The 2018 monsoon season has produced some fresh earth fissure activity in Pinal County. AZGS geologist and licensed drone pilot captured a 3-minute video of the extensive earth fissure and the collapsed section of Houston Avenue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lejCoC7Cpdo Apache Junction, Pinal County. On 9 Aug. 2018, ~ 2 inches of rain fell on Apache Junction in northern Pinal County. An earth fissure in the southwest corner of Apache Junction reopened and undermined a section of Houston Avenue that had collapsed previously in the summer of 2017 (Figure 1). The collapse was triggered by a van driving across the undermined section of road . Fortunately, the driver was not injured; a tow truck hauled the van to safety. With fresh monsoon storms, we anticipate new or re-activated earth fissure activity in basins of southern Arizona where fissure have broken out in the past. The earth fissure theme at the Natural Hazards in Arizona viewer displays the locations and distribution of earth fissures of southern Arizona. The viewer includes strategies for minimizing the impact of fissures on roads, infrastructure, and property. The interactive Natural Hazards in Arizona viewer displays the distribution of mapped earth fissures in Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal and La Paz Counties. http://uagis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=98729f76e46...
Photographer: Brian Gootee
Photo Date: August 2018
Photo Location Accuracy: Known Location
Photo Tags: earth fissure, geologic hazard, subsidence, Apache Junction, Houston Avenue, groundwater