HomeMy WebLinkAboutDon Marlin_24-NOV-25Subject: Collapsible Soils and Planned Urban Development in the Roaring Fork Valley
Name: Don Marlin
Email: donmarlin@aol.com
Phone Number: (713) 503-1401
Message: Re: Harvest Sun Development vs Subsurface Karst Hazards
Mr. Fred Jarman County Manager,
I have some information with regard to Garfield County Colorado planning and
development that I wanted to share with you.
I am a local homeowner and have past certifications in geophysics and geology with a
current certification to construct closed-loop geoexchange systems in Colorado. I have
interests in the subsurface geology through collapsible soils of the Roaring Fork Valley and
sharing my knowledge of the same.
The underlying basis for these collapsible soils is due to being at the center of the
Carbondale Collapse as referenced by the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) in their 2002
MS-34 report (citation #1 below) as well as numerous other research publications. The
Harvest Roaring Fork proposed urban development (PUD) area is located near the focus of
this report and has approximately 15 known sinkhole and subsidence features within the
boundary. Publications and my research reveal the collapse is influenced by salt at 2125'
below the ground near this PUD which underlies evaporative rock and glacial terraces that
have all been pushed toward the surface over geologic time creating collapsible soils. This
PUD (citation #2 below) is surrounded some of the highest density of soil collapse and
damages to structures as noted in this CGS report. The 2009 legal settlement at Ironbridge
subdivision to 20 homeowners from building on such collapsible soils is directly West
across the river from the PUD (citation #3 below).
I have seen no mention of surface and subsurface hazards in any of the proposed
development discussions or news articles to date. These subsurface influences and
surface hazards in the form of karst topography could have a direct impact on Garfield
County and Harvest Sun Development construction. Understanding or highlighting these
risks could lead to reducing liabilities for all involved.
Thank you for your service and let me know if you are aware of these scenarios. If not, I am
able to discuss these with you as I have freely done in parts to civil engineering groups,
state administrations, local businesses, utility providers, well operators, my homeowner
association, and individuals to make them aware of these conditions.
Don Marlin
Citations: 1) White, Jonathan L. “MS-34 Collapsible Soils and Evaporite Karst Hazards Map
of the Roaring Fork River Corridor, Garfield, Eagle, and Pitkin Counties, Colorado.” Soil and
Karst Hazards. Map Series. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals
and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 2002.
https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/collapsible-soils-evaporite-karst-
hazards-roaring-fork-river-garfield-eagle-pitkin-colorado. 2) Harvest Roaring Fork or
https://harvestrfv.com, and 3) http://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/homeowners-left-
with-sinking-houses-finally-allowed-to-tell-story/