The Catfish Lake Scarp, Allyn, Washington: Preliminary field data and implications for earthquake hazards posed by the Tacoma fault

Open-File Report 2003-455
By: , and 

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Abstract

The Tacoma fault bounds gravity and aeromagnetic anomalies for 50 km across central Puget lowland from Tacoma to western Kitsap County. Tomography implies at least 6 km of post-Eocene uplift to the north of the fault relative to basinal sedimentary rocks to the south. Coastlines north of the Tacoma fault rose about 1100 years ago during a large earthquake. Abrupt uplift up to several meters caused tidal flats at Lynch Cove, North Bay, and Burley Lagoon to turn into forested wetlands and freshwater marshes. South of the fault at Wollochet Bay, Douglas-fir forests sank into the intertidal zone and changed into saltmarsh. Liquefaction features found beneath the marsh at Burley Lagoon point to strong ground shaking at the time of uplift. Recent lidar maps of the area southwest of Allyn, Washington revealed a 4 km long scarp, or two closely spaced en-echelon scarps, which correspond closely to the Tacoma fault gravity and aeromagnetic anomalies. The scarp, named the Catfish Lake scarp, is north-side-up, trends east-west, and clearly displace striae left by a Vashon-age glacier. A trench across the scarp exposed evidence for postglacial folding and reverse slip. No organic material for radiocarbon dating was recovered from the trench. However, relationships in the trench suggest that the folding and faulting is postglacial in age.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title The Catfish Lake Scarp, Allyn, Washington: Preliminary field data and implications for earthquake hazards posed by the Tacoma fault
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2003-455
DOI 10.3133/ofr03455
Edition Version 1.0
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Earthquake Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Description Report: iii, 11 p.; 1 Sheet: 36.00 x 36.00 inches
Country United States
State Washington
City Allyn
Other Geospatial Catfish Lake scarp
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