Riverside Avenue Topography

Although a few buildings were present in 1872, both sides of Riverside Avenue were largely forested, and a stream was evident cutting through the eastern section to reach the Winooski River. Significant deforestation began on the north side of the Avenue, west in 1942, and within 12 years (1955) three autumnal landslides occurred in that area. By 1962, massive deforestation and landscape effacement occurred on the south side, east. This area extended beyond the perimeter of the study area. The stream bed was also obliterated in that year, and it was converted to a dirt road and ultimately, by 1984, it was a paved road. Twelve years later (1974) development and associated paving occurred on the south side of the road, west. On the north and west side of the Avenue, new segmentation of the forest canopy is evident, consistent with a landslide.

A news article in 1977 documents another landslide on the north side, specific site not indicated, but likely in the west. By 1981 further segmentation of forest floor is evident and houses are present in Vermont Park, located centrally on the south side of the Avenue. By 1985, a prominent landslide is evident on the north side of the Avenue, centrally located. More houses have been erected in Vermont Park, along with extension of paving. 1986 sees more buildings on the north side of the Avenue. Deforestation has extended by 2003 on the north side, west. A 2004 Digital Elevation Model map demonstrates at least 6 landslides on the north side, west. Notable also is the close proximity of the Avenue to the landslides. Little topographic change is noted until 2018, when further deforestation has occurred in the north side, west, and landslide material in that region can be seen extending into the river.