Land subsidence and tectonism, Raft River Valley, Idaho

Open-File Report 75-585
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Abstract

A comparison of 1974 leveling data with elevations established 40 years earlier reveals two types of vertical ground movement which have occurred in Raft River Valley, Idaho: (1) regional differential movement of about 0.22 ft (6.4 cm), apparently due to tectonism, and (2) extensive land subsidence of as much as 2.61 ft (0.80 m) caused by withdrawal of ground water. Data are too sparse to calculate the magnitude or areal extent of subsidence; however, tentative lines of equal subsidence suggest that the area affected by subsidence probably exceeds 100 mi2 (260 km2).

In order to estimate historic subsidence or subsidence potential in Raft River Valley serious consideration should be given to a field program of basic-data collection. Leveling along a few carefully selected lines of existing control and the installation and operation of extensometer water-level recorders in areas of continuing water-level decline would provide useful data for evaluating past and estimating future subsidence.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Land subsidence and tectonism, Raft River Valley, Idaho
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 75-585
DOI 10.3133/ofr75585
Year Published 1975
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description 21 p.
Country United States
State Idaho
Other Geospatial Raft River Valley
Scale 126720
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