Many contractors in Chatham-Kent assume that if a slope looks stable after a dry summer, it will hold through spring thaw. That assumption has led to expensive failures on the bluffs along the Thames River. The clay-rich till and glaciolacustrine deposits found across the municipality respond differently to saturation than granular soils. A proper landslide assessment evaluates pore pressure buildup, shear strength parameters, and failure surface geometry before any foundation work begins near a slope. Without this analysis, the risk of a progressive failure increases significantly. Combining the assessment with a calicata exploratoria for visual soil logging and an ensayo SPT for strength correlation provides the baseline data needed for a reliable stability model.
Two adjacent slopes in Chatham-Kent can respond differently to the same storm — shallow failures in silty sand or deep-seated slides in clay till require distinct analytical approaches.