Riverside Avenue Topography
1872: Very little development along river; mostly forest.
1872: Very little development along river; mostly forest.
1928: Landslide occurs.
1928: Landslide occurs.
1935: Improvements are made to the avenue; a sidewalk is created and the bank is secured with fill.
1935: Improvements are made to the avenue; a sidewalk is created and the bank is secured with fill.
1940s: During this decade, Riverside Avenue became more and more developed, with buildings being made on the side of the street that faced the river bank.
1940s: During this decade, Riverside Avenue became more and more developed, with buildings being made on the side of the street that faced the river bank.
1955: Multiple large landslides occur within a few months of each other due to rapid development and deforestation of the area in the 1940s.
1955: Multiple large landslides occur within a few months of each other due to rapid development and deforestation of the area in the 1940s.
1962: An area just north of Trinity Campus is filled in, turning it from a forested drop in elevation to a flat field.
1962: An area just north of Trinity Campus is filled in, turning it from a forested drop in elevation to a flat field.
1968: Another landslide occurs, and city officials begin to try and look for ways to permanently stop them from happening on Riverside Avenue.
1968: Another landslide occurs, and city officials begin to try and look for ways to permanently stop them from happening on Riverside Avenue.
1972: A landslide seems to occur between August and September of this year, there is a noted difference in the location of the river bank, most likely due to erosion.
1972: A landslide seems to occur between August and September of this year, there is a noted difference in the location of the river bank, most likely due to erosion.
1981: Debris from a landfill excavation dumped near the river bank causes another landslide on the avenue.
1981: Debris from a landfill excavation dumped near the river bank causes another landslide on the avenue.
1983: The city of Burlington begins taking measures to prevent landslides. They use stone and sand to fill the surrounding area and remove the tree buffer on the bank.
1983: The city of Burlington begins taking measures to prevent landslides. They use stone and sand to fill the surrounding area and remove the tree buffer on the bank.
1980s-2010s: Riverside Avenue remains generally stable during this time, with little or no change in developments or erosion.
1980s-2010s: Riverside Avenue remains generally stable during this time, with little or no change in developments or erosion.
2019: A landslide occurs due to a rainstorm in October. UVM geology professor Paul Bierman had contacted the city and state governments a few weeks prior warning that a landslide may be imminent based on his observations in the area, such as surface fractures, tires hanging off cars, and trees leaning off to the side.
2019: A landslide occurs due to a rainstorm in October. UVM geology professor Paul Bierman had contacted the city and state governments a few weeks prior warning that a landslide may be imminent based on his observations in the area, such as surface fractures, tires hanging off cars, and trees leaning off to the side.
Burlington's Riverside Avenue has been plagued with landslides for almost 100 years. When developments along the river first became common, it didn't take long for a landslide to occur in 1928. Improvements to the road, including the addition of a sidewalk, allowed for more developments to sprout up in the 1940s, but that led to a series of large landslides in 1955 that grew so severe that they took out part of the avenue.
Burlington's Riverside Avenue has been plagued with landslides for almost 100 years. When developments along the river first became common, it didn't take long for a landslide to occur in 1928. Improvements to the road, including the addition of a sidewalk, allowed for more developments to sprout up in the 1940s, but that led to a series of large landslides in 1955 that grew so severe that they took out part of the avenue.
There would be more landslides in the following decades up until 1983, when the Burlington city government began to try and solve the avenue's recurring problem with fixes such as removal of the tree buffer and replacing the land eroded away with sand and stone filling. Based on maps and aerial photos of the surrounding area, it can be observed that these measures worked well for a long time up until last Halloween, in which a massive rainstorm caused yet another landslide. Despite warnings from local geologists, many residents and business owners are reluctant to leave the area.
There would be more landslides in the following decades up until 1983, when the Burlington city government began to try and solve the avenue's recurring problem with fixes such as removal of the tree buffer and replacing the land eroded away with sand and stone filling. Based on maps and aerial photos of the surrounding area, it can be observed that these measures worked well for a long time up until last Halloween, in which a massive rainstorm caused yet another landslide. Despite warnings from local geologists, many residents and business owners are reluctant to leave the area.
1872 US Coast Survey (ArcGIS)
1872 US Coast Survey (ArcGIS)
1935 Improvements to Riverside Avenue (Baird for Burlington Free Press, 2019)
1935 Improvements to Riverside Avenue (Baird for Burlington Free Press, 2019)
Sources:
Sources:
Viglienzoni, C., Team, W., Brisson, K., Cutler, C., & Lyons, O. (2019, November 11). WCAX Investigates: Properties in peril. Retrieved September 19, 2020, from https://www.wcax.com/content/news/WCAX-Investigates-Properties-in-peril-564760921.html
Baird, J. (2019, December 10). History of a slippery slope: Riverside Avenue in Burlington. Retrieved September 19, 2020, from https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/picture-gallery/life/2019/12/10/history-slippery-slope-riverside-avenue-burlington/2612060001/
Information from newspaper articles was accessed through UVM's website.
Maps and aerial photos accessed through ArcGIS.