Anthropogenic Changes to Soils and Landscapes in Erie, Colorado

In Erie, Colorado as well as globally, disturbed earth materials are commonplace, extensive, and permanent. Using land areas from 37 discrete, residentially developed areas in Erie, covering 2,655 ha (6,560 ac), residential development alone has created 80 to 119 million tons (Mt) of human-altered and human-transported (HAHT) soil. Transformed soils lack the systematic physical and chemical properties, and hence predictability of the original soils, which poses significant challenges in terms of end use. Newly built housing developments may be at risk to natural and anthropogenic hazards, such as vapor intrusion, shrink/swell potential and mine subsidence, and natural landscapes are lost. However, the risks can be significantly reduced through adequate planning and mitigation strategies, and the new landscapes include positive aspects, e.g., areas of enhanced absorptive capacity for stormwater and various created habitats. Geotechnical engineers, geologists, and scientists working in transformed landscapes and HAHT soils should understand not only the geologic origin of earth materials, but also how anthropogenic processes contribute to a new geotechnical and geological fabric of disturbed earth materials and transformed landscapes, as well as field identification and characterization of soil properties evidencing human action.