A Look at Landslides in Pittsburgh, PA

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Hope for Pittsburgh Parks

A newly implemented park tax could provide some funding to support hillside restoration initiatives and the expansion of the Greenway system for further protection from landslides. Property owners can expect to pay an extra $50 dollars per $100,000 of assessed value of their property and the tax has the potential to generate $10 million per year that will go towards improvements of the city’s more than 165 parks and greenspaces (City Residents Vote “yes” on Pittsburgh Parks Tax Referendum, 2019). While city residents voted to approve the new tax, how and where that money is spent should also be decided in part by the needs and concerns of Pittsburgh residents. Whether some of the park tax funding goes towards landslide mitigation efforts will depend in part on the level of concern residents have surrounding their personal risks of being impacted by landslides and a comprehensive understanding of how those risks are reduced by forest restoration initiatives.

Check out this website to see how you can get involved in park clean up and planting events and contribute your input as to what projects you would like to see completed!

Engage PGH (pittsburghpa.gov)

City residents vote “yes” on Pittsburgh parks tax referendum. (2019, November 6). Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. https://www.wtae.com/article/pittsburgh-parks-tax-referendum-residents-vote-yes/29704552#

Inspirational Graffiti at the Seldom Seen Greenway

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You're asking $375,000 for that????

This is an abandoned hillside up the street from where I live.  Clearly visible is a large amount of illegally dumped trash and invasive Japanese knotweed plants. In all this mess, there are a few native trees struggling to survive under the weight of vigorously growing vines, and a slow-moving stream cuts through the hillside, attracting many colorful bird species. If it were cleaned up, I think it would make a great little park amidst a heavily urbanized area.  I noticed a “for sale” sign at the bottom of the hill and was curious if the land itself was on the market, so I checked it out on Zillow.  With a $375, 000 price tag though, just for the lot, its unlikely to be purchased by the city to be preserved as public greenspace and will probably get snatched up by developers looking to build more of those container-style, modern homes that I see popping up everywhere I look in my neighborhood.  Certainly out of my price range too!

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Gentrification and Pittsburgh’s Troubled History of Minority Displacement

The United States has a long history of displacement and consolidation of minority communities and Pittsburgh is certainly no exception (Vilay, 2020).  In the 1950’s, the city began an urban renewal campaign that included the construction of the Pittsburgh Civic arena and ultimately resulted in the displacement of over 8,000 primarily African American residents from the Hill District community.  Prior to these urban renewal initiatives, the Hill District was considered a cultural center for the African American community and the neighborhood benefited from strong social networks and high levels of trust between residents. The displacement of the Hill District community had traumatic and long-lasting effects, as the breakdown of social networks lead to psychological distress and depression which amplified economic disadvantages and made communities more susceptible to adverse health outcomes. Those that remained in the Hill District now live in one of the most distressed neighborhoods in the city (Flórez et al., 2016). With the fallout from this example of displacement still impacting African American communities and Pittsburgh experiencing levels of gentrification commonly seen in postindustrial cities, even the most at-risk residents may be hesitant to participate in buyout programs or engage in conversations about relocation. While some may argue that this influx of wealth into working class communities is a positive change, existing, lower income residents may no longer be able to afford a new home in their original community if they are displaced by a landslide. Buyout programs, when they are available, are often underfunded, with homeowners only receiving compensation for the current value of their properties (Vilay, 2020). If residents are forced to relocate to a new community because they can no longer afford the higher rents and home prices in their current neighborhood, this leads to the breakdown of community bonds, reduced access to employment or increased commute times to work or school, and worse health outcomes stemming from trauma and depression and potentially degraded environmental conditions of the new neighborhood. While Pittsburgh does not currently have a buyout program for landslide-impacted properties, any discussions surrounding the implementation of such a program should be sensitive the city’s history with minority displacement and should include feedback and engagement with members of those communities. Aside from buyout programs, the city could also pursue landslide prevention techniques that utilize reforestation and other examples of green infrastructure in order to stabilize its steepest slopes, including the Pittsburgh Greenways.

Flórez, K. R., Ghosh-Dastidar, M. B., Beckman, R., de la Haye, K., Duru, O. K., Abraído-Lanza, A. F., & Dubowitz, T. (2016). The Power of Place: Social Network Characteristics, Perceived Neighborhood Features, and Psychological Distress Among African Americans in the Historic Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. American Journal of Community Psychology, 58(1–2), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12086

Kozak, S.L., 2014. From section 8 to Starbucks: the effects of gentrification on affordable housing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thesis (PhD). University of Kansas.

Vilay, Erica. Floodway Buyout Strategy for a Resilient Houston. 9 July 2020, www.jchs.harvard.edu/research-areas/working-papers/floodway-buyout-strategy-resilient-houston.  

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What’s a homeowner to do?

This 2019 CBS Pittsburgh news report focused on homeowners who were impacted by the previous year’s landslides and are still struggling to obtain guidance and funding from city or state government agencies to help them recover (CBS Pittsburgh, 2019, 03:15–05:21). These residents, while fortunate that their homes were not totally destroyed and no one was hurt during the slide, still cannot return to their condemned homes to begin clean up and repairs despite an independent engineering assessment, paid for by the homeowners, that found conditions were no longer dangerous. The report even alluded to a potential lawsuit against the city in response to their denial of liability for landslide damages on private property!

Watch the news report here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhEamRS0uow

CBS Pittsburgh. (2019, February 6). Pittsburgh Residents Still Trying To Get Relief After Last Year’s Landslides [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhEamRS0uow

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Landslides and Environmental Degradation in Seldom Seen

Sawmill Run passes through the Seldom Seen Greenway and while its seemingly clear waters and deep pools may seem like a nice way to escape the heat of Pittsburgh’s sweltering summers, think again! As soon as you pull into the parking lot, several signs from ALCOSAN, the city’s water treatment plant, issue a stark warning against any type of contact with the creek as stormwater and sewage are often discharge directly into the water during heavy rains. On this day, the creek was giving off a strong smell of laundry detergent. Not the worst smell, but a constant reminder that you are still in the city.    

Sawmill Run and the entrance to Seldom Seen

While this greenway does not currently have an active stewardship group to provide maintenance and care, it was clear that some planting restoration had been done. The clear plastic tubing used to prevent deer from eating the young, newly planted seedlings was an indication that some effort had been made to stabilize the hillside with trees. Many of the tubes had been damaged or removed, perhaps from exposure, but likely from vandalism and invasive plants like Japanese knotweed had already regrown in their place. These replanting initiatives are a great start and an offer ample opportunity for community involvement, but ongoing care and maintenance of these seedlings is crucial to improving seedling survival and restoring the natural soil stabilization and landslide mitigation potential of dense forest cover (Mantero et al., 2020).

Signs of erosion and land sliding along the bank of Sawmill Run. Above, a large chunk of the bank has sloughed off, bringing with it an entire tree and lots of invasive Japanese Knotweed. While there seemed to be some tree planting and restoration work performed in the past, it did not appear that any work had been done recently to maintain the health of the seedlings and prevent regrowth of invasive plant species.

Sawmill Run and a duck taking its chances cleaning itself off in the laundry scented creek. There were even lots of tiny fish swimming around. It is amazing how tolerant and adaptable nature can be to environmental stressors imposed by human development!

Mantero, G., Morresi, D., Marzano, R., Motta, R., Mladenoff, D. J., & Garbarino, M. (2020). The influence of land abandonment on forest disturbance regimes: a global review. In Landscape Ecology (Vol. 35, Issue 12, pp. 2723–2744). Springer Science and Business Media B.V. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-020-01147-w

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Visit to the Seldom Seen Greenway

I decided to visit one of these Greenways to see for myself what kind of condition the forests were in and if I could if spot some evidence of landslides now that I had become an amateur landslide tracker. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has picked up some interesting new hobbies during this pandemic! I drove out to the Seldom Seen Greenway, located in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood one sunny afternoon to check it out and took a few photos of what I found.  Once a small farming community, the land was abandoned by the 1960’s and though the land was acquired by the city in the 1980’s it has been left largely unmanaged (Greenways | Pittsburghpa.Gov, n.d.). This is a great little gem of an outdoor space and I would recommend a visit…if you can find it.  After getting lost a few times, I finally found the small parking lot from which the Greenway can be accessed. What little signage there is marking the Greenway is easy to miss and mostly covered in graffiti.

On this day, there were also several people engaging in rock climbing activities. walking along meandering, unmarked trails, and admiring some of the more artistic examples of graffiti that dot the landscape.

Greenways | pittsburghpa.gov. (n.d.). Pittsburgh PA. Retrieved March 16, 2021, from http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/greenways/

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Pittsburgh’s Greenways

In my search to figure out who now owns and manages these abandoned properties, I came across Pittsburgh’s Greenway system. Established by the city in the 1980’s, Pittsburgh’s Greenway program was an effort to create passive open space by consolidating steeply sloped terrain that was too dangerous for commercial or residential development (Greenways | Pittsburghpa.Gov, n.d.).   Currently, the city’s 12 greenways encompass 605 acres of land, with another 450 acres being evaluated for potential expansion.  The incorporation of Greenways and other greenspace into urban planning has been in practice since the 1850’s and was pioneered by landscape architects in New England (Fabos, 2004). The establishment of Greenways provides protection for ecologically sensitive areas, increased recreational opportunities for residents, and the preservation of land with historical and cultural value.

Click on this link to find a Greenway near you!

https://pittsburghpa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Embed/index.html?webmap=22ebaadb39c4476db52a1c011429bd56&extent=-80.0619,40.421,-79.9986,40.4546&zoom=true&scale=true&legend=true&basemap_gallery=true&disable_scroll=true&theme=light

Fábos, J. G. (2004). Greenway planning in the United States: Its origins and recent case studies. Landscape and Urban Planning, 68(2–3), 321–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2003.07.003

Greenways | pittsburghpa.gov. (n.d.). Pittsburgh PA. Retrieved March 16, 2021, from http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/greenways/

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Pittsburgh’s Mass Migration

Since moving to Pittsburgh, I have also become fascinated with the city’s industrial past and how the city continues to recover from the collapse of the steel industry and subsequent mass migration of residents out of the area in search of new employment opportunities.  In their haste to leave, many residents simply abandoned their homes and these properties fell into disrepair (Kozak, 2014). As I walked around my own steeply sloped neighborhood, it was hard to miss the orange “condemned” signs affixed to many of the homes adjacent to some precarious hillsides.  Its not clear if these properties were abandoned in the mass exodus of residents following the collapse of the steel industry, or if homeowners had recognized the risks of landslides and where unable or unwilling to make the repeated repairs to walls and foundations caused by the constantly shifting earth below and beside them.  While the risks to human life have been reduced because people no longer live in these houses, these abandoned properties can actually exacerbate land and soil conditions that perpetuate land sliding, impacting the roadways and housing below them (Mantero et al., 2020). Urban soils are considered to be compacted, preventing the regrowth of native vegetation and creating favorable conditions for invasive plant species to take over that provide far less soil stabilization potential than native trees and shrubs. The establishment of dense forest cover following urban land abandonment can provide some protection from the risks of mass land movements including rockfalls, avalanches, and landslides (Mantero et al., 2020).

Several foundations remain on the top of this hillside near my house.  Despite “No Dumping” signs nearby, these abandoned hillsides are often used as illegal dumping sites for lazy contractors and even the neighboring property owners, who take advantage of these open spaces to dispose of their yard waste.  Residents may not even realize that piling their grass clippings and other lawn debris on these hillsides is contributing to the destabilization of these slopes. This debris blocks out the light to potential soil-stabilizing plant growth and the additional weight to the hillside also increases the risk of landslides (Pomeroy, 1982).

I actually witnessed a neighbor dumping his grass clippings just a few feet from this “No Dumping” sign.  Even the potential for a fine of up to $10,000 was not enough to discourage this resident from improperly disposing of his yard waste.  Upon closer inspection of the sign, there is also apparently a $500 reward for providing evidence that leads to prosecution of illegal dumping.  Considering the neighbor’s relaxed attitude towards adhering to no dumping ordinances, this could be an opportunity for some easy money! I would much prefer to go the public education route though to prevent future dumping.

Kozak, S.L., 2014. From section 8 to Starbucks: the effects of gentrification on affordable housing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thesis (PhD). University of Kansas.

Mantero, G., Morresi, D., Marzano, R., Motta, R., Mladenoff, D. J., & Garbarino, M. (2020). The influence of land abandonment on forest disturbance regimes: a global review. Landscape Ecology, 35(12), 2723–2744. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-020-01147-w

Pomeroy, J. S. (1982). Landslides in the Greater Pittsburgh Region, Pennsylvania. United States Government Printing Office.

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Local Landslide News

While I am probably part of a shrinking group of people who do not utilize social media to get my news, I also do not usually keep myself updated with tradition news platforms like nightly, local television news reports either. I figured that seeking out local television news reports, however, may give me a better idea of how bad the landslide problem is in Pittsburgh, what the city is doing in response, and how the media coverage plays a role in the public’s perception of their personal landslide risk.  This news story covers a recent slide at a Troy Hill park and how the city government plans to address growing costs to deal with landslides.

Martino, P. (2021, April 1). Pittsburgh Launching Program To Remediate And Prevent Landslides. CBS Pittsburgh. https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2021/04/01/pittsburgh-troy-hill-cowley-park-landslide-repairs/

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So what is a “red bed” anyway?

The top picture was taken from my front porch while the picture below it was taken at the base of what the Allegheny Landslide Portal calls an outcropping of “Red Bed” that looms over the street I live on.  These “Red Beds” are actually layers of clay that are common geologic features throughout the city (Pomeroy, 1982).  When dry, this clay is virtually as hard as rock, but when it becomes saturated with water it softens and breaks apart easily. 

Check out this video learn more!

After heavy rains, the soil above these clay layers becomes heavy and saturated with water as well. The added weight of the wet soil combined with the forces of gravity cause the soften clay layer to break apart and slide, bringing the overlaying soil, vegetation, or structures down with it (Pomeroy, 1982).  I frequently observe water seeping out of the hillside, leading me to believe that some areas of clay may often become saturated after it rains, increasing the risks of land sliding. I used to joke that these little cliff-side springs were our “urban water feature”, but now I catch myself panicking a little every time I hear a piece of clay fall onto the growing pile of crumbling “red bed” below it and I wonder, is this the big one?

Allegheny Landslide Task Force. Causes, Types, and Effects. Allegheny County. https://landslide-portal-alcogis.opendata.arcgis.com/pages/types-and-effects. 

Pittsburgh redbed crumbles when it’s wet. (2019, July 30). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFOc57nxX6I

Pomeroy, J. S. (1982). Landslides in the Greater Pittsburgh Region, Pennsylvania. United States Government Printing Office.

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Well that can’t be good...

In studying landslide susceptibility in Pittsburgh for a graduate climate and sustainability course, I came across a landslide mapping tool provided by Allegheny county to assist in risk assessment and public education. This map identifies areas where landslides have occurred recently as well as historically and areas that have heightened risks of land sliding due to their slope and underlying geography.

That red star…that’s my house! Just across the street from my home is an outcrop area, shown in pale orange, of thick “Red Bed”. But what does the proximity of that big, scary, orange blob to my house really mean in terms of the risks of being impacted by a landslide?  What is a “Red Bed” anyway? Are there warning signs? Can landslides be prevented? Would my insurance even cover landslide damages?  Should I start packing my bags and looking for a new place to live that might not be at risk of sliding down a hill? Pandemic isolation has significantly increased the time I spend going down research rabbit holes and this new awareness of landslide issues right outside my front door was bound to send me down another one!    

 Check out the map here to begin understanding your neighborhood’s landslide risk!

Allegheny Landslide Task Force. Causes, Types, and Effects. Allegheny County. https://landslide-portal-alcogis.opendata.arcgis.com/pages/types-and-effects. 

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About me

Hello Tumblr!

My name is Liane and that is me shaking the hand of former United States Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, back in 2009. I spent that summer working with an invasive plant management crew in forests of Shenandoah Nation Park and have an additional 13 seasons of experience working for the Connecticut State Parks system in roles ranging from guest services and emergency response to general park maintenance and planning. I have spent my entire life in awe of the beauty as well as the sometimes-devastating power of the natural world.  Growing up on the coast of Connecticut, I was all too familiar with extreme weather events like hurricanes and blizzards. I can vividly remember the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and how it drastically altered the beaches and dunes from its powerful storm surge and the storm uprooted so many trees that it changed the forested landscape as well. Since moving to Pittsburgh a few years ago and pursuing a master’s degree in Sustainability, Ecology, and Resource Management, I have been exposed to another type of natural disaster common to Western Pennsylvania, landslides!