About the Talk
Bluff Retreat—What to do about the “Law of Averages”
Options for addressing coastal erosion and landslide hazards vary as much as do the combinations of bluff composition and the coastal processes acting on them. For this reason, owners, both private and public, of bluffs along Puget Sound need to consider site conditions and their geologic and geographic setting when deciding how or whether to take action to counter slope retreat. On Saturday, February 28th, Wendy Gerstel will offer insights into what must be considered for long-term adaptation to natural geologic processes and will provide a few site-specific examples of geotechnical investigations and how these relate to the broader context of unstable slopes around Puget Sound. She will discuss how and why to be clear on objectives and manage expectations for any actions taken. Wendy will touch on the rules, tools, and options that apply to living with geologic hazards associated with bluffs, and on gaining the necessary resilience we need to take on associated risks.
About the Speaker
Wendy (on the right in photo) is a licensed Engineering Geologist and Hydrogeologist and owner and principal scientist of Qwg Applied Geology, a small woman-owned business she established in 2005. She has over 30 years of experience working with Federal, State, and local jurisdictions, Tribes, non-profit groups, and private landowners throughout the U.S. and extensively in the Pacific Northwest. Since 1992 Wendy has provided coastal geologic, geomorphic, and hydrogeologic input to a range of research, mapping, mitigation, and restoration projects. She obtained a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of New Hampshire in 1980 and her MSc. in Geology from Humboldt State University, California, in 1989.