tentatively on Wednesday or Thursday.

Next week the instrumentation crew will return to Haines to finish installing monitoring equipment at the borings. The attached photo shows the final monitoring equipment setup at Boring 1C. The boring includes a 125’ long instrument called a ShapeArray that is used to monitor ground movement and two instruments used to monitor groundwater pressure. The metal pipe protects the top of the instruments but does not extend into the boring. The monitoring equipment connects to data loggers and batteries in the utility cabinet. The cabinet also contains a modem to transmit the data. Each boring will have a similar setup once the work is completed.

If you have any questions related to the geotechnical field work please feel free to call me at (907)328-8693 or email me at travis.eckhoff@alaska.gov.

Travis Eckhoff, PE
Regional Geotechnical Engineer
Alaska DOT&PF Southcoast Region
6860 Glacier Highway
P.O. 112506
Juneau, Alaska 99811-2506

Spring Subsurface Reconnaissance Memo - Click here
Surface Instruments Install Memo - Click here
Phase Two Test Pit and Laboratory Testing Results- Click here

Landslide Infographics- Click here

Exploration Plan- Click here

Winter Reconnaissance - Preliminary Findings Report (Click here)

Winter Reconnaissance - Survey Report (Click here)

December 2020 - What Happened?

The December 2020 Weather Related Event caused widespread damage and hardships, including Borough-wide flooding, debris flows and avalanches that damaged roads, homes and infrastructure from downtown to the Border; a geologic mass wasting event and localized tsunami at Beach Road; additional landslides at Lutak; and temporary and longer-term neighborhood evacuations and displaced residents. Two beloved community members remain missing.

What is being done?

Beach Road geotechnical assessment contract
University of Alaska Fairbanks approved grant proposal with National Science Foundation (pdf)
DGGS approved grant proposal to FEMA Cooperative Technical Partners Program (pdf)
Haines Avalanche Center monitoring and outreach contract

More information:

What to watch for:

Previous landslide areas may grow, or new landslides may occur with heavy and prolonged precipitation or rapid snow melt. Please keep aware of any steep terrain above you and be vigilant for any changes. Watch for signs of ground movement or flooding. A large landslide into water may cause a localized tsunami. Report non-emergency information to eoc@haines.ak.us. If there is an emergency, move to a safe location and call 9-1-1. Important observations may include:

Creek water that becomes brown / dirty over time
Pooling water on the ground
Cracking drywall or shifting walls in homes
Cracks in land or pavement/driveways
Ground movement of any kind
Trees tipping or falling over
Overflowing wells
Wet basements
Clogged culverts
Water and/or debris washing across roadways

Listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. Moving landslides are often compared to the sound and feel of a passing freight train. If you hear these sounds, getting out of the path of a landslide or debris flow is your best protection. Likewise, if you are near the beach and see unusual changes in water level or any nearby slope, move to higher ground in a direction away from any visible landslide movement.

If escape is not possible, move to a second story room or to the downslope side of the house and curl into a tight ball and protect your head. Choose an area where you are not in danger of being pinned or crushed by furniture. In one-story homes, moving up on top of furniture or countertops can protect you from suffocation or being swept away. Unfurnished areas, such as closets, interior hallways, or bathrooms may provide additional protection. Opening downhill doors and windows may help rushing debris flow through the house, thus reducing the build up of debris which can lead to burial, suffocation, or ripping apart the structure.

Hazardous areas include on/below steep slopes, in/along drainages, steep road-cuts, and areas of previous landslides. Intense bursts of rain can be particularly dangerous for triggering additional landslides. Unusually loud sounds such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together can indicate moving debris nearby.If you hear these sounds, move to higher ground, a second story room, or to the downslope side of the house and curl into a tight ball and protect your head. Be especially alert when driving. Collapsed embankments and pavement, downed trees, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible landslides.