Introduction
The hazard report generally entails the information on the possible natural hazards in a particular region. The region, discussed in this report is the Golden Valley, Colorado. The importance of this report is in the possibility of the further analysis of the hazards of the Golden Valley region. The fact is that, the maps provide the information, which relates to the past, while it may be used for assessing the future of the hazardous region, and evaluating the likelihood of floods, landslides, rock falls and soil swelling. The resources and techniques, which are used for the creation of the report, are the analysis of the maps and imperative assessment of the incoming information.
Review of the Rock Types
The Rocky Mountains, and the Golden Valley in particular are considered to be the complex geological element, as their age is large enough for being dangerously hazardous. Thus, the following information should be emphasized:
The mountains’ geology is a complex of igneous and metamorphic rock; younger sedimentary rock occurs along the margins of the southern Rocky Mountains, and volcanic rock from the Tertiary (65 million – 1.8 million years ago) occurs in the San Juan Mountains and in other areas. (Plummer and McGeary, 2002, p. 310)
The geographic location of the rocks is featured with the extension from the British Columbia, in Canada, to New Mexico, in the United States.
Overlay Maps
In accordance with the overlay maps, all the dangerously hazardous regions are at comparatively low altitude in accordance with the rocks. Originally, the rocky territories are not subjected to floods and landslides, nevertheless, the erosions have made the rocks subjected to falls, and consequently, the rock falls are credible enough. Because of erosion and floods, as well as high level of the ground waters the landslides are also credible. The related problem is the soil swelling. (Tarbuck, Lutgens, 2004)
Types of Hazards
The floods are generally caused by the increase of the ground waters, or the meltdown of the snows during the warm periods. Thus, the rivers are drowning out, thus, causing floods. The mitigation technique for the floods is the forestation of the region, or avoiding any settling or construction in the regions, which are subjected to floods. (Zumberge, Rutford, 2008)
Rock falls are caused by the erosion, which the rocks were subjected to for millions of years. Thus, the rocks became fragile, and are ruined, being subjected to various factors, such as winds, rainfalls etc, which cause the destruction of the rocks. The hazardous territories are the lowlands, where the settlements are located. Originally, there are no mitigation techniques.
Landslides are the reason of erosion and floods simultaneously. The landslides are caused by increased levels of ground waters and flat soils. Forestation would be able to make the soils firmer, and less subjected to erosions, as well as soil swelling.
Soil swelling is the reason of the slides, erosion and ground waters.
Originally, the size of the hazardous territories depend on the summarized square of the rocky and valley territories, as all the slides and floods happen in accordance with the principle from heights to lowlands.
Recommendations
The only recommendation that should be given is to avoid settling in the hazardous regions. If land swelling and floods appear to be the least dangerous, it is significant to avoid rock falls and landslides.
Reference List
Plummer, C.C., McGeary, D. Physical Geology. McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math 2002
Tarbuck, E. Lutgens, F. Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. Prentice Hall, 2004
Zumberge, J. Rutford, R. Laboratory Manual for Physical Geology. McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math 2008