Before buying shoreline property, investigate slope hazards. Consider hiring a geologist to evaluate the site for stability and erosion potential.

Information on the stability of Puget Sound slopes is available in the Coastal Zone Atlas of Washington. This atlas can be found in the public library or at your local county planning or engineering department. Not all slides may be mapped, however. Many slides may be hidden under trees, shrubs, or eroded materials.

Bluff Hazards to Consider

Along Puget Sound, most slides occur in winter and spring, when groundwater levels peak. Construction and the diversion of storm runoff can cause erosion and slide problems.

Where till overlies sand or gravel, the lower unit erodes faster undercutting the till, which can collapse in large blocks. Where sand overlies till, silt, or some other impermeable material, groundwater can soak the sand layer. This wet layer of sand can weaken a slope and cause slumping and mud flows.

Crooked or bent tree trunks can signal creeping and sliding soil. If there is no vegetation on a bluff or slope, it may be too steep or unstable to support growth. Plants with shallow roots, such as salmonberry can mask slide activity.

Septic tank effluent can saturate soils and make slopes unstable. Carefully plan on-site septic system locations. Keep drainfields well away from bluffs and slopes. Make the sale contingent upon passing a percolation test.