The role of woody vegetation in stabilizing slopes in the Cincinnati area, Ohio

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 1983 The role of woody vegetation in stabilizing slopes in the Cincinnati area, Ohio MARY M. RIESTENBERG; MARY M. RIESTENBERG 1Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar SUSAN SOVONICK-DUNFORD SUSAN SOVONICK-DUNFORD 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information MARY M. RIESTENBERG 1Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221 SUSAN SOVONICK-DUNFORD 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1983) 94 (4): 506–518. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1983)94<506:TROWVI>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation MARY M. RIESTENBERG, SUSAN SOVONICK-DUNFORD; The role of woody vegetation in stabilizing slopes in the Cincinnati area, Ohio. GSA Bulletin 1983;; 94 (4): 506–518. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1983)94<506:TROWVI>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Tree roots markedly stabilize colluvium on steep hillsides in the Cincinnati area, Ohio, according to detailed analysis of a landslide complex on the south side of Rapid Run Creek, a tributary of the Ohio River. The shear surface of the slide developed near the interface between bouldery, silty clay colluvium and underlying calcareous Ordovician shale, and it broke woody roots that penetrated through the colluvium and into the underlying bedrock. Measurements of positions, sizes, and tensile strengths of the roots indicate that the average shear strength contributed by the roots was about 5.7 kN/m2 of the shear surface. The average strength contributed by residual friction of the soil was about 0.7 kN/m2. The tree roots increased the factor of safety against sliding nine-fold. Root strength allows forested, colluvium-mantled hillslopes in the Cincinnati area to resist sliding at slope angles as high as 35°, whereas similar slopes devoid of trees are subject to sliding at slope angles of 12° to 14°. The contribution of tree roots to slope stability should be evaluated before removal of trees for development of hillsides. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.