HOMES: Look before you build

In 26 years of professional geotechnical engineering practice (including contributions to the city of Fernan Hillside Ordinance in 2003) I have had to give many people news they did not want to hear, including that they should not develop/build due to a geologic hazard condition. A (free) geologic map that includes the site of Mr. Kobrick's home was published in 2004 at www.idahogeology.org (look for publication DWM-31-M by Breckenridge and Othberg).

This map shows the home site is located on/near a geologic deposit labeled "Colluvium and Landslide Deposits." Hillside lots are on land that's part of a complex system of geologic soil, rock and subsurface water conditions that are not conveniently isolated at property lines, and may not even be properly mitigated by on-site design. Roof, roadway and natural surface runoff from uphill cannot always be controlled or directed once it enters the earth. Activation of a landslide that may be larger than the whole property might not be reasonably managed even with tremendous design expense.

Homebuyers, Realtors, developers, contractors, engineers and architects designing homes, take note: ANYONE who tells you that there is no risk in designing, constructing, selling or living in a home over such mapped deposits without carefully considering the deep geology, topography, groundwater potential and surface water hydrology of surrounding and especially uphill property, is doing you a terrible and potentially deadly disservice. The far greater tragedy in the case of Mr. Kobrick's home has thankfully been avoided - no injury or loss of life.

SCOTT WARD

Hayden Lake