Colorado Geological Survey trains Elbert County planners on hazards and early referral

Jill Carlson, an engineering geologist with the Colorado Geological Survey, told the Elbert County Planning Commission that the Survey’s land‑use reviews are advisory and meant to protect people and property by identifying geologic hazards early.

“By state statute we are required to look at four types of development activities,” Carlson said, listing referrals the Survey must receive: subdivisions that create lots of less than 35 acres in unincorporated areas, matters of state interest, certain major municipal activities and school sites. She described the Survey’s mapping, hydrogeologic and land‑use review services and urged planners to refer projects as early as rezoning or sketch‑plan stages so engineers can help avoid placing lots or infrastructure over drainages or expansive soils.

Carlson gave local context for Elbert County, saying the area lacks older coal‑mine undermining and extreme slopes common in other parts of Colorado but still requires attention to setbacks from drainages, erosion and subsurface groundwater concerns. She described tools the Survey uses—1:24,000 geologic maps, lidar hill‑shade analyses and archived geotechnical reports—and said site‑specific borings and lab testing remain essential when basements or heavy infrastructure are proposed.

The presentation prompted questions about workload and referral volume. Carlson said the Survey receives roughly three to five new referral requests on each weekday and maintains an archive of prior geotechnical reports that helps inform current reviews. She reiterated that Survey comments are advisory, not regulatory, and that county planners ultimately decide whether and how to implement recommendations.

The training was scheduled as an early part of the commission’s evening; commissioners thanked Carlson and noted that earlier Survey involvement had improved recent local plats and rezoning packages.