Libra4i Cofel 

LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

Overview of Landslide Problems, 

Research, and Mitigation, 

Cincinnati, Ohio, Area 

 4:9441-

4

1

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* 

311107111111110E. 

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Overview of Landslide Problems, Research, and 

Mitigation, Cincinnati, Ohio, Area 

By REX L. BAUM and ARVID M. JOHNSON 

LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 2059-A 

Description of landslide types in relation to local 

geology, history of research, and summary of efforts by 

citizens and local government to mitigate landslide hazards 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1996 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Gordon P. Eaton, Director 

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services 

Box 25286, Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and 

does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government 

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data 

Baum, Rex L. 

Overview of landslide problems, research, and mitigation, Cincinnati, Ohio, area / by 

Rex L. Baum and Arvid M. Johnson. 

p. cm. — (Landslides of the Cincinnati, Ohio, area ; A) 

(U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 2059) 

Includes bibliographical references. 

Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.3:2059—A 

1. Landslides—Ohio—Cincinnati Region. I. Johnson, Arvid M. II. Title. 

III. Series. IV. Series: U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 2059. 

QE75.B9 no. 2059—A 

[QE599.U5] 

557.3 s—dc20 

[551.3'07] 95-20103 

CIP 
CONTENTS 

Abstract A 1 

Introduction 1 

Topography, Geology, and Landslides of the Cincinnati Area 3 

Topography 3 

Geology 3 

Landslides 5 

History of Landslide Investigations in Cincinnati and Hamilton County 10 

Steps Toward Mitigation 18 

Committee Recommendations 18 

Implementation 19 

Overview of Chapters in This Series 21 

References Cited 23 

FIGURES 

1-3. Maps showing: 

1. Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio A2 

2. Bedrock geology of Hamilton County, Ohio 4 

3. Surficial geology of Hamilton County, Ohio 6 

4. Photograph of rapid earth flow ("mudslide") along Columbia Parkway 10 

5-8. Plane-table maps of thin landslides: 

5. A landslide above Columbia Parkway 11 

6. The Sunset View landslide 14 

7. A landslide between Bonnieview Lane and Vine Street 15 

8. The Bridle Road landslide complex (thin landslides in till) 16 

9-12. Plane-table maps of thick landslides: 

9. The Oregon Street and Baum Street landslide in Mount Adams 20 

10. The Eden Park landslide 22 

11. A landslide between Wood Avenue and McAlpin Avenue 24 

12. The Taylor Creek landslide next to 1-74 26 

13-14. Plane-table maps of block glides and block-extrusion glides: 

13. The Partridge Hills landslide (block glide in till and lake clay) 28 

14. A block-extrusion glide in till and lake clay at 980,984, and 988 Huffman Court 29 

15-16. Maps for landslide hazard assessment: 

15. Example of engineering-geologic map and relative-stability map 30 

16. Landslide damage and number of calls for repair of water mains by address along Maryland Avenue 32 

TABLES 

1. Characteristics of landslides in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area A9 

2. Characteristics of maps proposed for mitigation of landslide damage in developed areas of Cincinnati, Ohio 32 

III 

OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, 

RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION, 

CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

By Rex L. Baum and Arvid M. Johnsonl 

ABSTRACT 

Landslides cause much damage to property throughout 

the metropolitan area of Cincinnati, Ohio. Most landslides 

occur in unconsolidated deposits, including colluvium, till, 

glacial lake clays, and man-made fill derived from colluvium 

and glacial deposits. Landslides in thin colluvium are widespread on steeper slopes that wall the valleys of the Ohio 

River and its tributaries. Abundant landslides also form in 

thick colluvium on flatter slopes, especially where the colluvium has been disturbed by earthwork. Unusual block glides 

and block-extrusion glides form where till rests on lake clay. 

Through the years, knowledge of the distribution and causes 

of landslides has increased as a result of many investigations. 

This knowledge became part of the basis for landslide mitigation programs adopted by the City of Cincinnati and 

Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1974 the Cincinnati City Council passed an excavation and fill ordinance to help reduce 

landslide damage in areas of new construction. In 1989 following much additional study, Cincinnati created a geotechnical office within its Department of Public Works. The 

office, which is staffed by a geotechnical engineer, an engineering geologist, and two technicians, carries out a mitigation program. Since 1989, members of the geotechnical staff 

have worked in several ways to reduce landslide damage in 

the city; their work includes engineering-geologic mapping 

of selected parts of the city, inspection of retaining walls that 

impact public right-of-way, review of proposed construction 

in hillside areas, inspecting and arranging for repair of landslide areas that affect city property, and compiling geologic 

and geotechnical data on landslide areas within the city. In 

1990, Hamilton County also adopted an excavation and fill 

I Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, 

West Lafayette, IN 47907. 

ordinance to help reduce the damage due to landslides in 

areas of new construction. 

INTRODUCTION 

Landslides have been known in the Cincinnati area, 

southwestern Ohio (fig. 1), since before the 1850's, but the 

damage caused by landslides has become increasingly 

expensive as urban development has encroached more and 

more on the area's hillsides (Earth Movement Task Force, 

1982). The City of Cincinnati spent an average of about 

$500,000 per year on emergency street repairs for damage 

due to landslides between 1983 and 1987 (Earth Surface Processes Group, 1987), and the cost of landslide damage in 

Hamilton County averaged about $5,170,000 per year 

between 1973 and 1978 (Fleming and Taylor, 1980). 

Landslides occur in many kinds of surficial deposits of 

the Cincinnati area, but slides appear to be more common in 

colluvium than in any other deposits. Consequently, remaining chapters in this series (U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 

2059, chapters B, C, D, and E) report the results of several 

research projects on landslides in colluvium. Investigations 

by many people, particularly research conducted jointly by 

the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Cincinnati, 

identified the causes and mechanisms of landslides in the 

Cincinnati area. Basic geologic data, the distribution of historic slides, and knowledge of the causes and mechanisms 

coupled with experience from other urban areas are the basis 

for mitigation strategies that the City of Cincinnati and 

Hamilton County have adopted in the last decade. This 

chapter briefly describes the geologic setting and landslide 

types of the area, traces the history of landslide investigations and efforts to remedy landslide problems, and reviews 

some of the questions and problems that prompted the 

research described in succeeding chapters. 

Al 
39°00' 

39°15' 

LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

tAP& r I'' -••• 4.4% 

1:111\ k 4114 - . 

4A, itgt, A 4..4 

AW2511%%. Asibover41,, 

EXPLANATION 

Olson, 1988 

Area of detailed engineering-geologic mapping, 

identified by author and date 

Fig. 9 

Approximate location of landslide depicted by a 

plane-table map, identified by figure number 

84°45' 84°30' 84°15' 

0 10 20 KILOMETERS 

Figure 1. Map of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, showing approximate outlines of areas of detailed engineering-geologic mapping by students at the University 

Df Cincinnati and locations of landslides depicted by plane table maps. Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:250,000 Cincinnati, Ohio; Indiana; Kentucky (1953, revised 

1974). Contour interval 100 feet. 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A3 

TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, AND 

LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI 

AREA 

TOPOGRAPHY 

The Cincinnati area is a rolling, gently sloping upland 

that has been dissected in a dendritic pattern by ancient 

drainage systems, as well as by the modern Ohio River and 

its tributaries (fig. 1). Many of the tributaries occupy 

broad, terraced valleys. Steep hillsides line the valleys. 

The area has about 120 m of relief between the Ohio River 

(139 m above mean sea level) and nearby hilltops. The 

highest point in Hamilton County is about 293 m above 

mean sea level at a point 11 km north-northwest of downtown Cincinnati, on a major north-trending drainage divide 

that bisects Hamilton County. Hillsides slope gently near 

the valley floor and gradually become steeper as elevation 

increases. Near the rounded hilltops, the slopes flatten 

again. About 20 percent of the area of Cincinnati and 

Hamilton County slopes more than 25 percent (about 14°) 

(Earth Movement Task Force, 1982). Thus, hillsides determine much of the character of the Cincinnati area by forming natural green belts between hilltop communities and 

neighboring valley communities. 

GEOLOGY 

Glacial deposits cover most of the upland areas and 

form terraces along the Ohio River and its tributaries. Outwash and alluvium occupy the valley floors; colluvium, 

locally derived from bedrock and glacial deposits, covers 

bedrock on most hillsides. Bedrock underlies the glacial 

deposits at various depths. Landslides occur in colluvium 

and in some glacial deposits. Brief descriptions of bedrock 

and glacial geology follow. 

Ordovician bedrock underlying the area consists of 

almost horizontally layered shale with subordinate limestone (Ford, 1967). The Upper Ordovician Kope Formation 

(more than 60 m thick) is present between the level of the 

Ohio River and about midheight of hillsides along the Ohio 

and its major tributaries (fig. 2). The Kope Formation consists of about 70-80 percent blue-gray shale with discontinuous interbeds of gray, fossiliferous limestone. Shale of the 

Kope Formation slakes when exposed to water and weathers readily into a yellow-brown clay soil. The Upper 

Ordovician Fairview Formation, 20-30 m thick, rests conformably on and interfingers with the Kope Formation 

(Ford, 1967). The Fairview Formation consists of 60-75 

percent blue-gray shale with continuous interbeds of 

fossiliferous limestone. Beds in the Fairview are less than 

50 cm thick and average 8 cm. The Miamitown Shale, 

0-11 m thick, interfingers with the Fairview Formation and 

may lie above or within the Fairview. Nodular, shale-rich 

(about 90 percent shale) lithology is typical of the Miamitown Shale. Bellevue Limestone, about 0-8 m thick, and 

unnamed Upper Ordovician beds cap the hilltops. The 

Bellevue Limestone consists of crenulated, shelly limestone 

with thin, clay-rich interbeds. Unnamed beds above the 

Bellevue Limestone contain variable amounts of shale and 

limestone. 

Colluvium covers many hillsides in the area, especially 

those that were glaciated only in pre-Illinoian time (fig. 3). 

The colluvium is derived from weathered bedrock and consists of fragments of weathered limestone and siltstone in a 

matrix of yellow, silty clay. The colluvium forms a wedgeshaped deposit that is thin on the steeper, higher slopes and 

gradually becomes thicker (as much as 15 m thick) near the 

valley bottom. 

The relatively simple geologic structure influences the 

movement of ground water in the bedrock. The area is on 

the west flank of the Cincinnati Arch, a broad anticline 

that occupies much of southwestern Ohio and northern 

Kentucky. Bedding in most of Hamilton County dips 

about 1.5-2.0 in/km toward the northwest. Limestone and 

siltstone beds contain near-vertical fractures that are 

spaced regularly. Two or three sets of fractures, each having a different orientation, exist at any given location. 

However, orientations of the fracture sets vary from place 

to place (Hoffman, 1966). The shale separates along bedding planes but it also contains steeply dipping fractures 

(Richards, 1982; Baum, 1983, p. 15). Fractures and, 

locally, small solution channels appear to be the main avenues of ground-water movement in the bedrock (Fenneman, 1916). Hoffman (1966) observed a few small, 

complex structures in bedrock exposed in stream valleys; 

the structures do not appear to have any relation to modern 

landslides. 

Pre-Illinoian (Kansan?), Illinoian, and Wisconsinan 

glaciation changed the drainage pattern and left glacial 

deposits in valleys, on upland areas, and on hillsides (Durrell, 1961, 1977; Pavey and others, 1992) (fig. 3A). 

Before the advent of the first ice sheet in southwest Ohio, 

the area was a gently rolling plain and north-flowing 

streams occupied valleys that were about 45 m deep (Durrell, 1977). The pre-Illinoian glacier advanced into northern Hamilton County and dammed the north-flowing 

streams; eventually a deep, west-flowing river ("Deep 

Stage") formed that flowed west through Norwood, north 

up the valley of Mill Creek, and then south down the valley of the Great Miami River. Remnants of deeply weathered pre-Illinoian till, lake clay, and outwash are found on 

hilltops in Hamilton County (fig. 3B) and northern Kentucky, beyond the limits of later glaciers (Durrell, 1961, 
84°45' 84°30' 84°15' 

' \\•,-; ; A01,0.4ftr_ 

EXPLANATION 

Area where bedrock is concealed by 

alluvium or glacial deposits 

UPPER ORDOVICIAN 

Fairview Formation, Miamitown Shale, Bellevue Limestone, 

and unnamed beds above the Bellevue, undivided 

Mope Formation, 60+ m thick, blue-gray shale with 

interbedded fossiliferous limestone 

Contact, approximately located 

OHIO 

MAP LOCATION 

39°00' 

Ou 

Ok 

0 10 20 KILOMETERS 

39°15 

Figure 2. Bedrock geology of Hamilton County, Ohio (top of Kope Formation from Gray and others, 1972). Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:250,000 Cincinnati, Ohio; Indiana; 

Kentucky (1953, revised 1974). Contour interval 100 feet. 

LANDSLIDESOF 

THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A5 

p. 55). Two lobes of the Illinoian glacier advanced into 

Hamilton County, damming the Deep-Stage Ohio River. 

Eventually the water overflowed a divide at Anderson 

Ferry (fig. 3A, about 10 km east of downtown Cincinnati) 

and formed the channel of the modern Ohio River. Illinoian till and lake-clay deposits occur on the uplands and 

in the major tributary valleys (fig. 3A). In Hamilton 

County, Illinoian deposits appear to be absent only in a 

triangular area between the Great Miami River and the 

Ohio River. Wisconsinan till occupies only the northern 

part of Hamilton County, but coarse Wisconsinan outwash is found in valleys of the Ohio River and its major 

tributaries. The three episodes of glaciation left a complex array of glacial deposits (fig. 3A, B); many landslides have occurred in the deposits (Fleming and others, 

1981; Lion, 1983; Rodriguez Molina, 1983). 

LANDSLIDES 

Landslides in the Cincinnati area generally occur in 

surficial materials; landslides in which bedrock failed have 

been extremely rare (Fleming, 1975, p. 5). Several kinds of 

landslides have been identified, including rapid earth flows, 

thin translational landslides, thick landslides that move by 

rotation or a combination of rotation and translation, and 

block-extrusion glides (table 1). 

Many of the landslides that occurred in the 1970's 

and 1980's were studied by students of the University of 

Cincinnati. A part of the investigation was to make a 

detailed map of cracks and damage to such structures as 

roads and sidewalks. Several of these maps are reproduced here at a reduced scale to illustrate how the different 

kinds of landslides appear in the field. Detailed descriptions of most are contained in the reports and theses cited 

in the references. 

Rapid earth flows, known locally as "mudslides," are 

common on steeper slopes underlain by the Kope Formation 

in areas such as Columbia Parkway and Elberon Avenue 

(Fleming, 1975, p. 10). These failures are notorious for spilling onto Columbia Parkway and disrupting traffic. Rapid 

earth flows form during wet periods in thin colluvium (less 

than 2 m thick) overlying weathered bedrock and in clay 

derived from mechanically weathered bedrock exposed in 

steep cuts, mainly along highways (Pohana, 1983). Rapid 

earth flows involve the entire thickness of colluvium and 

leave exposed bedrock in their scars (fig. 4). Most rapid 

earth flows are small compared to other landslides of the 

Cincinnati area; the maximum dimension is usually less than 

25 m (Fleming, 1975; Richards, 1982; Riestenberg and 

Sovonik-Dunford, 1983). 

Slow-moving landslides also form in colluvium. 

Thin translational landslides form in thin colluvium on 

steep (27-47 percent or 15°-25°) slopes. Thick 

translational or rotational landslides form on flatter slopes 

in colluvium, artificial fill, and glacial deposits near the 

valley floors. In many places, thin and thick landslides 

join to form large landslide complexes (Fleming and others, 1981). 

Translational landslides in thin colluvium are abundant 

on steep slopes underlain by the Kope and Fairview Formations (Richards, 1982). Commonly the slides are 10-150 m 

wide (parallel to the contours) and 30-150 m long, and they 

form on slopes between about 27 percent (15°) and 58 

percent (30°). In plan view, the landslides can range in shape 

from long and narrow to short and wide (Richards, 1982, p1. 

1). Thin landslides may occur singly or grouped in slide 

complexes; some complexes are several hundred meters 

long (Fleming and others, 1981). Springs and seeps occur 

within or near many thin landslides. Thin landslides are 

active only in the spring because the colluvium is nearly saturated between mid January and early May and dry the rest 

of the year (Haneberg, 1991). Longitudinal stretching is the 

dominant style of deformation in thin landslides. Features 

near the downslope end commonly appear more fully developed. Most thin slides have many downhill-facing scarps, 

0.3-1 m high, consistent with longitudinal stretching (figs. 

5-7). The well-developed flanks are indicated by troughs 

(0.3-1.2 m deep) or scarps roughly perpendicular to the contours. The slip surface, 0-2 m deep, is near the irregular contact between colluvium and weathered bedrock. Thin 

landslides have also been observed in till where it forms a 

veneer over bedrock (fig. 8). 

Thick, rotational or rotational-translational landslides 

are common in till, thick colluvium, and fill derived from 

colluvium or till (figs. 9-12). Rotational landslides are commonly 2-15 m thick, 30-300 m wide, and 30-150 m long, 

and they occur on slopes between about 11 percent (6°) and 

27 percent (15°). One of the largest of this type, near the 

Riverside-Harrison School (fig. 1), was about 600 m wide, 

12 m deep, and 460 m long (Von Schlichten, 1935; Fleming 

and others, 1981). Some of these slides occur naturally, perhaps due to the action of subsurface water, but many occur 

in connection with earthwork in otherwise stable material 

(figs. 9-12). The landslide material appears to be only partially saturated most of the time. Although springs and 

locally marshy ground indicate that some areas are saturated 

(figs. 9 and 10), many open-tube piezometers remain dry 

Figure 3 (following three pages). Surficial geology of Hamilton 

County, Ohio. A, Generalized map, simplified from a recent map of 

Quaternary deposits in Ohio (Pavey and others, 1992). Base from 

U.S. Geological Survey 1:250,000 Cincinnati, Ohio; Indiana; Kentucky (1953, revised 1974). Contour interval 100 feet. B, Part of a 

detailed map by Brockman (1986), showing complex distribution of 

glacial deposits. Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 Shandon, Ohio (1965, photorevised 1981). Contour interval 10 feet. 
39°15' 

39°00' 

LANDSLIDES OF THECINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

1 = 

Socialvill 

126 • Fla 

OHIO 

MAP LOCATION 

f•;

'• )f): 

0 

ts 

I nEi 

Wo 

yio 

f. 

84°45' 84°30' 84°15' 

A 0 10 20 KILOMETERS 
Outwash(?), "Gallia sands," high sandy 

areas with bright-red soil profiles 

EXPLANATION 

z 

bUj j

0 

0 

a 

Alluvium and alluvial terraces; silty clay in areas of 

fine-grained deposits; coarse sand, gravel, or 

cobbles in areas of shallow bedrock 

z 

z 

Wo WI 

Outwash, deposited by meltwater in front 

of glacial ice; valley terraces or low 

plains; well-sorted, stratified sand and 

Lacustrine silt, locally includes 

fine sand or clay, well laminated 

in distal parts of deltas, poorly 

Moraine, flat to gently undulating, 

hummocks or hummocky ridges, 

sandy loam till with patchy loess 

(7) Z 

O 

Kames and kame terraces, hummocks 

or high valley steps, sand and gravel, 

poorly sorted and stratified, locally 

gravel laminated elsewhere contains boulders or masses of till cover 

z 

Io II 

z Outwash, small benches and high 

terraces, uniform sand beds, 

Lacustrine deposits, clay and 

silts more than 1 m thick, 

Moraine, flat, relatively continuous in eastern 

Hamilton County; dissected, occurring on 

some coarse silts, 0.5-2 m massive silt or colluvial cover ridge tops and mixed with colluvium on 

loess cover 0.25-0.5 m thick hillslopes in western Hamilton County; 

silty loam till covered with 1-3 m loess 

Moraine, mainly on ridgetops, dissected, eroded, 

highly weathered remnants of pre-Illinoian 

(Kansan?) till 

Contact, approximately located 

OVERVIEWOFLANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION 
0 Bedrock (covered ORDOVICIAN 

with thin layer of 

colluvium) 

Note: Some units are "mixed," as, Wsa/VVg 

EXPLANATION 

a Alluvium 

Sand 

Gravel Wisconsinan 

HOLOCENE 

• :Wsa 

:•.• • • .. 

Wsi Silt 

Isa Sand PLEISTOCENE 

Ig Gravel Illinoian 

It Till 

Loess over till Kansan(?) 

39°17'30" 

A8 LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

84°38'45" 

0 .5 1 KILOMETER 

I 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A9 

Table 1. Characteristics of landslides in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area. 

Type Style of movement Rate Thickness (m) Volumes 

(cubic meters) 

Materials 

Rapid earth flow 

-(or "mudslide"). 

Translation and 

flow. 

As much as several meters 

per second(?). 

<2 <300 Colluvium. 

Thin slide Translation Slow, probably a few 

centimeters per year with 

episodes of more rapid 

movement, 1-100 

cm/day. 

<2 300-50,000 Colluvium, artificial fill, 

till. 

Thick slide Rotation and 0-50 cm/day(2 ) 2-15 200— Colluvium, artificial fill, 

translation. 500,000(3) glacial deposits. 

Block glide Translation 0-25 cm/yr(4) 2-10 1,000-100,000 Till on glacial lake clay. 

Block-extrusion glide _ Translation and 

extrusion. 

0-25 cm/yr(4 ) 10 1,000-100,000 Till on glacial lake clay. 

I Estimated from typical dimensions. 

2Von Schlichten (1935). 

3The landslide near Riverside-Harrison School was one of the largest of its kind in the area; its volume was about 3,000,000 m3(Von Schlichten, 

1935; Fleming and others, 1981). 

4Fleming and others (1981, p. 561). 

(Fleming and Johnson, 1994). Longitudinal shortening 

appears to be the dominant style of deformation in thick 

landslides because such slides commonly have many internal toes (fig. 11). The internal toes are analogous to thrust 

faults, which are known to result from shortening (Billings, 

1972, p. 196). Many thick slides have only one major scarp 

(the head scarp) and a few minor internal scarps. The lateral 

margins are often poorly expressed. 

Many complex slides consist of one or more thin 

slides, joined to a thick slide. In such complexes, the thin 

slides occupy the upper part of the hillside and contain 

many scarps; the thick slide occupies the lower part of 

the hillside and contains internal toes. Thus, the thin 

slide acts as the head and the thick slide acts as the toe of 

the landslide complex (Fleming and Johnson, 1994). 

Unusual block glides (fig. 13) and block-extrusion 

glides (fig. 14) occurred in Illinoian glacial lake clay overlain by till at Huffman Court, McKelvey Road (Fleming 

and others, 1981; Gokce, 1989, 1992), at Glenwood Avenue in Avondale (Rodriguez Molina, 1983), near the 

southeast corner of Hamilton County (Pohana, 1983, pl. 

4), and probably elsewhere. Gokce (1989, p. 108-204) 

described several examples and noted the following general characteristics. These slides typically occur where a 

stream has cut through till resting on soft, horizontally 

laminated lake clay; the lake clay rests on limestone and 

shale bedrock. The slides commonly are about 10 m 

thick, and the maximum dimension in plan view is about 

100 m. Movement is slow, usually less than 25 cm/yr. 

The ground surface slopes gently, about 5°-15°, and the 

contact between the till and underlying lake clay slopes a 

few degrees toward the stream. The surface of the bedrock may be horizontal or gently sloping. Water pressures in the till are low or negative, but confined water 

occurs in the bedrock. Water levels of wells sealed into 

the bedrock are near the ground surface. Well-developed 

scarps or grabens form at the heads of these slides, weakly 

developed cracks mark lateral margins (flanks) of some 

landslides (the flanks cannot be located in others), and 

domes or ridges of clay that appear and disappear in the 

stream channels mark toes of these slides. Failure seems 

to occur by a combination of extrusion of the lake clay 

into the stream channel and sliding within the lake clay. 

Several lines of evidence indicate that extrusion plays 

a significant role in movement of some of these block 

glides (Fleming and others, 1981; Gokce, 1989). Inclinometer measurements at the Huffman Court block-extrusion 

glide indicated a bulge in the velocity profile (that is, 

greater horizontal velocity) in the depth interval of the lake 

clay (fig. 14). Domes of laminated clay appeared in the 

stream beds during dry periods and apparently were eroded 

away during rainy periods. The laminations were disturbed 

and steeply dipping in the domes, but horizontal laminations were observed in samples from boreholes elsewhere 

in the landslide. Lake clay in the domes was also a few 

meters higher in elevation than the clay beneath the rest of 

the landslide. The ground surface of the landslides (except 

in the clay domes) settled, indicating that the slides were 
A10 LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

Figure 4. Scar and deposits of rapid earth flow ("mudslide") along Columbia Parkway, by R.W. Fleming (reproduced from Fleming, 1975; 

Fleming and Johnson, 1994). 

getting thinner. Shear strength of the laminated clay, measured in laboratory tests on samples from block extrusion 

glides at McKelvey Road and Huffman Court, were consistent with a model for extrusion (Gokce, 1989). However, 

the shear strength was not consistent with a model for simple sliding; back calculation by means of limit equilibrium 

stability analysis, using the observed water pressures and 

geometry, indicated much lower shear strengths than did 

the laboratory tests. 

HISTORY OF LANDSLIDE 

INVESTIGATIONS IN CINCINNATI 

AND HAMILTON COUNTY 

Reports of landslide investigations published before the 

1970's are uncommon, and descriptions of the local geology 

mention landslides only briefly. Orton (1873, p. 423-424) 

mentioned landslide and foundation problems related to the 

Kope Formation (his Eden beds). Fenneman (1916, p. 

76-77) in describing the geology of the Cincinnati area, 

noted that hillside soils creep downslope gradually, and that 

hillside soils sometimes fail during wet periods. Exon 

(1929) and Von Schlichten (1935) described in moderate 

detail a major landslide near the Riverside-Harrison School 

that was active from 1926 to 1930. 

Landslides became more common after about 1960 

when population growth and improvements in technology 

led to increased development of hillside areas. Hillsides 

served as natural barriers to urban development until about 

1960 when heavy-duty earth-moving equipment became 

widely available and made it much easier to build on the hillsides (Hough, 1978). At about the same time, undeveloped 

level or gently sloping ground became scarce, so that urban 

development began to expand more and more into hillside 

areas. 

Efforts to understand factors that contributed to 

landsliding and to delineate landslide-prone areas began in 

the late 1960's and early 1970's. H.C. Nutting and Co. 

(1967) compiled information on bedrock and glacial 

Figure 5 (following two pages). Plane-table map of a landslide 

complex in thin colluvial soils above Columbia Parkway (modified 

from Richards, 1982, p1. 4). Contour interval 1 meter (arbitrary datum). Cross section vegetation is representational only. 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION All 

MARTIN STREET 

Curb displaced 1/2 in CLIFF DRIVE 

Curb displaced 1 in. 

-Guardsa i " 

I-beam Pier wall 

EXPLANATION 

Scarp—Dashed where subdued; 

hachures on downdropped side _ 

Toe—Dashed where subdued; - - 

sawteeth on moving ground 

Crack 

Shear zone—Showing relative 

horizontal movement; dashed 

where subdued 125 

Block separation zone 

Note: heavier line depicts 

newer features 

Exposed slip surface 

Debris from broken wall 

Wet area 

Water seep 

Stone wall 

Concrete wall 

1213` 1 

-7‹ 

----- I — --A i 

775 

/ 

4 

I 

Stone foundation wall 

• 

• , 

705 

10 

Con-Creie-Arainage 

gully 

COLUMBIA PARKWAY 

0 10 20 METERS 
A 

METERS 

Cliff - 140 

Drive ti 

- - - 135 

130 

Shale with thin 

limestone interbedsH---

=---=--- 125 

120 

- 115 

- 110 

- 105 

p T - • 

LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

Columbia 

Parkway 

= = = = = = - NOTE: Bedrock-colluvium contact is gradational; - 100 

bedrock/colluvium zone ranges from 2 ft - 

-------------- to 4 ft thick; unweathered bedrock surface 

_- Shale with thin---_ 

imestone 

is depicted on section. -95 

A' 

METERS 

140 — 

135 

130 

125 

120 

115 — 

110 — 

105 — 

100 — 

95 — 

0 20 40 METERS 

I I I 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION Al3 

geology, soils, mineral and ground-water resources, and 

underground disposal for some of Hamilton County at a 

scale of 1:16,000. The Ohio Department of Natural 

Resources mapped the bedrock geology of about half of 

Hamilton County during this time (Ford, 1972, 1974; 

Osborne, 1970, 1974); bedrock geology is one of several factors considered in modern schemes of landslide hazard zonation. One of the first efforts to delineate areas of potential 

landslide hazard was a map of "landslide-prone bedrock" 

within the city limits. Using empirical observations, Hough 

and Fleming (1974) designated areas underlain by the Kope 

Formation and sloping 20 percent (11°) or more as landslide 

prone; areas sloping between 10 percent (6°) and 20 percent 

(11°) were considered susceptible to sliding if improperly 

graded. Merritt (1975) did a similar study for Hamilton 

County, but he classified ground sloping more than 15 percent (9°) as unstable. 

Faculty and students at the University of Cincinnati 

began investigating landslides in the early 1970's. Scheper 

(1973) investigated the history of landslides in Illinoian till 

and lake clays at Huffman Court (fig. 14). Yahne (1974) 

described landslides in a 23-km2area north of downtown 

Cincinnati and found that landslides occurred in colluvium 

on the Kope Formation, in glacial till, and in man-made fill 

placed on till. McCandless (1976) measured the bulking of 

material in a few small landslides near the University of Cincinnati. Fleming (1975) described the observed relationship 

between geology and landslides. The most expensive landslide in the history of Cincinnati began moving in November 

1973 when colluvium on the south side of Mount Adams (a 

247-m hill that is on the north bank of the Ohio River and 

immediately east of downtown) failed during construction of 

ramps for Interstate Highway 471. Elaborate remedial measures completed in the early 1980's cost more than $22 million (Fleming and others, 1981). 

From the mid 1970's through the 1980's, efforts to 

understand the causes and distribution of landslides 

increased. In an effort to reduce landslide damage in areas 

of new construction, the city instituted an excavation and fill 

ordinance in 1974. To help cope with the problem of landslides, the city commissioned a study of landslide susceptibility (Sowers and Dalrimple Consulting Engineers, 1980). 

The study compiled existing geologic, topographic, and 

engineering information along with an inventory of landslides visible on 1979 black-and-white aerial photographs. 

Composite data for 250-ft-square grid cells were analyzed 

statistically using a computer to determine what factors are 

common to landslide-prone areas. Generally, areas underlain by the Kope Formation or the Fairview Formation and 

having slopes greater than 20 percent (11°) were found to 

have the highest susceptibility. The Ohio Department of 

Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

completed a soil survey for Hamilton County (Lerch and 

others, 1982); the survey shows the distribution of soils in 

the county and identifies several factors common to landslides. The soils are classified according to slope and parent 

material, as well as depth of weathering, texture, structure, 

and other properties. 

The severity of landslide problems in the Cincinnati 

area became widely known after Fleming and Taylor (1980) 

compiled and compared estimates of the cost of landslide 

damage in three large metropolitan areas. They determined 

that annual per-capita cost of damage in Hamilton County, 

Ohio, was $5.80 (not including the slide at Mount Adams), 

compared with $2.50 for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 

and $1.80 for the nine-county San Francisco Bay region, 

California. 

Faculty and students at the University of Cincinnati 

together with the U.S. Geological Survey undertook 

detailed studies of landslides. Graduate students produced 

detailed engineering-geologic maps and relative stability 

maps (fig. 15A, B), most at a scale of 1:2400 or 1:4800, for 

several parts of the Cincinnati metropolitan area (fig. 1) 

(Richards, 1982; Baum, 1983; Brockman, 1983; Geiger, 

1983; Lion, 1983; Pohana, 1983; Rodriguez-Molina, 1983; 

Olson, 1988). Riestenberg and Sovonik-Dunford (1983; 

also Riestenberg, 1981) began investigating the contribution 

of tree roots to stability of thin colluvium. Detailed field 

studies led to identification, description, and analysis of the 

main landslide mechanisms active on Cincinnati hillsides 

(Fleming and others, 1981; Gokce, 1989). Gokce (1989) 

described the variation of water levels in thin and thick colluvium and in bedrock beneath thick surficial deposits, 

described and analyzed block-extrusion glides, and investigated the contribution of cohesion and slip-surface roughness to the sliding resistance of thin colluvium. Efforts to 

map the distribution of glacial features and materials in 

Hamilton County also began (Weaver, 1983). 

From about 1975 to 1981, Hamilton County undertook 

many plans, studies, and proposed earthwork regulations to 

mitigate landslide problems. In 1982, Hamilton County 

organized the Earth Movement Task Force to evaluate landslide problems in Hamilton County and to make recommendations for dealing with them. As part of their investigation, 

the Earth Movement Task Force (1982) compiled a landslide 

inventory showing where landslides had occurred in Hamilton County. 

Investigations during the late 1980's and early 1990's 

built on previous work, in order to answer several questions 

related to mitigation. The Ohio Geological Survey started 

mapping bedrock of the remainder of Hamilton County in 

1984 (Swinford and Schumacher, 1985; Swinford, 1986), 

and glacial deposits of all of Hamilton County in 1985 

(Brockman, 1986; Vormelker, 1985a, 1985b). Murdoch 

Figure 6 (overleaf). Plane-table map of the Sunset View landslide, by Michael J. Westerfield and Robert L. Olson, University of 

Cincinnati, 1987. All elevations are relative to an arbitrary station 

on Sunset Avenue. Contour interval 1 meter (arbitrary datum). 
A A' 

APARTMENT 

ROAD 

SUNSET AVENUE 

B' SUNSET 

AVENUE 

B B' 

70 

LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

EXPLANATION 

 Scarp—Hachures on downdropped side - — — — Sheet pile 

 Slip surface—In cross section 

Toe—Sawteeth on moving ground 

Shear zone—Showing relative horizontal 

movement; dashed where inferred 

Crack 

I I Limestone—In cross section 

Shale—In cross section 

Sewer APARTMENT ROAD 

1 

5 10 15 METERS 

_L 
EXPLANATION 

Scarp—Thinner where recent; 

hachures on downdropped side 

A—A—A Toe—Dashed where subdued; 

saw-teeth on moving ground; 

0, old; YR, younger, YT, 

youngest 

 Crack 

Shear zone—Showing relative 

horizontal movement; dashed 

where inferred 

Wet area 

Drainage (runoff) 

Sycamore tree location 

Retaining wall 

Rubber pipe (4 in. diameter) drain 

• 

Following in cross section only: 

Kope Formation 

Shale 

Limestone interbeds 

Fill 

Colluvium 

Slip surface 

Recent crack 

LOCATION MAP 

A 

2054 A 

VINE STREET 

A' 

METERS 

200 

195 

190 

185 

( BONNIEVIEW 

LANE 

19 

190 

• 

Wall 

185 Wall h -± 

Church 

iQ 

Creek 

75 

MITCHELL 

AVENUE 

SITE 

VINE STREET 

OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A15 

0 50 METERS 

Figure 7. Plane-table map of a landslide between Bonnieview Lane and Vine Street by Carlos Rodriguez Molina and Paul Bates, Jr., 

University of Cincinnati, April 1982 (modified from Rodriguez Molina, 1983, pl. 4). Elevations on map and cross section are in relation to 

Benchmark 2054 (solid triangle) near Vine Street. City datum 167.7 meters; plane table datum, 181.5 meters. Contour interval 1 meter. 

Buildings are schematic. Cross section vegetation is representational only. 
CS 

FH ° 

FH 

20 

• 

..;Y 

••• • 

0 50 METERS 

220 

'f 

EXPLANATION 

LANDSLIDES OFTHE CINCINNATI, OHI

O, AREA 

Septic outlet 

.•.•:.• Landslide debris 

Gravel 

Fill 

Till 

Unweathered o•n•.ocl .°°.° Weathered and unweathered— 

Weathered In cross section 

Bedrock Fairview Formation—In cross section 

 Kope Formation—In cross section 

Grand Avenue Member of Kope 

Formation—In cross section 

' Scarp—Dashed where old; hachures on downdropped side 

 Lateral extent of slide mass—Queried where uncertain 

A—A—A- Toe—Dashed where old; sawteeth on moving ground 

Wet area 

Water seep 

FH Fire hydrant 

8251 

o Water meter 

• Buried water 

line 

Tree stabilizing or 

modifying slide Slip surface (cross section)—Showing relative horizontal 

movement; dotted where inferred; queried where uncertain Gully . 4Survey stake 

Contact (cross section)—Dashed where inferred; queried Culvert 

where uncertain 

Culvert—Dashed 

where covered 
195 195 

A" 

METERS 

 230 

oC7 

•c=, 

22

15

0 

F6-c>„ ef3 225 

Slide II ,:c,.°°:e.€212°..9.8%C,RC 

.ck% C3ce=0*.k:•`.'6 Pg,? 

-1'or•° • b. •

• 

- • •F):..00 

• o' 545' 

200 

A 

METERS 

230-7. 

225= Slide I 

1- - 210 

205 

220= 

215 = 

210 

205 7

: 

200 —:,1...-; .••••4" 

A' A 

c;P• D'o°~° °oov p9 

• °.9'oo 

B 

METERS 

230 - 

225 

220 

215 

210 

205 

Culvert 

200 

195 

190 

B' C 

• C. a NOY, 0: 

D. • Ro..0.q.c2;v0,„ s0 

0 

*54c8TPM°9:61 4°9Q,1:qt2.•°?Oc= 

.,.;,.cp.o„ceOb0.'1;ceig:ge° . v. orce:614: 

--''':cs. A* 444-, 4 .t.). ..zu.° . 

<510 0•51,tS 

-e/citv5-*c.),,• v‘.. O. 0 c) S.z- oA 

_

cr•C'e4::;.F"-2° -.-?•094:',; 0 

,,.--%-.1.'eQ. ?Oe ksIc :,;., .1.y. s,F,.,3 ..c... 

<'.Pg.V ‘&'..2.8''',,,VoQQ41-C''..S:Q7RCS'A',°Z<3, c'-`

• 

;' 

..f.%*-0 • • 0:•• 4766'.cs, p° ''FO4.c).0.6. Cn'i",:=;: ,.--:kir. 17 ... 

.,:itT,CNI,v'S:1V. 0'Z.... :„•:::,!:‘•<3 • c., • C:3 •,1 . - ''2.-4-.-..'L'_ 

is) 

'ap..... . 00 •ci,i," ''' c> CD c,,,., u,..2 I:, C,.,-, 

• 0 

. 

p..40 ,,,-,,,,,,

,

, .•...t.s,g.:Z .-....- 

.:bc". •••-•-• 

*.•z07 .9, 

H' 

210Ab..4 

9 iqliCeOG'SP 215 

:

doo: 

oas..Q.d of 

044,o "o 0 *,,o4O•o* 

° $0 . 1°0 0; 

%.'qe.a0 • 0'69'<5 tO°./7.°' 

0 

°4°:°0:1061; 

:Pa 0 a8?"; ,146,, 0 000.00

:43•,0(17,0L.,, "0, 0 

C' D 

H 

METERS 

210 — 

210 

205 

200 

195 

190 

Slide V 

BRIDLE RD 

Culvert 

. • dio 

• • 

".s.:O'P 0. cc 

O".6. 0°% 

.o°00 • 

••....••• 

205 

D' 

METERS 

— 230 

225 

220 

Slide III Slide IV 

So: O 

: 

E' E" E"' 

Slide I 

•••• 

Water lines 

E 

METERS 

215 7 

.

210 

205 

Slide II Slide III Slide IV 

METERS 

•• 215 

210 

205 

Figure 8. Plane-table map of the Bridle Road landslide complex (thin landslides in till) by C. Scott Brockman, University of Cincinnati, March 1982 (modified from Brockman, 1983, pl. 5). Base 

datum established from Hamilton County topographic map of the Dry Run Creek area, Anderson Township. Contour interval 1 meter. 

OVERVIEWOFLANDSLIDEPROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION 
A18 LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

(1987) and Haneberg (1989, 1991) investigated movement 

of soil moisture and rainfall infiltration in thin colluvium. 

Their work indicates that thin colluvium is uniformly moist 

and nearly tension saturated from mid January to early May 

and is nearly dry the remainder of the year. Haneberg 

(1989, 1991) observed that a sharp wetting front slowly 

moves downward from the surface toward the base of the 

colluvium during November and December; colluvium 

dries from the surface downward in May. Haneberg (1989) 

also investigated the effectiveness of subsurface drains in 

reducing destabilizing pore pressures in thin colluvium. A 

mass-balance model indicates that downslope discharge 

from thin colluvium barely exceeds the long-term recharge 

due to precipitation; the slow discharge enables destabilizing pore pressures to build during large storms (Haneberg, 

1992). Riestenberg (1987, 1992) investigated the ability of 

tree roots to anchor thin colluvium to steep slopes. The 

Earth Surface Processes Group (1987) investigated the 

extent of landslide damage to streets and condition of 

retaining walls in the City of Cincinnati; they made several 

recommendations for improving methods of monitoring 

damage to and planning for repair of streets and retaining 

walls, as well as methods for avoiding landslide problems 

in areas of new development. Bernknopf and others (1988) 

used a geographic information system (GIS) to perform 

probabilistic landslide hazard mapping and estimate the 

costs and benefits of mitigation. They found that the cost 

of mitigation was significantly less than the prevented 

losses only if mitigation was applied only to areas having 

relatively high probability of landslide damage. Probability 

of damage was based on topographic slope and shear 

strength of the surficial materials. Thus, the work of 

Bernknopf and others (1988) pointed out the need for data 

that accurately portray landslide susceptibility for areas of 

planned development. Behringer and Shakoor (1992) concluded, at five different sites, that human modification of 

slopes has aggravated movement. 

STEPS TOWARD MITIGATION 

During the 1970's and continuing into the present, people from the private sector have become significantly and 

increasingly involved in the mitigation of landslide problems. Beyond the involvement of students and faculty from 

the Geology and Civil Engineering Departments of the University of Cincinnati, engineers and geologists from private 

consulting companies have donated services to prepare draft 

grading regulations and to recommend strategies for damage 

reduction. Private foundations, including the Cincinnati 

Institute of E. Pope Coleman during the 1970's, and currently the Hillside Trust under the leadership of Robin 

Corathers, have worked toward thoughtful use of hillsides, 

including support for research on causes and controls of 

landslides. Some of these activities are discussed in the next 

section 

As landslide problems became more severe and information about landslides accumulated, Cincinnati and Hamilton County began to take action to reduce losses due to 

landslides. Work began in 1967 to draft an excavation and 

fill ordinance, but the work soon halted (R.E. Pohana, City 

of Cincinnati, written commun., 1992). The work resumed 

in 1972, and an ordinance was passed by the Cincinnati City 

Council on October 30, 1974, providing for plan review 

prior to issuance of a building permit and for inspection during construction. The Department of Public Works of the 

City of Cincinnati administered the ordinance until 1979, but 

enforcement was ineffective because Public Works had no 

field personnel to perform the inspections. In 1979, the ordinance was amended to transfer administration of the inspection and enforcement functions to the Department of 

Buildings and Inspections. In 1983, the ordinance was 

incorporated into the Cincinnati, Ohio, Basic Building Code, 

and the plan review function was transferred to the Department of Buildings and Inspections. 

Following Cincinnati's adoption of the excavation and 

fill ordinance, work by two committees, the Earth Movement 

Task Force (1982) and the Earth Surface Processes Group 

(1987), largely determined subsequent actions by the city 

and county governments to mitigate landslide problems. 

These committees drew their members from city, county, 

and Federal agencies and the University of Cincinnati. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS 

The Earth Movement Task Force (1982) recommended 

three approaches for mitigating landslide hazards in developed and undeveloped parts of Hamilton County. (1) Collect 

background geologic information for Hamilton County. (2) 

Adopt and enforce procedures for avoiding landslide problems during development of new properties. (3) Develop 

and use procedures for dealing with landslide damage in previously developed areas. A summary of specific tasks for 

each approach follows: 

Geological Base Data and Mapping. Obtain geological 

base data, including 1:24,000 scale mapping of bedrock and 

surficial deposits, and detailed engineering-geologic mapping of selected areas. Obtain additional research on landslides, including effects of tree roots on stabilization of 

shallow landslides, what controls the rate of sliding, locations of landslides that pose hazards to life, and the value of 

drainage in the stabilization of active landslides. 

Landslide mitigation for undeveloped land. Develop, 

fund, and staff an earthwork regulation to provide review, 

evaluation, and permit issuance on all earthwork in Hamilton 

County. In connection with this, the Board of County Commissioners would direct the Regional Planning Commission 

to designate hillside areas in the county for which geologic 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A19 

and geotechnical investigation is required prior to design of 

development, approval of zone changes, or approval of subdivision plats. A geotechnical engineer and an engineering 

geologist working for the county (either as employees or as 

contractors) would assist with enforcement of the regulation, 

review reports, and maintain a data bank of information relevant to geotechnical problems in Hamilton County. 

Landslide mitigation for developed land. Implement 

a public-information program. Seek modification of 

requirements for State and Federal disaster relief to 

include "slow-death" slides (slides that gradually destroy 

property over an extended period, rather than suddenly). 

Work for creation of federally backed landslide insurance. Seek authority from the State legislature to 

designate landslide-prone areas. Improve Cincinnati's 

excavation and fill ordinance. As Hamilton County develops methods for dealing with landslides, all jurisdictions 

within the county should be encouraged to adopt the methods and review developmental regulations in order to promote orderly development. Establish a geographic 

information system (GIS) for Cincinnati and Hamilton 

County to aid research and make possible a broader 

approach to mitigation. Form a long-term action group to 

study mitigation. 

The Earth Surface Processes Group (1987) made the 

following recommendations to the Smale Infrastructure 

Commission for the City of Cincinnati: (1) The city 

should hire a geotechnical engineer and an engineering 

geologist to serve as consultants to other city agencies and 

to work to mitigate hazards in undeveloped areas by helping enforce the excavation and fill ordinance, reviewing 

engineering geologic and geotechnical engineering reports 

submitted to any city agency or department, and developing and maintaining a data base of geotechnical information relevant to problems likely to be encountered in 

undeveloped areas. The engineer and the geologist would 

also work in previously developed areas by (a) making and 

maintaining engineering-geologic maps and repair-priority 

maps (fig. 15A; table 2), (b) monitoring landslide problem 

areas and notifying appropriate city agencies about need 

for emergency repairs, (c) monitoring damage to utilities in 

landslide areas and notifying utility companies about 

impending damage, and (d) studying records of utility 

repairs, if feasible, to determine whether landslide damage 

can be forecast (fig. 16). (2) Make annual contributions to 

landslide emergency repair fund; the amount is to be based 

on the current average cost of emergency repairs. (3) Provide for one-time inspection, by trained personnel, of all 

city-owned retaining walls and follow-up yearly inspections on a 5-yr cycle. (4) Establish a geotechnical advisory committee to aid in the search for a competent 

geotechnical engineer and an engineering geologist, recommend how the geotechnical group should be placed in the 

city, advise the geotechnical group and help it clarify its 

duties, annually review the work of geotechnical staff for 5 

yr, help the geotechnical group to recommend changes to 

the excavation and fill ordinance. (5) Require geotechnical investigation prior to development of hillside areas. 

IMPLEMENTATION 

Cincinnati and Hamilton County have implemented a 

number of these recommendations. In particular, Cincinnati 

adopted most of the recommendations of the Earth Surface 

Processes Group (1987). The City of Cincinnati created its 

Geotechnical Office within the Department of Public Works 

and hired a geotechnical engineer, an engineering geologist, 

and two technicians in August 1989. Pohana (1992a) outlined the six major responsibilities of the Geotechnical 

Office: (1) To provide geotechnical expertise for prevention 

and stabilization of landslides on property controlled by the 

city, (2) To compile geological information in a computerized data base, (3) To make detailed engineering-geologic 

maps and relative stability maps of selected parts of the city 

and add that information to the city's data base, (4) To 

inspect and inventory all retaining walls in the city that 

impact the public right-of-way, (5) To provide technical 

assistance to other departments and divisions of the city government (including review of proposed development within 

the city's Environmental Quality Hillside Districts), (6) To 

respond to questions from the public about slope stability. 

By the spring of 1992, the geotechnical staff had inspected 

sites of known slope movement and selected 40 of them for 

monitoring and repairs over a period of 6 yr. Nine of the 

sites were repaired soon after selection. The staff had also 

started compiling an automated data base; by reviewing city 

files they had identified nearly 500 areas of suspected landslide activity for eventual inspection and inclusion in the 

data base. They had completed engineering-geologic maps 

and relative-stability maps for one area and part of another 

area of the city and directed inspection of retaining walls 

throughout the city. Also, they had reviewed many proposed 

construction projects and provided other services to the city 

(Pohana, 1992a). The increased attention to landslides is 

evident in the city's expenditures: Cincinnati spent $1.3 million for landslide repairs from 1983 to 1987, $7.5 million 

from 1988 to 1992, and projected spending from 1993 to 

1997 is $8.5 million (Pohana, 1992b). 

To reduce the damage from landslides caused by new 

construction, Hamilton County adopted earthwork regulations (an excavation and fill ordinance) November 1, 1992. 

The Hamilton County Department of Public Works administers the regulations, which require plan review and periodic 

inspections during the progress of earthwork operations. 

The Hamilton County Division of Engineering has been 

responsible since 1960 (or perhaps earlier) for landslide 

repairs in the public right-of-way; the county spends about 

$0.5—$1 million to repair an average of four landslides annually (Steve Mary, Hamilton County Division of Engineering, 
A20 LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

OREGON STREET! 

Broken oncrete 

garag- s a 

erridden side 

STREET 

Underriglden 

concrte 

sidewal slabs BAUM 

Sidewalk 

Oregon 

329 Oregon 

Pati 

10 20 METERS 

I 

CONTOUR INTERVAL 1 METER 

327-329 

Baum 

319-325 Baum 

EXPLANATION 

0 150 METERS 

0 500 FEET 

CONTOUR INTERVAL 25 FEET 

A 

318 Baum 

Former building site 

- 320 

Baum 

Sidew. 

O 

Sidewalk 

O 

331 

Baum 

317 

Baum 

MONASTARY ST 

lk 

 Scarp—Dashed where subdued or old feature; 

hachures on downdropped side 

Toe—Sawteeth on moving ground 

Water seep 

Stone wall 

Concrete wall 

Debris from broken wall 

o Borehole location 

Figure 9 (above and facing page). Plane-table map of the Oregon Street and Baum Street landslide in Mount Adams, by N.B. Patterson 

and K.A. Richards, University of Cincinnati, spring 1981 (modified from Richards, 1982, pl. 3). Map contours defined by arbitrary datum on 

Baum Street; index map datum is mean sea level. Buildings, steps, sidewalks, and walls are schematic. 

oral commun., 1993). The Division of Engineering relies on 

the street department, maintenance crews, and the general 

public to report landslides needing correction and uses local 

consultants to perform geotechnical investigations of individual landslides needing repair. 

Work has also proceeded on other recommendations of 

the Earth Movement Task Force. The background geologic 

data became available toward the end of the 1980's as the 

Ohio Geological Survey completed bedrock and glacial geologic mapping of Hamilton County (Swinford, 1986; 

Shear zone—Showing relative horizontal movement; 

queried where uncertain; hachured to indicate 

vertical offset 

►-1 Crack 

• 411, 

oo . 

-1-- 
195 — — 195 

A 

METERS 

Oregon 

225 Street 

220 — 

215 — 

210 — 

205 — 

200 — 

Broken concrete slab 

Scarp 

A' 

METERS 

— 225 

- — 220 

— 215 

- — 210 

— 205 

- — 200 

Toe 

1st floor Baum 

Street 

Shale with thin_ 

ilimestone interbedsCrack 

220 — 220 

215 — 

210 — 

205 — 

200 — 

195 

B 

METERS 

230 — 

225 — 

Oregon 

Street 

B' 

METERS 

— 230 

- — 225 

Scarp 

Cracks 

±-- Shale with thin 

limestone interbeds - — 215 

Overridden 

sidewalk 

Baum 

Street 

NOTE: Bedrock-colluvium contact is gradationa ; 

fill-colluvium contact is uncertain; weathered 

bedrock/colluvium zone ranges from 1 to 2.4 

unweathered bedrock surface is depicted on ---

sections. Bedrock stratigraphy is schematic 

0 10 20 

I I 

ZERO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION 

30 METERS 

- —21(1 

- — 205 

- —200 

- 195 

OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A21 

Brockman, 1986, and oral commun., 1993) and some of the 

proposed research projects have been completed (Riestenberg, 1987; Haneberg, 1989). By 1990, work was started to 

create a geographic information system covering all of 

Hamilton County; aerial photographs for topographic data 

were made in the spring of 1990 (R. E. Pohana, City of Cincinnati, written commun., 1992). 

Overall the city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, in 

conjunction with the general public and the geotechnical 

community, have combined in a major effort to reduce the 

damages from landslides. Experience in other areas, notably 

the City of Los Angeles (Fleming and Taylor, 1980) reveals 

that these efforts will be successful. The most visible 

successes should be in the quality of new construction where 

grading is performed under strong regulations with inspection of plans and grading by the technical staff from the city 

and county. The pieces are in place with the enthusiastic 

involvement of both the public and private sectors to achieve 

major gains in landslide-damage reduction. 

OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS IN THIS 

SERIES 

This bulletin series contains four chapters in addition to 

this overview and introduction. Fleming and Johnson (1994) 
Access road 

\\1' Benches0 o'ike b 

\3 

ur 

A 

!).1?' 

Curb 

4/ 

EXPLANATION 

Scarp—Dashed where subdued; 

hachures on downdropped side 

Large scarp—Hachures on downdropped side 

line pattern indicates extent of scarp area 

Toe—Dashed where subdued; queried where 

uncertain; sawteeth on moving ground 

Shear zone—Showing relative horizontal 

movement; dashed where subdued; 

queried where uncertain 

Slip surface in cross section—

Showing relative movement; 

queried where uncertain 

Water seep 

Tree—Arrow indicates direction 

trunk leans 

4-• 

NORTH 

A' 

METERS 

35 — 

• 

Drain 

To Natural History Museum 

Gilbert Avenue 

Shale with thin 

limestone beds Scarp 

SOUTH 

A 

METERS 

— 35 

— — — Approximate landfill boundary— 30 

Queried where extent uncertain 

25 — 

O Pole 

0 5 10 METERS 

I I I 

— 30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

A22 LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

Figure 10. Plane-table map of the Eden Park landslide, by R.G. Hummeldorf and E.F. Robinson, University of Cincinnati, spring 1982 

(after Richards, 1982, pl. 5). Contour interval 1 meter (arbitrary datum). Cross section scale in meters. Bedrock stratigraphy in cross section 

is schematic. 

described typical landslides in thin and thick colluvium, the 

most common types in the Cincinnati area. Their field investigation focused primarily on the causes of the landslides. 

Detailed trench logs depict the internal structure of one of 

these landslides, which consists of several blocks that rest on 

an irregular slip surface; the blocks are bounded by listric 

faults. Observations of movement and ground water indicate 

differing behavior of water in thin and thick colluvium. 

Water levels appear to rise rapidly as rainfall soaks into thin 

colluvium following spring storms. Water levels in thick 

colluvium and in bedrock beneath thick colluvium or glacial 

deposits seem to vary on an annual cycle. Thick colluvium 

appears to be capable of sliding even when only partially saturated, and some water may enter thick colluvium by lateral 

flow from bedrock. Measured properties and residual shear 

strength of colluvium seem consistent with failure of the 

thick landslides, but appear to be too low to explain how thin 

colluvium remains on steeper slopes. Observations indicate 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A23 

that tree roots, residual cohesion, soil suction (negative pore 

pressure), and roughness of the potential slip surfaces are 

possible sources of additional sliding resistance needed to 

keep the thin colluvium on the slopes. 

Fleming and Johnson's (1994) observations raised several questions about the mechanics of landslides in thin colluvium, and students from the University of Cincinnati 

investigated some of these questions. The rapid water-level 

fluctuations observed in thin colluvium following rain 

storms required explanation. Haneberg and Gokce (1994) 

have analyzed this problem to determine the relationship 

between rainfall infiltration and the fluctuations. The presence of confined ground water in limestone layers of bedrock seemed to indicate that pressurized ground water might 

exert significant buoyant pressure at the base of the colluvium (Fleming and others, 1981; Fleming and Johnson, 

1994). Baum's (1994) analysis indicates that the limestone 

layers determine the distribution of pressure at the base of 

the colluvium but the factor of safety is almost the same as 

if water flowed parallel to the slope. Artesian pressure in a 

limestone bed disperses within a short distance after flowing 

from the bed into the colluvium. Residual shear strength of 

the colluvium appears inadequate to explain how colluvium 

remains on steep slopes. Riestenberg (1994) investigated 

the ability of tree roots to anchor thin colluvium on slopes. 

She found that roots can effectively anchor thin colluvium 

on steep slopes and that anchoring ability of a tree species 

depends on its root system. White ash has a dominant tap 

root that can anchor colluvium as thick as 1 m, but sugar 

maple has shallow roots that can anchor colluvium only 0.5 

m thick. 

Several subjects still need detailed investigation. An 

inventory of landslides, achieved by mapping the entire 

metropolitan area at a scale of 1:24,000, would constitute a 

rational starting point for studying landslide susceptibility. 

An inventory is in progress within the Cincinnati city limits 

(Pohana, 1992a). By combining inventory data with geologic, topographic, and other data, a study of susceptibility 

in the context of surficial materials, slope, and other parameters significant to slope stability would be possible. 

Results of such study could be used to identify areas needing detailed investigation prior to development. Monitoring of ground movement and subsurface water on a short 

time interval (15-30 minutes) at different levels in thick 

and thin colluvium could clarify the details of ground-water 

movement in Cincinnati hillsides and the role of water in 

failure of the colluvium. The actual subsurface water conditions at the time of movement of existing slides has yet 

to be documented. Monitoring in progress by the City of 

Cincinnati is aimed at determining whether landslides can 

be stabilized economically by dewatering (Pohana, 

1992b). Additional trenching and detailed subsurface 

investigation of landslides in thin colluvium combined with 

the movement and water data would form a basis for determining the relative amounts of sliding resistance 

contributed by various sources, including shear strength of 

the soil, roots, and roughness of the slip surface. Ultimately, information from studies such as these will lead to 

improved construction practices in sloping areas and better 

methods of landslide repair. A field study of rapid earth 

flow ("mudslides") might aid in design of measures to contain or divert these slope failures away from major roads to 

areas where they pose no serious threat. Although the formation of small earth flows on cut slopes seems fairly well 

understood (Pohana, 1983), study is needed to determine 

what causes some landslides in thin colluvium to become 

rapid earth flows. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Baum, R.L., 1983, Engineering geology and relative slope stability 

in the area of the Fay Apartments and in part of Mount Airy 

Forest, Cincinnati, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 74 p. 

1994, Contribution of artesian water to progressive failure 

of the upper part of the Delhi Pike landslide complex, Cincinnati, Ohio: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2059—D, 14 p. 

Behringer, D.W., and Shakoor, Abdul, 1992, A study of selected 

landslides in the Cincinnati area in relation to human activity: 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, 

no. 7, p. A294. 

Bernknopf, R.L., Campbell, R.H., Brookshire, D.S., and Shapiro, 

C.D., 1988, A probabilistic approach to landslide hazard mapping in Cincinnati, Ohio, with applications for economic evaluation: Association of Engineering Geologists Bulletin, v. 25, 

no. 1, 39-56. 

Billings, M.P., 1972, Structural geology, 3rd edition: Englewood 

Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, 606 p. 

Brockman, C.S., 1983, The engineering geology, relative stability, 

and Pleistocene history of the Dry Creek area, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 147 p. 

1986, Report of progress on the first phase of glacial geologic mapping in Hamilton County, Ohio: Ohio Geological 

Survey, 10 p., 6 plates. 

Durrell, R.H., 1961, The Pleistocene geology of the Cincinnati 

area—Guidebook for field trips: Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, 1961, p. 47-57. 

1977, A recycled landscape: Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati 

Museum of Natural History, 8 p. 

Earth Movement Task Force, 1982, Final report: Unpublished 

report to Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio, September, 38 p. 

+ appendix. 

Earth Surface Processes Group, 1987, Report and recommendations 

on maintenance and repair of deteriorating retaining walls and 

streets damaged by landslides, City of Cincinnati: Cincinnati, 

Ohio, University of Cincinnati Department of Geology, unpublished report to Smale Commission, July, 48 p. 

Exon, A.H., 1929, Thesis on Riverside Landslide [Senior Thesis]: 

Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati Department of Civil 

Engineering, 22 p. 

Fenneman, N.M., 1916, Geology of Cincinnati and vicinity: Ohio 

Geological Survey, Fourth series, Bulletin 19,207 p. 
A 

AVENUE 

LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

41•111 Sidewalk 

N 

A 

House House 

Ditch 

Retaining 

wall 

Fence 

485 McAlpin 

----100 

5 10 15 METERS 

I Toe 

Brush-covereda---- 

05 

Area of old 

slidin 

-Pillar 

Limestone 

outcrop 

‘‘‘ 

600 _Me-A-L-P-11y-A -

7

-VE—r10- gi„-----vvpop AVE -"\ 

O 

O 

0 200 METERS 

ti I 

0 500 FEET 

House 

Driveway 

(ElevatiOn 

2725 ft 

Apartment 

building 

485 Wood Ave 

McA L PI N 

Sidewalk 

WOOD AVENUE 

Figure 11 ( above and facing page). Plane-table map of a landslide between Wood Avenue and McAlpin Avenue, 

by Arvid Johnson, University of Cincinnati, April 1980. Contour interval 1 meter (arbitrary datum); intermediate contours dashed; approximate contours dotted. Dashed outline for fill, queried where extent uncertain. Buildings, steps, 

rock wall, and sidewalks are schematic. Inset map contour interval 25 feet (datum is mean sea level). 

A24 
O 

C,1 

O 

O 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Narrow crack 

Area of soil creep or incipient sliding 

Water seep 

Tree 

Cr) 

CC 

LL1 

LLI 

2 

I ' 

N 

2 dm 

I III 

OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A25 

o LO 

O CO 

, 

O McALPIN AVENUE 

z 

Sidewalk 

12, 

N

17- 07 T 

LO 

1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Sidewalk CO 

rl 

L 

1 I 1 I 1 1 I 1 I I 1 I I I I I I I 1 1 I I I 

0", CO 

LO 

EXPLANATION 

Scarp—Dashed where subdued or old; hachures on downdropped 

side; bar and ball show and locate amount of vertical offset, 

in decimeters 

Toe—Dashed where subdued or old; queried where uncertain; sawteeth 

on moving ground; bar and ball show and locate height of toe, 

in decimeters 

 Shear zone—Showing relative horizontal movement 

 Wide crack or graben 

CC) 1 I 1 1 1 1 

LCJ 

L u • 

2 

0 

a) 

to 

O 

C 

C 

CO 
 dil . iummum 041 ai,1011611unimohibiamigrouNiblighillhill1111141111.1110011..1/101111111" 

'- 

":"7."111111111.11111111 11111111111111111101111111111111110MOMMUMUMIMMUMkuppo 

A 

METERS INTERSTATE 74 

200 

A' 

LANDSLIDES OFTHECINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

195 

190 

185 

180 

Base 3 

U 

New toe? : 

- 

Fence E— 

Toe - 

50 METERS 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A27 

EXPLANATION 

 Scarp-Dashed where subtle; hachures on downdropped side 

 Large sca Hachures on downdropped side; line pattern 

indicates extent of scarp area 

A-A-A- Toe-Dashed where inferred; sawteeth on moving ground 

Fault-U, upthrown side; D, downthrown side 

Shear-Showing relative horizontal movement 

Slip surface in cross section-Showing relative 

movement; dashed where inferred; queried where uncertain 

Axis of compression-Arrows show direction of shortening 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Crack 

Recent drainage 

Construction damage 

Small trees 

Wire fence 

Base station 

FilVcolluvium--In cross section 

Bedrock-In cross section 

Figure 12 (above and facing page). Plane-table map of the Taylor Creek landslide next to 1-74 by Reginald Victor, Jr., Jonathan 

Woods, and David Lubinski, University of Cincinnati, spring 1987. 

Contour interval 1 meter (arbitrary datum). Cross section vertical 

scale in meters; vertical exaggeration x2. Bedrock stratigraphy in 

cross section is schematic. Index map contour interval 100 feet. 

Fleming, R.W., 1975, Geologic perspectives-The Cincinnati 

example: Ohio Valley Soils Seminar Proceedings, 6th, Ft. 

Mitchell, Ky., October 17, 1975, p. 1-22. 

Fleming, R.W., and Johnson, A.M., 1994, Landslides in colluvium: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2059-B, 24 p. 

Fleming, R.W., Johnson, A.M., and Hough, J.E., 1981, Engineering 

geology of the Cincinnati area, with contributions by Gokce, 

A.O., and Lion, T.E., in Volume 3 of Roberts, T.G., ed., 

Geological Society of America Cincinnati '81 Field Trip 

Guidebooks: Falls Church, Va., American Geological Institute, 

p. 543-570. 

Fleming, R.W., and Taylor, F.A., 1980, Estimating the costs of landslide damages in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 832, 21 p. 

Ford, J.P., 1967, Cincinnatian geology in southwest Hamilton 

County, Ohio: American Association of Petroleum Geologists 

Bulletin, v. 51, no. 6, p. 918-936. 

1972, Bedrock geology of the Addyston Quadrangle and 

part of the Burlington Quadrangle, Hamilton County, Ohio: 

Ohio Geological Survey Report of Investigations 83, map 

(1:24,000) with text. 

1974, Bedrock geology of the Cincinnati West Quadrangle 

and part of the Covington Quadrangle, Hamilton County, Ohio: 

Ohio Geological Survey Report of Investigations 93, map 

(1:24,000) with text. 

Geiger, K.J., 1983, The engineering geology and relative stability 

of parts of Newport, Bellevue, and Fort Thomas, Kentucky: 

Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 66 p. 

Gokce, A. O., 1989, Mechanisms of landsliding in the Cincinnati 

area: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati Ph. D. dissertation, 507 p. 

1992, Extrusion landslides in Cincinnati lake clays: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, no. 

7, p. A204. 

Gray, H.H., Forsythe, J.L., Schneider, A.F., and Gooding, A.M., 

1972, Geologic map of the 1°x2° Cincinnati Quadrangle, Indiana and Ohio, showing bedrock and unconsolidated deposits: 

Indiana Geological Survey Regional Geologic Map 7, Cincinnati Sheet, Parts A and B; 2 maps (1:250,000) with text. 

Haneberg, W.C., 1989, Hydrology and drainage of a thin colluvium 

hillside in Delhi township, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University 

of Cincinnati Ph. D. dissertation, 232 p. 

1991, Observation and analysis of pore pressure fluctuations in a thin colluvium landslide complex near Cincinnati, 

Ohio: Engineering Geology, v. 31, p. 159-184. 

1992, A mass balance model for the hydrologic response of 

fine-grained hillside soils to rainfall: Geological Society of 

America Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, no. 7, p. A203. 

Haneberg, W.C., and Gokce, A.O., 1994, Rapid water-level fluctuations in a thin colluvium landslide west of Cincinnati, Ohio: 

U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2059-C, 16 p. 

Hoffman, H.J., 1966, Deformational structures near Cincinnati, 

Ohio: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 77, no. 5, p. 

533-548. 

Hough, J.E., 1978, Landsliding in Greater Cincinnati: Cincinnati, 

Ohio, James E. Hough, pamphlet, 35 p. 

Hough, J.E., and Fleming, R.W., 1974, Landslide-prone bedrock 

hillsides within the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio: 

Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Institute, map (1:24,000) with 

text. 

Lerch, N.K., Hale, W.F., and Lemaster, D.D., 1982, Soil Survey of 

Hamilton County, Ohio: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil 

Conservation Service, 219 p. and maps. Scales 1:15,840 and 

1:190,080. 

Lion, T.E., 1983, Engineering geology and relative stability of 

ground for hillside development in part of Springfield Township, Hamilton County, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of 

Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 157 p. 

McCandless, R.M., 1976, Measurement of bulking in landslides on 

the basis of topographic form and density changes in landslide 

debris: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 

63 p., appendix. 

Merritt, R., 1975, Hillside development study-Identification of 

critical environmental impact areas: Cincinnati, Ohio, 

Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, 65 p. 

Figure 13 (overleaf). Plane-table map of the Partridge Hills landslide, a block glide in till and lake clay, by Thomas Lion and Paul 

Rauf, University of Cincinnati, spring 1981 (modified from Lion, 

1983, p. 112). Contour interval 0.5 meter (arbitrary datum); contours hachured in closed depression. Cross section vertical scale in 

meters. 
A 2 8 LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

EXPLANATION 

Garage 933 

Sarbrook 

Railroad 

ties 

0 5 10 METERS 

Curb and gutter 

DRIVE 

SARBROOK 

Sidewalk 

Shrubs 

o c~Dc .0 

—

{1 

929 

Sarbrook 

 Minor scarp—Hachures on 

downdropped side 

23 

A—A—A— Toe—Sawteeth on moving 

ground; number gives height 

of toe in centimeters 

 Crack 

Water seep, line of seepage 

 Surface drainage 

— — Buried drainpipe 

o Reference elevation, 

238.48 meters 

• Alidade station 

A3 

• Borehole 

A A' 

Pre-construction profile 

2a›5 

C 

METERS 

240 —r-- 

238 :' 

236 

234 

0 5 I , I 

Cl Clay till 

C2 

10 METERS 

C_

3_ 

,C4 --- 

4 5 

McKELVEY ROAD 

&ARBRO 

orez 

4G6- 

B 

METERS 

241 _ 

239 ,•: 

237 

ke 

Drain pipe(projected) 

Landslide debris 

----- 

0 10 

, 

0 z 

0 

-"P` 

1 1 1 1 1 

O Shrubs 

o 0.0 

Head scarp—Hachures on 

downdropped side 

METERS 

240 

238 

236 

234 
Alluvium 

- - 

04 

4--- Axis of lake clay ridge 

Survey stake 

 Crack 

Soil creep 

 Gully 

OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A29 

0 10 20 30 40 50 METERS 

EXPLANATION 

 Scarp—Dashed where approximate; 

hachures on downdropped side 

Lake clay (extruded) 

Contact—Dashed where approximately located 

Figure 14. Plane-table map of a block-extrusion glide in till and lake clay at 980, 984, and 988 Huffman Court, by A. Onder Gokce, University of Cincinnati, spring 1980. Contour interval 1 meter (arbitrary datum); contours hachured in closed depression. 
A30 LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

0 100 200 300 METERS 

I 

Colluvium 

Alluvium 

Residual soil, in place 

Ordovician rocks, undifferentiated 

Limestone and shale 

Bellevue Limestone 

Miamitown Shale 

Fairview Formation (Ordovician)-65 percent shale with 

35 percent interbedded limestone 

Kope Formation (Ordovician)-75 percent shale with 

25 percent interbedded limestone 

Bedrock contact 

Scarp—Dashed where subdued or old; 

hachures on downdropped side 

A A A Toe—Sawteeth on moving ground 

Shear zone—Showing relative horizontal 

movement 

1111111111111 Crack 

Soil creep 

Water seep 

o. 

o'• 

Ou 

EXPLANATION 

Of 

Ok 

A 

Figure 15 (above and facing page). Example of maps produced by students at the University of Cincinnati. Contour interval 25 feet 

(about 7.6 meters; datum is mean sea level). Base from City of Cincinnati topographic map series. A, Engineering geologic map of part of 

Mount Adams (modified from Richards, 1982, pl. 1). All fresh and subdued landslide features are depicted (as of 1982). Some areas of 

active and past movement, however, exhibited no mappable features; such areas are shown on the relative stability map (B). B, Relative 

stability map of part of Mount Adams (modified from Richards, 1982, pl. 2). Active deep-seated landsliding not shown on this part of map 

view but retained in explanation for completeness. 

Murdoch, L.C., III, 1987, Pore-water pressures and unsaturated 

flow during infiltration into colluvial soils at the Delhi Pike 

landslide, Cincinnati, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of 

Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 133 p. 

Nutting, H.C., and Co., 1967, Physical features of the Ohio-Indiana 

area: Cincinnati, Ohio, unpublished report to the Hamilton 

County Regional Planning Commission. Scale 1:16,000. 

Olson, R.L., 1988, Engineering geology and relative stability of 

ground adjacent to Sawyer Place, Cincinnati, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 102 p. 

Orton, Edward, 1873, Geology of Hamilton County: Ohio Geological Survey [Report] v. 1, pt. 1, p. 419-434. 

Osborne, Robert H., 1970, Bedrock geology of the Madeira 

Quadrangle, Hamilton and Clermont Counties, Ohio: Ohio 

Geological Survey Report of Investigations 77, 1 pl. 

1974, Bedrock geology of the Cincinnati East Quadrangle, 

Hamilton County, Ohio: Ohio Geological Survey Report of 

Investigations 94, 1 pl. 

Pavey, R. R., Goldthwait, R.P., Brockman, C.S., Hull, D.N., and 

Van Horn, R.G., 1992, The new Quaternary map of Ohio: 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, 

no. 7, p. A314. 

Pohana, R.E., 1983, Engineering geologic and relative stability 

analysis of portion of Anderson Township: Cincinnati, Ohio, 

University of Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 132 p. 

1992a, City of Cincinnati geotechnical office: The Hillside Trust Outlook, v. 11, no. 1 [spring], p. 1-2. 

1992b, Landslide remediation and prevention by the City of 

Cincinnati: Geological Society of America Abstracts with 
0 100 200 300 METERS 

Allikzezz4 5004 I gi ii24 wey • w /ffe 

Arilroasr 

450,17,•~Affegf/71 "ale 

Aware ACCIAGW, 414itzgedwor, 

WZCZPVire.f 

OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A31 

EXPLANATION 

FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED OR RESTRICTION OF LAND USE 

Place entire weight of structure on bedrock or have geotechnical engineer determine 

type of foundation. 

Geotechnical engineer should design foundation and slope modifications. 

Geotechnical engineer in cooperation with engineering geologist should be consulted 

concerning location and design of structures and slope modification. 

Extreme caution should be exercised-develop only with guidance of engineering 

geologist and geotechnical engineer. 

Engineering geologist and geotechnical engineer should investigate and evaluate 

potential instability. 

Moving material must be removed or stabilized prior to development. Geotechnical 

engineer in cooperation with engineering geologist should be consulted concerning 

stabilization, and location and design of structures. 

Develop with extreme care with guidance of engineering geologist and geotechnical 

engineer. Development should be allowed only if ground is stabilized prior to 

construction. 

TYPE OF MOVEMENT, MATERIAL, OR SLOPE 

STABLE GROUND 

Stable gentle hillside 

Stable steep hillside 

POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE GROUND 

Potential for shallow-seated landsliding 

Potential for deep-seated landsliding 

Artificial fill of questionable stability 

MOVING GROUND 

Active shallow-seated landsliding 

Active deep-seated landsliding 

(none shown in this view) 

NOTE: Shallow-seated is defined as slip surface 5 feet or less from ground surface. Similarly, deep-seated is defined as slip surface greater than 5 feet from ground surface, 

B 

Programs, v. 24, no. 7, p. A204. 

Richards, K.A., 1982, The engineering geology and relative stability of Mt. Adams and parts of Walnut Hills and Columbia 

Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of 

Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 111 p. 

Riestenberg, M.M., 1981, The effect of woody vegetation on stabilizing slopes in the Cincinnati area, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, 

University of Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 79 p. 

1987, Anchoring of thin colluvium on hillslopes in Cincinnati by roots of sugar maple and white ash: Cincinnati, Ohio, 

University of Cincinnati Ph. D. dissertation, 366 p. 

1992, A study of two tree species interplanted in colluvium 

on hillsides in Cincinnati, Ohio: Geological Society of 

America Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, no. 7, p. A204. 

1994, Anchoring of thin colluvium by roots of sugar maple 

and white ash on hillslopes in Cincinnati: U.S. Geological 

Survey Bulletin 2059-E, 25 p. 

Riestenberg, M.M., and Sovonik-Dunford, Susan, 1983, The role 

of woody vegetation in stabilizing slopes in the Cincinnati 

area, Ohio: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 94, p. 

506-518. 

Rodriguez Molina, Carlos, 1983, Engineering geology and relative 

stability of parts of Avondale: Cincinnati, Ohio, University 

of Cincinnati M.S. thesis, 86 p. 

Scheper, R.J., 1973, Report of a landslide investigation: 

Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati, Geology Library, 
2600 

Landslide 

April 1987 

N 

2400 

c, 

2500 

2400 

IEXPLANATION 

Scarp—Hachures on 

downdropped side 

Shear zone—Showing 

relative horizontal 

movement 

Toe—Sawteeth on 

moving ground 

Tilted wall or pole 

2300 

/ 

0 50 100 METERS 

25 

o: 

0 LL 

U) 

0 

w 

c 

z 

z 20 

2 

15 

0 

10 

cc 

o_ 

cc 

Ir i I 

0 

LO 

'MI I I I I 

0 

Lt, 

CO 

' 

0 0 

N 

0 

Ln 

C") 

CV 

0 0 o o 0 

o U) 0 

LO LO CD 

CV CV CV 

STREET ADDRESS ALONG MARYLAND AVENUE 

A32 LANDSLIDES OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA 

- B 

Table 2. Characteristics of maps proposed for mitigation of 

landslide damage in developed areas of Cincinnati, Ohio (Earth 

Surface Processes Group, 1987). 

Map Map units 

ENGINEERING GEOLOGIC Surficial deposits of man-made fill. 

MAP (product of field investi- Man-made excavations. 

gation, scale about 1:2,400). Bedrock units. 

Glacial deposits. 

Colluvium. 

Landslide deposits. 

Landslide features (scarps, toes, 

cracks, lateral shears). 

Boundaries of individual landslides. 

Boreholes. 

LANDSLIDE INTERSECTION Locations where lateral shears, 

MAP (product resulting from heads, and toes cross alignments 

overlay of engineering geologic of water mains, sewer lines, and 

map and maps of water other sources of subsurface water. 

and sewer lines). 

REPAIR PRIORITY MAP Priority one: Emergency repairs 

(product of interpreting required. Landslide damage is so 

engineering geologic map, severe or is developing so rapidly 

landslide intersection map, and that it must be repaired to protect 

potential economic/social the public health or safety. 

impact of damage from indi- Priority two: Geotechnical study 

vidual landslides). needed now. Emergency repairs 

probably required within a few 

years. Shallow' landslides that 

will disrupt water or sewer lines. 

Deep landslides that will disrupt 

water or sewer lines or that are 

damaging critical facilities. 

Priority three: Geotechnical study 

required within a few years. 

Emergency repaires probably required within a few tens of years. 

Shallow landslides that involve 

no man-made water sources. 

Deep landslides that do not intersect man-made water sources and 

are not damaging critical facilities. 

Priority four: Stable ground. No 

evidence of sliding of the street. 

'Shallow landslides are less than 2 m thick. 

Figure 16. Landslide damage and number of calls for repair of 

water mains by address along Maryland Avenue (modified from 

Earth Surface Processes Group, 1987). A, Landslide features along 

Maryland Avenue on March 28, 1987, mapped by faculty and students of the University of Cincinnati Department of Geology. Numbers are street addresses. A landslide that moved abruptly and 

caused the street to be closed occurred in April 1987 near 2600 

Maryland Avenue. A large landslide that is damaging the ramps to 

the Sixth Street Viaduct appears to be between 2350 and 2400 

Maryland Avenue. B, Total number of calls for repair of water main 

by address from 1931 to 1987. Many breaks between 2350 and 

2400 Maryland Avenue appear to coincide with the landslide damaging the ramps to the Sixth Street Viaduct. No breaks occurred 

near 2600 before the abrupt movement in April 1987. 

0 0 
OVERVIEW OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION A33 

graduate student report, 20 p. 

Sowers and Dalrimple Consulting Engineers, 1980, Landslide susceptibility map of Cincinnati, Ohio: Unpublished report to 

the City of Cincinnati, May, maps (scale 1:24,000 and 

1:9,600) with text. 

Swinford, E.M., 1986, Bedrock geologic map of Hamilton County, 

Ohio [abs.]: The Ohio Journal of Science, v. 86, no. 2, p. 8-9. 

Swinford, E.M., and Schumacher, G.A., 1985, New bedrock geologic maps of Hamilton and Clermont Counties, Ohio [abs.]: 

The Ohio Journal of Science, v. 85, no. 2, p. 24-25. 

Von Schlichten, 0.C., 1935, Landslides in the vicinity of 

Cincinnati: The Compass, Sigma Gamma Epsilon, v. 15, no. 

3, p. 151-154. 

Vormelker, Joel, 1985a, Top-of-rock map of Hamilton County, 

Ohio: Ohio Geological Survey Open-File Map 229, scale 

1:62,500. 

1985b, Drift thickness map of Hamilton County, Ohio: 

Ohio Geological Survey Open-File Map 230, scale 1: 62,500. 

Weaver, T.R., 1983, Surficial geology of the Glendale Quadrangle, 

southwestern Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati, unpublished report to U.S. Geological Survey, 29 p., 1 pl. 

(scale 1:24,000). 

Yahne, G.W., 1974, A preliminary study of landslides in Cincinnati, Ohio: Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Cincinnati, Geology Library, M.S., non-thesis report, 36 p. 

Manuscript approved for publication April 5, 1995 

Published in the Central Region, Denver, Colorado 

Photocomposition by Norma J. Maes 

Graphics by B. Wayne Hawkins and Denny Welp 

Edited by Lorna Carter 

'7 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1996 - 774-045 / 20046 REGION NO. 8 

CONTENTS 

[Chapters originally published separately] 

A. Overview of landslide problems, research, and mitigation, Cincinnati, Ohio, area 

By Rex L. Baum and Arvid M. Johnson 

B. Landslides in colluvium 

By Robert W. Fleming and Arvid M. Johnson 

C. Rapid water-level fluctuations in a thin colluvium landslide west of Cincinnati, Ohio 

By William C. Haneberg and A. Onder Gokce 

D. Contribution of artesian water to progressive failure of the upper part of the Delhi 

Pike landslide complex, Cincinnati, Ohio 

By Rex L. Baum 

E. Anchoring of thin colluvium by roots of sugar maple and white ash on hillslopes in 

Cincinnati 

By Mary M. Riestenberg 

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Baum and Johnson—OVERVIEW'OF LANDSLIDE PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, AND MITIGATION, CINCINNATI, OHIO, AREA—U.S. Geol