Cedar Hills, Provo brace for worsening conditions

CEDAR HILLS — The mudslide in Cedar Hills is slowing down — but another slide plane may have been activated.

Preliminary studies indicate that areas down the slope from the landslide area may also be moving, said Francis Ashland, Utah Geological Survey geologist.

Ashland said the areas south of the affected townhouses, in the vicinity of the culinary waterline, as well as points directly above the 40-foot vertical scarp at the top of the hill, may be slipping.

If a new slide plane emerged, it would become a part of the other slide and begin its own trek down the street. However, the new plane is in a vacant lot between the townhouses and other neighbors.

Officials will be watching the area for movement.

The giant chunk of earth that slid down the mountain into the backs of four Cedar Hills townhouses on April 29 finally broke through the back foundation walls and poured dirt into the garages Thursday night.

Thanks to a dry spell, the movement during the night and early morning Friday was only 5 feet. Despite the deceleration, however, the mud is still moving, especially at the top of the slide.

"The upper landslide area continues to move at about the same rate as yesterday, 1 to 2 inches. . . in the last 12 hours," Ashland said.

The rate of movement at the top of the slide is smaller than the 5 feet of movement at the base — but the rate of movement at the top is becoming faster than that at the bottom.

At this point, removing the dirt would be dangerous. The dirt is pressing against the four houses. However, even if the houses weren't an issue, the soil is still too soggy to move.

"It will take a while for this landslide to dry out," Ashland said. All the water in the area is draining into the slide region because it's a depression on a downhill. The area will need a few back-to-back days of sunshine to stop the mud from sliding, he said.

Although the original occupants of the fourplex townhouse have been evacuated, it's probably not necessary that the other neighbors leave yet.

Cedar Hills Fire Chief Craig Carlisle said he saw some residents boxing things up, just in case.

"I don't think at this point there's a big need to rush about anything," he said. "It's a slow-going slide."

Meanwhile, officials from Cedar Hills city, Highland Homes, Lone Peak Links and AMEC Earth and Environmental met Friday to start a plan to address issues associated with the displaced families and the ongoing concerns of residents.

The plan will be presented Tuesday — first, to the four displaced families and then to the community at large. Times and locations of the meetings have yet to be announced.

"We appreciate the patience of all families in the impacted area and assure them we will move quickly on this matter," according to a joint statement issued by Cedar Hills, Highland Homes, Lone Peak Links and AMEC.

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