ASSESSMENT OF VOLCANIC HAZARDS – ACTIVITY #7

Map of Hazard County, showing location of Lava Mountain, Hazard City, and sites studied by
geologists.
Use the site numbers on this map to fill out the Geologic Record table on the next page.

View of Lava Mountain and part of the Palouse River drainage.

Geologic Record of Deposits Related to Volcanic Activity in Hazard County

SITE NUMBER TYPE OF GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS // WHAT PROCESS MILES
FROM MT.
Pyroclastic flow 15 miles from
summit
1

Lavaflow 2.5 Miles from

Summit
2

Magma chamber 0 miles from

summit
3

Fissure 3 miles from

summit
4

Lahars 30 miles from

summit
5

Acid rain 50 miles from

summit
6

Tephra 15 miles from

summit
7

Ash Cloud 25 miles from

summit
8

Ash fall 40 miles from

summit
9
Map of downtown Hazard City, showing the sediment cores (red squares) taken by engineering
geologists when the Route 857 bridge was being planned. Note the positions of the two suburban
towns, Ralston and Riverside.

Categories for Your Assessment of Volcanic Hazard

 Low Risk – This area may be affected minimally by an eruption of Lava Mountain, but it is unlikely
that deaths will occur or that there will be substantial damage to property (including buildings).
Moderate Risk – This area will be affected by an eruption of Lava Mountain, but it is unlikely that
deaths will occur, however it is likely that there will be damage to property (including buildings and
infrastructure such as bridges or power lines).
High Risk – This area definitely will be affected by an eruption of Lava Mountain, and it is likely that
deaths will occur if there is little warning of the eruption. Also, there will be substantial damage to
property (including buildings and infrastructure) or complete destruction in some areas.

The geologic cross section at the Clearwater Bridge. View is downriver, looking to the east.
This was prepared from a series of borings (drilled cores) that were collected when the site for the
bridge was being evaluated by engineering geologists. The cross section shows the sediments that
fill the valley of the Clearwater River as it passes through Hazard City. These sedimentary deposits
provide important evidence for what processes have impacted the area in the past.

IMPORTANT – The community of Riverside is in the same position in the river valley as Ralston
(shown on the cross section), but is farther upriver (closer to Lava Mountain).

ASSESSMENT OF VOLCANIC HAZARDS NAME _____________________

Riverside (community within Hazard City)

 Volcanic Hazard Tephra (Ashfall) Lahar (Mudflow) Pyroclastic Flows Lava Flows

Low Low Low Low

Your Assessment Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate
High High High High

Explain your assessment of the risk to Riverside for lahars (mudflows).

Provide geologic evidence to support your evaluation of risk.

The community of Riverside sits upon mud, rocks, and plant debris. These are carried into the valley by
mudflows from volcanic activity.

Walnut Heights (suburb of Hazard City)

Volcanic Hazard Tephra (Ashfall) Lahar (Mudflow) Pyroclastic Flows Lava Flows

Low Low Low Low

Your Assessment Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate
High High High High

Explain your assessment of the risk to Walnut Heights for lahars (mudflows).
Provide geologic evidence to support your evaluation of risk.

Since there is a high amount of sediment deposits beneath Walnut Heights, there is a high chance lahars
carried the sediment to that area.
ASSESSMENT OF VOLCANIC HAZARDS NAME _____________________

Hopper (town to the west of Hazard City)

Volcanic Hazard Tephra (Ashfall) Lahar (Mudflow) Pyroclastic Flows Lava Flows

Low Low Low Low

Your Assessment Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate
High High High High

Explain your assessment of the risk to the town of Hopper for pyroclastic flows.
Provide geologic evidence to support your evaluation of risk.

Since Hopper is so close to the base of the mountain, closer than any other town in the area, they have
the highest risk of destruction from Lava Mountain. Pyroclastic flows do not flow very far from the base
of the volcano, however Hopper is close enough to be affected by these flows.

Blaney (town to the south of Hazard City)

Volcanic Hazard Tephra (Ashfall) Lahar (Mudflow) Pyroclastic Flows Lava Flows

Low Low Low Low

Your Assessment Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate
High High High High

Explain your assessment of the risk to Blaney for tephra (ashfall).

Provide geologic evidence to support your evaluation of risk.
Blaney is at just as high a risk as Hazard City for tephra, as tephra is the result of ash clouds from volcanic
eruptions.