Utah is getting a clearer picture of its earthquake risk, especially in the rural heart of the state. New mapping from the Utah Geological Survey shows that several active fault zones run through central Utah, in areas that include growing towns, major highways, and critical infrastructure.
Using high-resolution lidar technology, geologists were able to “see through” vegetation and map small fault scarps that were hard to spot before. That means the new maps are more detailed and show a more complex network of faults than older versions.
The study covers parts of six counties, including Sevier, Sanpete, Millard, and Garfield, and builds on the region’s history of powerful earthquakes, like the magnitude 6.6 quake near the Tushar Mountains in 1901.
The data is now public and includes advisory zones where developers are encouraged to get site-specific geologic studies before building, helping communities grow more safely in earthquake-prone areas.
