GEOMORPHIC IMPACTS OF THE 8 JULY 2001 FLOOD IN THE UPPER KANAWHA VALLEY IN KANAWHA & FAYETTE COUNTIES, WEST VIRGINIA

Severe flooding on 8 July 2001 caused significant geomorphic activity in the Upper Kanawha Valley of southern West Virginia. Flooding, hyper-concentrated flows, and debris flows caused approximately $100 million in property damage and two deaths. One year later, impacts can still be seen in the affected communities. The greatest debris-flow damage occured on the northern side of the Kanawha River in the towns of Falls View, Charlton Heights, Glen Ferris, and Gauley Bridge. Steep topography and thick colluvium in the upper Kanawha River Valley provided the framework in which these debris flows occurred. The spatial pattern of geomorphic activity on nearby slopes and surrounding streams suggest this area received more rainfall than the 100-140 mm widely reported throughout the region.

Ongoing field work will focus on the role of land use in the geomorphic response to the event. The area along Route 60 on the northern side of the Kanawha River was chosen for further analysis because it hosts more anthropogenic activity. Most local residents believe that in addition to the intense rainfall, several generations of mining, timbering, and gas-well development exacerbated the damage from this event. Methods used in field work consists of land-owner interviews, analysis of precipitation data, and analysis of mining and timbering data. Documentation in the form of aerial photographs and on-site photographs during and after the 8 July flood is being obtained.