Chapter 3
Geographic and Geologic Setting
Publication: Highway 1 Rat Creek Embankment Failure: 2021 Reconnaissance and Analysis
Abstract
The geographic and geologic conditions along this portion of Highway 1 in the Rat Creek area are typical of this section of the central California Coast south of Big Sur. Dramatic physiographic relief from the ocean and continental shelf to the steep and rugged Coast Range mountains is present along the corridor. The headwaters of Rat Creek originate approximately 2.5 mi (4.1 km) inland from the coast where basement rocks are Cretaceous sedimentary rocks from the Salinian Block. The drainage crossing at Rat Creek was filled with an embankment underlain by a culvert to construct Highway 1 rather than constructing a bridge. Rat Creek and its tributaries have a large drainage network feeding the creek.
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References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Highway 1 Rat Creek Embankment Failure: 2021 Reconnaissance and Analysis
Pages: 19 - 26
Editors: Dimitrios Zekkos, Ph.D., and Timothy D. Stark, Ph.D.
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8457-9
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Feb 24, 2023
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