Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Paul E. Carrara Publication_Date: 2009 Title: Preliminary map of Landslide Deposits in the Mesa Verde National Park area, Colorado Edition: version 1.0 Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map Series_Information: Series_Name: USGS Scientific Investigations Map Issue_Identification: SIM 3090 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Online_Linkage: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3090 Description: Abstract: Landslides are a dominant surficial feature in the Mesa Verde area. More than 200 landslides, most previously unrecognized and unmapped, have been identified in the map area. These landslides range in size from small (0.01 mi2) earthflows and rock slumps to large (greater than 0.50 mi2) translational slides, debris avalanches, and complex landslides. Physical characteristics common to landslides that aided in their identification included: (1) headwall scarps, (2) hummocky topography, including closed depressions, (3) bulging landslide toes, (4) deflection of ephemeral stream channels by landslide toes, (5) bedrock blocks with anomalous dips and strikes, (6) displaced masses of geologic units downslope from their sources, and (7) vegetation scarring, especially along the northern escarpment. Landslide morphology and topographic relief between the head and toe suggest that some of the larger landslide deposits may be more than 100-feet thick. Landsliding in the Mesa Verde area was probably more active during the Pleistocene Epoch, which ended about 11,000 years ago, when the climate was wetter and cooler. However, landsliding is still an ongoing process in Mesa Verde National Park. As the Park has only one entrance road, which traverses a steep slope of Mancos Shale, a landslide along this slope has the potential to trap thousands of visitors inside the Park. After an exceedingly wet Fall in 1978, a series of landslide movements along the east side of Point Lookout occurred during the spring of 1979 and closed the entrance road for over a month. Purpose: This map has been prepared to provide a regional overview of the distribution of landslide deposits in the Mesa Verde area and as such constitutes an inventory of landslides in the area. Many of the landslides depicted on this map are probably stable as they date to the Pleistocene and hence formed under a different climate regime. However, the recognition of these landslides is important because natural and human-induced factors can alter stability. Reduction of lateral support (by excavations or roadcuts), removal of vegetation (by fire or development), or an increase in pore pressure (by heavy rains) may result in the reactivation of landslides or parts of landslides. The map is suitable for regional planning to identify broad areas where landslide deposits and processes are concentrated. It should not be used as a substitute for detailed site investigations. Specific areas thought to be subject to landslide hazards should be carefully studied before development. Supplemental_Information: Compilation scale: 1:24,000 DATASETS INCLUDED IN THIS GEOSPATIAL DATABASE: Geology Feature Dataset: mesa_verde_line-landslide boundaries mesa_verde_geo-landslide deposits Basemap Datasets Included: USGS 1:24,000 Topos: Cortez, Point Lookout, Mancos, Wetherill Mesa, Moccasin Mesa, Trail Canyon Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2009 Currentness_Reference: publication date Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -108.595 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -108.306 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.127 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.342 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: AGI Glossary of Geology Theme_Keyword: Landslides Theme_Keyword: mass movements Theme_Keyword: rock avalanches Theme_Keyword: debris flows Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) Place_Keyword: Mesa Verde National Park Place_Keyword: southwestern Colorado Place_Keyword: Montezuma County Access_Constraints: none Use_Constraints: none- Acknowledgment of the U.S. Geological Survey would be appreciated in products derived from these data. Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Paul E. Carrara Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing address Address: USGS, MS 980, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center City: Denver State_or_Province: CO Postal_Code: 80225 Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 236-1287 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 303-236-0214 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pcarrara@usgs.gov Browse_Graphic: Browse_Graphic_File_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3090/ Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Graphical representation of the map Browse_Graphic_File_Type: pdf Data_Set_Credit: Cal Ruleman and Margaret Berry reviewed the map and accompanying text. Digital compilation was by Lyndsay Hazen. Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1. ArcMap/ArcInfo version 9.2 Data_Quality_Information: Attribute_Accuracy: Attribute_Accuracy_Report: Data were entered by GIS technician and authors and checked by the geologist that made the field observations. The attributes of this geospatial data set consist of text identifiers and numeric codes that indicate the identity of the geologic unit or type of geologic feature and determine how each feature is symbolized. Logical_Consistency_Report: Map elements were visually checked for overshoots, undershoots, duplicate features, polygon closure, and other errors by the author and by the GIS technician(s) that created the digital database. Automated routines were also used to check the databases for polygon label errors, line or point attribute errors, sliver polygons, dangling arcs, intersection errors, and projection information. Check plots of the map were reviewed by at least two other geologists for consistency with basic geologic principles and general conformity to USGS mapping standards. Completeness_Report: Data are complete: no features that could be accurately represented at the scale of 1:24,000 were eliminated or generalized. All geospatial database elements are attributed. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Lines were primarily mapped from ground investigations and photo interpretations of 1:12,000-scale color aerial photographs. The lines were digitized from topographic field sheets. Most digitized positions on the map are estimated to have about 20 m horizontal accuracy. Lineage: Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Colton, R.B. Originator: Anderson, L.W. Originator: Holligan, J.A. Originator: Patterson, P.E. Originator: Shaver, K.C. Publication_Date: 1975 Title: Preliminary map of landslide deposits, Cortez 1° X 2° quadrangle, Colorado and Utah Series_Information: Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map Issue_Identification: MF-699 Source_Scale_Denominator: 250000 Type_of_Source_Media: paper Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 1975 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Colton and others (1975) Source_Contribution: geologic features Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Condon, S.M. Publication_Date: 1991 Title: Geologic and structure contour map of the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation and adjacent areas, southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico Series_Information: Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Map Issue_Identification: I-2083 Source_Scale_Denominator: 100000 Type_of_Source_Media: paper Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 1991 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Condon (1991) Source_Contribution: geologic features Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Griffitts, M.O. Publication_Date: 1990 Title: Guide to the geology of Mesa Verde National Park Series_Information: Series_Name: Mesa Verde Museum Association Issue_Identification: unknown Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Salt Lake City, Utah Publisher: Lorraine Press Type_of_Source_Media: paper Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 1990 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Griffitts (1990) Source_Contribution: geologic features Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Hayes, D.D. Originator: Vogel, J.D. Originator: Wyant, D.G. Publication_Date: 1972 Title: Geology, structure, and uranium deposits of the Cortez quadrangle, Colorado and Utah Series_Information: Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Map Issue_Identification: I-629 Source_Scale_Denominator: 250000 Type_of_Source_Media: paper Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 1972 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Hayes and others (1972) Source_Contribution: geologic features Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Plazak, D.J. Publication_Date: 1989 Title: Soil mechanics of the Point Lookout landslide, Montezuma County, Colorado Series_Information: Series_Name: Colorado School of Mines, Master's Thesis in Applied Mechanics Issue_Identification: No. T3709, 248p Type_of_Source_Media: paper Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 1989 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Plazak (1989) Source_Contribution: geologic features Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Wanek, A.A. Publication_Date: 1954 Title: Geologic map of the Mesa Verde area, Montezuma County, Colorado Series_Information: Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Oil and Gas Investigation Map Issue_Identification: OM-152 Source_Scale_Denominator: 63360 Type_of_Source_Media: paper Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 1954 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Wanek (1954) Source_Contribution: geologic features Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Wanek, A.A. Publication_Date: 1959 Title: Geology and fuel resources of the Mesa Verde area, Montezuma and La Plata Counties, Colorado Series_Information: Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin Issue_Identification: 1072-M, p. 667-721 Source_Scale_Denominator: 63360 Type_of_Source_Media: paper Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 1959 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Wanek (1959) Source_Contribution: geologic features Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Varnes, H.D. Publication_Date: 1949 Title: Landslide problems of southwestern Colorado Series_Information: Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Circular Issue_Identification: 31, p13 Type_of_Source_Media: paper Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 1949 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Varnes (1949) Source_Contribution: geologic features Process_Step: Process_Description: The map data were digitized in ArcMap and saved as feature classes and stored in a file geodatabase. Polygon topology was built and text map descriptors were added to each feature class. Process_Date: 2009 Process_Step: Process_Description: Draft check plots of the geologic map and explanation were created and submitted for peer review. Geologists reviewed the plots for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards and stratigraphic nomenclature. Revisions were made to the geospatial database as needed. Process_Date: 2009 Process_Step: Process_Description: First draft of metadata created by Lyndsay A. Hazen using FGDC ESRI in the ArcCatalog Sofware. Process_Date: 2009 Process_Step: Process_Description: The database files, metadata, and check plots were edited by the USGS Enterprise Publishing Network, and revisions made to the geospatial database as needed. Process_Date: 2009 Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Planar: Map_Projection: Map_Projection_Name: Transverse Mercator Transverse_Mercator: Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996 Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -111.000 Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0 False_Easting: 500000 False_Northing: 0.0 Planar_Coordinate_Information: Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair Coordinate_Representation: Abscissa_Resolution: 0.0001 Ordinate_Resolution: 0.0001 Planar_Distance_Units: meters Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1927 Ellipsoid_Name: Clarke 1866 Semi-major_Axis: 6378206.4 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 294.98 Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Overview_Description: Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: none Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: DATASETS: mesa_verde_line mesa_verde_geo mesa_verde_line Description of items: DESCRIPITION: Short geologic unit explanation Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: none Entity_Type_Definition: none Entity_Type_Definition_Source: none Attribute: Attribute_Label: none Attribute_Definition: none Attribute_Definition_Source: none Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: none Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: none Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: none Overview_Description: Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: none Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: none Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing address Address: USGS Information Services, Box 25286 City: Denver State_or_Province: Colorado Postal_Code: 80225-0046 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Resource_Description: Scientific Investigations Map 3090 Distribution_Liability: none Standard_Order_Process: Non-digital_Form: Availabe as printed oversize map plate. Order from USGS at address above or see for more ordering information. Fees: For current charges please see website http://store.usgs.gov/public/mod/order.html Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing address Address: Enterprise Publishing Service Network Address: U.S. Geological Survey, MS 902, Box 25046 DFC City: Denver State_or_Province: CO Postal_Code: 80225-0046 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 303-236-5486 Distribution_Liability: This database, identified as SIM-3090, has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: ArcGIS Geodatabase, Shapefile Format_Version_Number: Arc 9.2 File_Decompression_Technique: GZIP compressed TAR file (Unix), ZIP archive (Windows) Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3090 Fees: none Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20090506 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Lyndsay A. Hazen Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing address Address: Denver Federal Center Address: MS 980, Box 25046 DFC City: Denver State_or_Province: Colorado Postal_Code: 80225 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 303-236-7648 Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 Metadata_Access_Constraints: none Metadata_Use_Constraints: none