Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Technical Appendices
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Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Technical Appendices APPENDIX E Technical Background Report to the Safety Element of the La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update Seismic Hazards, Geologic Hazards, Flooding Hazards Prepared by Earth Consultants International, Inc. 1642 East Fourth Street Santa Ana, CA 92701 Revised September 7, 2010 June 2010 E-1 TECHNICAL BACKGROUND REPORT to the SAFETY ELEMENT of the RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA SEISMIC HAZARDS GEOLOGIC HAZARDS FLOODING HAZARDS Prepared by: EARTH CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 1642 E. Fourth Street Santa Ana, California 92701 (714) 544-5321 & (714) 412-2654 June 2010 TECHNICAL BACKGROUND REPORT TO THE SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE CITY of LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page No. CHAPTER 1: SEISMIC HAZARDS ................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 SEISMIC CONTEXT – EARTHQUAKE BASICS..................................................................................1-1 1.2 REGULATORY CONTEXT ...........................................................................................................1-4 1.2.1 Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act.............................................................1-4 1.2.2 Seismic Hazards Mapping Act.................................................................................1-6 1.2.3 California Building Code.........................................................................................1-6 1.2.4 Unreinforced Masonry Law.....................................................................................1-7 1.2.5 Real Estate Disclosure Requirements .......................................................................1-8 1.2.6 California Environmental Quality Act......................................................................1-9 1.3 NOTABLE PAST EARTHQUAKES ..................................................................................................1-9 1.3.1 Wrightwood Earthquake of December 8, 1812 .......................................................1-9 1.3.2 San Jacinto Earthquake of 1899...............................................................................1-9 1.3.3 San Jacinto Earthquake of 1918.............................................................................1-11 1.3.4 San Jacinto Earthquake of 1937.............................................................................1-11 1.3.5 Desert Hot Springs Earthquake of 1948.................................................................1-11 1.3.6 San Jacinto Fault Earthquake of 1954 ....................................................................1-12 1.3.7 Borrego Mountain Earthquake of 1968..................................................................1-12 1.3.8 San Fernando (Sylmar) Earthquake of 1971 ...........................................................1-12 1.3.9 North Palm Springs Earthquake of 1986................................................................1-13 1.3.10 Elmore Ranch and Superstition Hills Earthquakes of 1987.....................................1-13 1.3.11 Joshua Tree Earthquake of 1992 ............................................................................1-13 1.3.12 Landers Earthquake of 1992..................................................................................1-14 1.3.13 Big Bear Earthquake of 1992 .................................................................................1-14 1.3.14 Hector Mine Earthquake of 1999 ..........................................................................1-14 1.3.15 Baja California Earthquake of 2010 .......................................................................1-15 1.4 SEISMIC GROUND SHAKING...................................................................................................1-15 1.4.1 San Andreas Fault Zone.........................................................................................1-24 1.4.2 San Jacinto Fault Zone...........................................................................................1-26 1.4.3 Burnt Mountain Fault ............................................................................................1-27 1.4.4 Eureka Peak Fault ..................................................................................................1-27 1.4.5 Pinto Mountain Fault.............................................................................................1-27 1.4.6 Pisgah – Bullion Mountain – Mesquite Lake Fault Zone ........................................1-28 1.4.7 Elsinore Fault Zone................................................................................................1-28 1.5 SURFACE FAULT RUPTURE ......................................................................................................1-29 1.5.1 Definitions ............................................................................................................1-29 1.5.2 Faults in the La Quinta Area..................................................................................1-31 1.6 GROUND FAILURE DUE TO EARTHQUAKE SHAKING...................................................................1-31 1.6.1 Liquefaction ..........................................................................................................1-31 1.6.2 Earthquake-Induced Slope Failure .........................................................................1-35 1.6.3 Seismically Induced Settlement .............................................................................1-36 1.6.4 Deformation of Sidehill Fills..................................................................................1-37 1.6.5 Ridgetop Fissuring and Shattering..........................................................................1-37 1.7 OTHER POTENTIAL SEISMIC HAZARDS .....................................................................................1-38 1.7.1 Seiches..................................................................................................................1-38 1.7.2 Tsunami ................................................................................................................1-39 1.8 VULNERABILITY OF STRUCTURES TO EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE.......................................................1-40 1.8.1 Unreinforced Masonry Structures ..........................................................................1-44 1.8.2 Soft-Story Buildings ...............................................................................................1-44 1.8.3 Wood-Frame Structures.........................................................................................1-45 1.8.4 Pre-Cast Concrete Structures .................................................................................1-45 Earth Consultants International Table of Contents Page i 2010 TECHNICAL BACKGROUND REPORT TO THE SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE CITY of LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Page No. 1.8.5 Tilt-up Buildings....................................................................................................1-46 1.8.6 Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings ...................................................................1-46 1.8.7 Multi-Story Steel Frame Buildings..........................................................................1-46 1.8.8 Mobile Homes......................................................................................................1-46 1.8.9 Combination Types ...............................................................................................1-47 1.9 EARTHQUAKE SCENARIO AND LOSS ESTIMATIONS .....................................................................1-47 1.9.1 Building Damage ..................................................................................................1-52 1.9.2 Casualties..............................................................................................................1-56 1.9.3 Damage to Critical and Essential Facilities ............................................................1-58 1.9.4 Economic Losses ...................................................................................................1-61 1.9.5 Transportation Damage.........................................................................................1-62 1.9.6 Utility Systems Damage.........................................................................................1-63 1.9.7 Shelter Needs ........................................................................................................1-65 1.10 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................1-66 CHAPTER 2: GEOLOGIC HAZARDS ............................................................................. 2-1 2.1 PHYSIOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC SETTING…………………………………………………………. 2-1 2.2 EARTH UNITS AND THEIR ENGINEERING PROPERTIES ..................................................................2-2 2.2.1 Alluvial Sand and Gravel (map symbol: Qg)............................................................2-2 2.2.2 Windblown Sand (map symbol: Qs) .......................................................................2-4 2.2.3 Alluvial Deposits (map symbol: Qa) ........................................................................2-4 2.2.4 Interbedded Lacustrine and Alluvial Deposits (map symbol Ql/Qa).........................2-4 2.2.5 Alluvial Fan Deposits (map symbol: Qf) ..................................................................2-4 2.2.6 Landslide Deposits (map symbol: Qls).....................................................................2-5