A Geotechnical Analysis of Mid-Slope Soil Sample PP-15 from the Palouse Prairie Restoration Project in Cheney, WA
Faculty Mentor
Richard Orndorff
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-14-2026 11:30 AM
End Date
4-14-2026 1:30 PM
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Geosciences
Abstract
The Palouse Prairie is an Inland Northwestern ecoregion that features loess hills created by aeolian processes related to Pleistocene glacial events. The Eastern Washington University Prairie Restoration Project aims to restore approximately 120 acres of Palouse Prairie in Cheney, Washington. We conduct an analysis of the geotechnical properties of a mid slope soil from a Palouse Prairie loess hill on the Prairie Restoration Project site. We compare our analysis with those for upper and base slope soils. We present findings from a soil specific gravity test, sieve and hydrometer analyses, plastic and liquid limit tests, a soil compaction test, and an unconfined compressive strength test. We find that the mid-slope soil sample PP-15 is categorized according to the United Soil Classification System (USCS) as a clayey sand. The clays within this soil are primarily classified as lean clays. Compared to other slope locations, the mid slope soil has a lower specific gravity of soil and lower unconfined compressive strength.
Recommended Citation
Jensen, Chloe; Lund, Basil; and Roose, Robin, "A Geotechnical Analysis of Mid-Slope Soil Sample PP-15 from the Palouse Prairie Restoration Project in Cheney, WA" (2026). 2026 Symposium. 18.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2026/ps_2026/p2_2026/18
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
A Geotechnical Analysis of Mid-Slope Soil Sample PP-15 from the Palouse Prairie Restoration Project in Cheney, WA
PUB NCR
The Palouse Prairie is an Inland Northwestern ecoregion that features loess hills created by aeolian processes related to Pleistocene glacial events. The Eastern Washington University Prairie Restoration Project aims to restore approximately 120 acres of Palouse Prairie in Cheney, Washington. We conduct an analysis of the geotechnical properties of a mid slope soil from a Palouse Prairie loess hill on the Prairie Restoration Project site. We compare our analysis with those for upper and base slope soils. We present findings from a soil specific gravity test, sieve and hydrometer analyses, plastic and liquid limit tests, a soil compaction test, and an unconfined compressive strength test. We find that the mid-slope soil sample PP-15 is categorized according to the United Soil Classification System (USCS) as a clayey sand. The clays within this soil are primarily classified as lean clays. Compared to other slope locations, the mid slope soil has a lower specific gravity of soil and lower unconfined compressive strength.
