News Archives

UK landslide research expands to Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati

The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) received a $182,961 grant from the U.S. Geological Survey to advance geological understanding and hazard preparedness for Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. The project will produce landslide inventory maps and landslide susceptibility maps for the region that will benefit city planners, local governments and landowners.

CLIMBS Researchers Go Global in Finding Hazard Solutions through NSF’s CLaSH Initiative

Geologic hazards are complicated, connected, and continuous. While extreme precipitation events can cause catastrophic flooding, the intense precipitation can also induce widespread landslide activity. The landslide deposits can block small streams or send pulses of materials into rivers, exacerbating the destructiveness of the flood by changing the nature of the flow and providing larger debris that can impact infrastructure. Similarly, wildfire burns vegetation, making hillslopes more susceptible to landsliding during intense precipitation. The positive feedback between one hazard exacerbating the severity of another hazard is referred to as a hazard cascade. Understanding hazard cascades and their impacts on infrastructure and people is difficult, and exactly the type of challenge addressed through the National Science Foundation’s new CLaSH – Center for Land Surface Hazards (CLaSH). Kentucky researchers are playing a key role.

2025 Kentucky Geological Survey Geoscience Open House

On Tuesday October 28, 2025, 6-7:30 p.m., the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) will host its 25th annual Open House, inviting students, families, teachers, and earth-science enthusiasts to explore the many wonders of Kentucky’s geology. This long-running tradition offers a hands-on, engaging experience with the natural forces and materials that shape Kentucky.

Burgin flood survivor returns home

Woman displaced 10 months by back-to-back floods refuses to leave neighborhood as geological survey tests dewatering wells

Kentucky geologist creates trail guide to showcase state’s natural arches

Kentucky Geological Survey visits Kentucky River landslide area in Frankfort

More than 500 homes in Franklin County were invaded by the Kentucky River during historic flooding last April. But in some places, homes were also affected by land movement. At that time, it was a difficult task to tell someone they weren't allowed in their own home. But that’s what Autumn Goderwis, the planning director for Franklin County, had to do because of landslides.