Geologists monitoring the 20-acre landslide on Yakima’s Rattlesnake Ridge say it could take decades for the slide to reach the bottom of the hill.
Experts at the Yakima Valley Emergency Management said this week that the slide will take about 20 years to reach the bottom.
They also believe there is no chance the slide could damage any homes.
The earth is moving at a rate of 0.7 feet per week, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. That's significantly slower than the rate of 1.5 feet per week the slide was moving as of May 2018.
Large cracks above a quarry were first discovered in early October 2017, suggesting the potential for a landslide. Since then, mining operations have stopped and monitoring instruments were installed.
While monitoring continues, DNR said very low-probability scenarios where the landslide could mobilize quickly and reach I-82, impacting homes south of the quarry or potentially reaching the Yakima River.
DNR acknowledged no one knows for certain what could happen with the landslide, but plans are in place in the unlikely scenario the slide threatens humans or homes.
