Obscured by development Benches present attractive sites for development, since they offer level ground near the water on otherwise steep terrain. In many places, roads have been built down the steep upper slope to serve home sites along the bench itself. Benches can be obscured by heavy vegetation in undeveloped areas or by grading and construction activities in built up areas. A variety of landslide hazards affect benches. Much of the material on the bench may consist of older landslide debris and may be subject to further movement.
Slides can also occur on the lower bluff above the shore itself.
In the worst case, the entire bench may be part of a deep-seated landslide. Examples of benches Examples of benches can be seen along the shoreline north of Kingston, above the railroad grade north of Carkeek Park and on Magnolia Bluff in Seattle, and along portions of the south shore of Hammersley Inlet.