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Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5129

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Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service

Quantitative Rock-Fall Hazard and Risk Assessment for Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California

By Greg M. Stock, Nicolas Luco, Brian D. Collins, Edwin L. Harp, Paola Reichenbach, and Kurt L. Frankel

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (24.7 MB)Abstract

Rock falls are common in Yosemite Valley, California, posing substantial hazard and risk to the approximately four million annual visitors to Yosemite National Park. Rock falls in Yosemite Valley over the past few decades have damaged structures and caused injuries within developed regions located on or adjacent to talus slopes highlighting the need for additional investigations into rock-fall hazard and risk. This assessment builds upon previous investigations of rock-fall hazard and risk in Yosemite Valley and focuses on hazard and risk to structures posed by relatively frequent fragmental-type rock falls as large as approximately 100,000 cubic meters in volume.

First posted September 15, 2014

For additional information contact:
Director, Geologic Hazards Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25046, MS–966
Denver, CO 80225-0046
http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Stock, G.M., Luco, Nicolas, Collins, B.D., Harp, E.L., Reichenbach, Paola, and Frankel, K.L., 2014, Quantitative rock-fall hazard and risk assessment for Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5129, 52 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145129.

ISSN 2328-0328 (online)


Contents

Summary

Introduction

Previous Rock-Fall Hazard and Risk Assessments in Yosemite Valley

Existing Data Sources

Rock-Fall Hazard Assessment

Rock-Fall Risk Assessment

Conclusions

Acknowledgments

References Cited


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