Jamaica State Park
Landslide Stabilization
At a Glance
- Client: Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
- Location: Jamaica, VT
- Dates: 2025-present
- Services Provided:
- Design
- Stormwater mitigation
- Existing Conditions Survey
- Subsurface investigation
- Construction Specifications
Challenge
The Jamica State Park project presented a unique set of challenges that required thoughtful planning and innovative solutions. The site's limited access, diverse natural landscape, bordered by sensitive ecosystems and a meandering river, demanded careful stewardship to protect wildlife habitats and water quality during all phases of construction. Seasonal flooding and variable soil conditions added complexity, making access and stability a constant consideration. The slope failure covered the trail and created unsafe conditions for hiking access.
Solution
To address the slope failure area, MSK provided a design utilizing soil anchors including wire mesh followed by a vegetation plan to create a safe hiking passage to restore the existing trail area. This approach involves installing corrosion-resistant soil anchors drilled into the stable underlying material to provide deep-seated support and prevent further mass movement. A high-tensile steel mesh is then securely fastened to the anchors and draped over the slope face, providing surface stability and containment of loose soils and rock fragments. The mesh conforms to the slope's contours, helping to control erosion and allowing vegetation to reestablish, further reinforcing the slope over time. This method offers a minimally invasive and visually unobtrusive solution well-suited to the park's natural setting and recreational use.
Results
The project team overcame numerous site restraint and logistical challenges to provide a slope stabilization system design while meeting the Clients requirements to provide a long-term solution. A design package including project specifications have been provided to the Client for use in the next project phase.