Sedimentation analysis on steep slope areas development: Western North Carolina

Abstract

This project focuses on the rapid development and its concomitant environmental consequences that threaten water resources and the quality of life in Western North Carolina (WNC). The growing popularity of WNC, coupled with the region's topography means that builders are increasingly developing on steep slopes. The influence of steep slope development on sedimentation pollution and corollary hazards is investigated. In particular, the focus is on land development and its potential link to the probability of landslides. . A detail analysis was conducted for potential factors that induce landslides, particularly concentrating on Macon County and Watauga County. Most of the analysis applies Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, therefore gathering data, analyzing them, making them compatible to ArcGIS and developing intuitive map making for ease of visualization. How to expand the conclusions from this project to other steep slope areas are briefly described. Slope is analyzed by different percent degree categories, with a lens on the current legislation of 40 percent degree as the initial point of steep slope definition.