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CHAPTER 12. LANDSLIDE <br />12-6 <br />12.4. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS <br />As the occurrence of landslides is typically dependent on other hazards such as earthquakes, severe storms, <br />or wildfires, climate change impacts on these hazards will also impact landslides. Climate change will <br />increase the frequency and intensity of severe storms, and more intense storms are likely to trigger <br />landslides more frequently. Increases in temperatures will reduce snowpack and spring snowmelt, which <br />may reduce the likelihood of spring landslides due to snowmelt. Warming temperatures also could increase <br />the occurrence and duration of droughts and the probability of wildfire, reducing the vegetation that helps <br />to support steep slopes. Overall, the impacts of climate change on various hazards will result in an increased <br />probability for landslide occurrences. <br />12.5. EXPOSURE <br />12.5.1 Population <br />Population could not be examined by landslide hazard area because census block group areas do not <br />coincide with the hazard areas. A population estimate was made using the structure count of residential <br />buildings within the landslide hazard area and applying the census value of 2.32 persons per household for <br />Kittitas County. Using this approach, the estimated population living in the landslide hazard area is 847. <br />This approach could understate the exposure by as much as a factor of two. <br />12.5.2 Property <br />Table 12-1 shows the number and assessed value of structures exposed to the landslide risk. There are 365 <br />structures on parcels in the landslide risk areas, with an estimated value of $164 million. Predominant <br />zoning in cities is for single-family, vacant and manufactured homes. Table 12-2 shows the general zoning <br />of parcels exposed to landslides in Kittitas County. Lands zoned for commercial forest uses are most <br />vulnerable. Of all commercial forest land, 15% is located within landslide risk areas. <br /> <br />Table 12-1. Kittitas County Buildings in Landslide Hazard Areas <br />Jurisdiction Buildings Exposed Value of Exposed <br />Buildings % of Assessed Value <br />Cle Elum 0 $0 0.0% <br />Ellensburg 0 $0 0.0% <br />Kittitas 0 $0 0.0% <br />Roslyn 0 $0 0.0% <br />South Cle Elum 0 $0 0.0% <br />Unincorporated 365 $164,279,000 4.8% <br />Total 365 $164,279,000 3.6% <br /> <br /> <br />Table 12-2. General Zoning in Landslide Risk Areas of Kittitas County <br />Zoning Area within Landslide Risk <br />Area (Acres) % of Total <br />Agriculture 10,120 2% <br />Commercial Forest 117,313 15% <br />Forest & Range 15,470 7%