Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Quantitative rock-fall hazard and risk assessment for Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California

September 16, 2014

Rock falls are common in Yosemite Valley, California, posing substantial hazard and risk to the approximately four million annual visitors to Yosemite National Park. Rock falls in Yosemite Valley over the past few decades have damaged structures and caused injuries within developed regions located on or adjacent to talus slopes highlighting the need for additional investigations into rock-fall hazard and risk. This assessment builds upon previous investigations of rock-fall hazard and risk in Yosemite Valley and focuses on hazard and risk to structures posed by relatively frequent fragmental-type rock falls as large as approximately 100,000 (cubic meters) in volume.

Publication Year 2014
Title Quantitative rock-fall hazard and risk assessment for Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California
DOI 10.3133/sir20145129
Authors Greg M. Stock, Nicolas Luco, Brian D. Collins, Edwin L. Harp, Paola Reichenbach, Kurt L. Frankel
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Scientific Investigations Report
Series Number 2014-5129
Index ID sir20145129
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Geologic Hazards Science Center