pacific nw transportation consortium region 10 Pactrans

On March 22, 2014, a landslide occurred structures in an unincorporated neighborhood known as “Steelhead Haven” 4 miles on the south side of the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, east of Oso, Washington. The event engulfed 49 homes; killed 43 people and caused an estimated $120 million in damage and loses; and dammed the river, causing extensive flooding upstream as well as blocking State Route 530, the main route to the town of Darrington (population 1,347), approximately 15 miles east of Oso.

In recognition of his research on the deadliest landslide disaster in the history of the United States, Associate Professor, and PacTrans PI, Joe Wartman is one of two UW recipients of the Geological Society of America’s (GSA) 2016 Edward Burwell Jr. “The award was a wonderful surprise,” Wartman said. “As a team, we put much work into the research under very challenging conditions, so it was deeply gratifying for us to receive this recognition from the professional community.”

The National Science Foundation sent the team of seven researchers, which Wartman co-led, to the landslide site to collect data and document conditions. The research team published their report, “The 22 March 2014 Oso Landslide, Snohomish County, Washington: Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance,” within months following their field work. The report includes several recommendations, including the need to carefully assess the zoning of communities near sloping ground; implementing monitoring and warning systems to reduce the impact of landslides; and a push to utilize advancements in imaging technology to better monitor and understand slope behavior and changes over time.

The report was selected for the 2016 Burwell Award due to its high technical level and comprehensive nature, according to the award citation. The researchers were commended for their “exceptional job summarizing the event” and for making the report available in a timely manner following their field work. The Edward Burwell, Jr., Award, established by the Division in 1968, honors the memory of one of the founding members of the Division and the first chief geologist of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It consists of an embossed award certificate. This award is made to the author or authors of a published paper of distinction that advances knowledge concerning principles or practice of engineering geology, or of related fields of applied soil or rock mechanics where the role of geology is emphasized.

Congratulations Dr. Wartman!