The Ground Always Moves First: Understanding and Managing Geohazards in a Changing Climate

The Ground Always Moves First: Understanding and Managing Geohazards in a Changing Climate

Aydasara Ortega Torres


Abstract: This article reflects on recent geohazard events in California, Puerto Rico, and Colombia — not just as isolated crises, but as reminders of how land, infrastructure, and decision-making intersect. It argues for a grounded approach to land management, one that considers both geological dynamics and the unintended consequences of quick fixes.

Introduction

Landslides, erosion, and ground shifts have always been part of how Earth works. But recently, we’ve seen these processes intensify — in frequency, in scale, and in impact. That’s not just nature acting alone. Often, it’s the result of how we've built, cleared, and reshaped land in ways that ignore the signals geology gives us. The following cases show why that matters, and what we might do differently.

Case Snapshots

1. California: Trouble on the Edges

In spring 2025, a series of heavy rainstorms hit Southern California, triggering landslides that blocked parts of the Pacific Coast Highway between Malibu and Palisades (Los Angeles Times, April 26, 2025). Around the same time, train routes were halted in San Clemente after erosion threatened the coastal rail line (Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2025). These weren’t surprises. Geologists had warned for years that these routes were vulnerable. But aging infrastructure and underfunded maintenance meant those warnings weren’t acted on soon enough.

Emergency landslide, erosion repairs halt trains through San Clemente for several weeks.

2. Puerto Rico: Cutting Back — At What Cost?

After multiple island-wide blackouts, Puerto Rico’s energy provider launched a sweeping vegetation management plan in 2023 to reduce fire and outage risk (LUMA Energy, 2023). Thousands of miles of powerlines were targeted for clearing. But environmental groups and land use experts raised a flag: clearing too much, too fast — especially on slopes — could make erosion worse. The island’s terrain is fragile in places, and the roots being cut often hold more than just brush. They hold the hillside together.

LUMA began operating Puerto Rico’s electric grid in 2021.

3. Colombia: Rain, Slope, and People

On April 13, 2025, a landslide hit the municipality of Dagua in western Colombia, displacing families and damaging homes (ReliefWeb, April 15, 2025). The trigger was intense rainfall, but locals point to deforestation and unregulated development as the deeper cause. Hills that once absorbed runoff are now exposed. It’s a familiar story — one that plays out again and again in rural, mountainous regions.

Landslide in Caldas Department.

Patterns and Takeaways

In each case, the land didn’t fail on its own. It responded to stress — weather, yes, but also to planning decisions made (or not made) years ago. In California, infrastructure hugs cliff edges already flagged for instability. In Puerto Rico, safety efforts may undercut long-term slope stability. In Colombia, the absence of forest cover magnified the impact of a storm.

So what does it mean to manage land wisely, especially now?

Toward Better Land Management

  • Start with what geology tells us. Before building or clearing, ask how the slope behaves, where water naturally wants to go, and what holds the soil in place.
  • Be precise, not aggressive. Not all vegetation near infrastructure is a threat. Selective maintenance can do the job without destabilizing entire hillsides.
  • Listen to local knowledge. Residents who’ve watched the land change over time often see warning signs early — changes in how rain drains, cracks that weren’t there last year.
  • Design for change. Climate variability isn’t coming — it’s here. That means heavier rains, more droughts, and ground that doesn’t respond the way it used to.

Conclusion

The ground always moves first. If we watch, listen, and act early — with science, memory, and care — we don’t just react to disaster. We build differently. We treat land as a system we’re part of, not a surface to fix after the fact.

References

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