Geotechnical Analysis of Soil Sample PP-1 from the Palouse Prairie Restoration Project, Cheney, WA

The Palouse Prairie Restoration Project is a plan to return 120 designated acres of agricultural land to its original, natural state and provide educational and research opportunities to the broader EWU community. We collected soil sample PP-1 from the lower portion of the north face of a loess hill located at latitude 47.49360, longitude -117.59273, elevation 2545 feet above mean sea level near the EWU water tower. Palouse Prairie soil originated as glacially derived silt that was carried by wind from the Puget Sound then deposited in Eastern Washington during the last Ice Age. We conducted ASTM standard tests on sample PP-1 to determine geotechnical properties of the soil including specific gravity, Atterberg Limits, particle size distribution, optimal water content for compaction, and unconfined compressive strength. This information will help project managers make better-informed decisions related to proposed infrastructure development, including pathways, a visitor center, amphitheater, and parking areas