Lost Coast Lectures returns with part 2 in our ongoing series to showcase the varied local work of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Presented by Friends of the Lost Coast and BLM King Range, this in-person presentation will be hosted at the Shelter Cove Community Clubhouse on Friday, December 4. Entitled The Amazing Tectonic Landscape of the Lost Coast: Earthquakes, Mountains, and Rivers, the event will present the the work of USGS geologists, Stephen DeLong and Jessie Vermeer, and their recent studies of erosion, river systems, and land uplift along the Lost Coast and how this is helping scientists better understand the faults and earthquake hazards that shape the region. Doors open at 5:30pm for this free event. The lecture starts at 6pm, with Q&A afterwards.

Lecture summary:

The landscapes of the Lost Coast and Mattole River region are constantly changing as a result of earthquakes, erosion by rivers and the ocean, and human activities. Over the past several years, a team of U.S. Geological Survey geologists and local collaborators has been studying how these forces have shaped the landscape over time and what that history can tell us about earthquake hazards today. This research has revealed new insights into long-term erosion patterns across the region’s watersheds. These patterns help identify areas where the land is rising at different rates due to tectonic forces and where changes in river courses and watershed boundaries have altered the landscape. We have also reconstructed the history of mountain building by studying river terraces and ancient marine terraces, which serve as natural records of past land uplift. By combining these findings, they are working to better understand how earthquakes shape the region and to improve our knowledge of the faults that produce them. Although many earthquakes occur offshore, either within the oceanic Pacific Plate or along the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates, some potentially damaging earthquakes occur on faults within the North American Plate itself, where people live and work. In this presentation, they will share what they’ve learned so far about the geologic history of the Lost Coast and Mattole River region and discuss how these discoveries contribute to a better understanding of earthquake hazards. Much of this work has been made possible by the generous land access provided by local residents, and they hope to continue this work in more locations.