Looks like heavy monsoon rains opened up a few earth fissures in the Queen Creek area last week, the East Valley Tribune reported yesterday.
We’ve talked about earth fissures here previously. They are big nasty crevices that open up when ground water is over pumped. The good thing is the Arizona Geological Survey is undertaking a mapping project and has maps available showing where areas are prone to earth fissures (there are complex geological factors that come into play, these things don’t just pop up randomly across Phoenix.)
It’s definitely something though that you want to educate yourself on and understand if you are looking in an area prone to fissures.
Here are some helpful links and files:
Arizona Geological Survey Earth Fissure Center
Land Subsidence and Earth Fissures in Arizona
(29 page PDF file with lots of info)
Don’t be afraid, be informed!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes…in real estate it is important to be informed about many aspects of the land and homes around you.
That goes for all participants in the business - not just realtors, but lenders, renters, etc.
mother nature has been particularly ruthless these past few years. It really is starting to seem that there is no environment that is “all-safe” for development.
You make a great reason for hiring a broker with local knowledge.
Aloha,
Keahi
I am in real estate and I feel that there is entirely too much development is areas that are already known to be ‘bad’ areas. There has to be a line drawn somewhere.
But that’s my opinion and apparently mine alone.
Melinda
Well, it is quite a paradox that people seem to move to Arizone for the low humidity but then they miss the lush lawns that cause the humidity and then they try to keep the lush lawns watered, which strains the water table. People need to learn to embrace the area they moved to and stop trying to change it - it upsets the balance of nature and then disasters happen.
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