EDMAP-SPONSORED SURFICIAL GEOLOGY MAPPING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND HAZARD AVOIDANCE

Knowledge of landforms and surficial deposits is necessary for proper evaluation of environmental resources and hazards in many physiographic and geographic settings. EDMAP-sponsored mapping by two graduate students and three undergraduate students at West Virginia University yielded important information concerning the Quaternary history of hillslopes in the central Appalachian region. The surficial geology maps also provide data to professionals interested in environmental and natural resource issues, including domestic and public drinking water supply, and hazards from floods, landslides and debris flows.

Two field-based examples were mapped using a four component system developed for use in the Mid-Atlantic region. This system creates map units based on their age, origin, landform and materials. Information was gathered from the examination of topographic maps, aerial photographs, soil survey data and intensive field verification. Data layers for each component can be easily compiled within a GIS environment. Surficial geology mapping using this four component system within the lower New River Gorge in West Virginia revealed that slopes disturbed of as result of historic coal mining and road building are prone to debris flow and landslide processes during rare, but intense, rainfall events. These failures may greatly exacerbate downstream flood damage. Surficial geologic mapping along the western slopes of South Mountain in central Maryland uncovered a complex polygenetic landscape that contains valuable shallow water supply potential and soil resources. In addition, new mapping units have been created for landforms created by combined fluvial and karst geomorphic processes and for areas drastically disturbed by anthropogenic activity. These units will be incorporated into future surficial mapping projects conducted at West Virginia University.