Landslides and fossil resources at Hagerman Fossil Beds: A case study in landslide factor assessment
Growney LP. 1996. Landslides and fossil resources at Hagerman Fossil Beds: A case study in landslide factor assessment. Park Science. 16(2):20–23
Located 64 KM (40 MI) west of Twin Falls, Idaho (fig. I), Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument preserves abundant and diverse Pliocene-epoch fossils embedded in the banks of the Snake River. The quantity, quality, and variety of these 3-3.4 million year old fossils distinguish the monument internationally. Over 150 species, including mastodon, giant ground sloth, camel, bear, and the world famous Hagerman horse, have been preserved and identified in the Glenns Ferry Formation, which rises in cliffs to over 153 m (500ft) above the Snake River. Authorized in 1988, the park preserves the fossils and provides for paleontological research. However, landslides regularly disturb the fossils and endanger the safety of visiting researchers. Since I983, landslides have decimated more than 2.7 million m3 (3.6 million yd3) of fossil-bearing material (Table 1 and fig. 2). Concerned about this serious resource threat, park staff hypothesized that the landslides were the consequence of oversaturation of the Glenn Ferry Formation resulting from leaking, unlined, irrigation canals on the plain above the Snake River.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Growney, Lawrence
- Units
- HAFO , NRSS
- Keywords
- Fossils, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, Landslides