Precision Excavation for Earthquake Research in Olympic National Forest

In the summer of 2025, the U.S. Geological Survey hired our team to excavate research trenches at designated fault line locations within Olympic National Forest. The goal was to expose subsurface soil and geological layers so USGS scientists could study evidence of past seismic activity along the mapped fault lines. With trenches reaching depths of 8 to 10 feet, excavation safety and proper benching were top priorities throughout the project. Since the exposed soil profiles themselves were the actual point of the work, the excavation required careful precision rather than speed, all while keeping the site safely accessible for USGS personnel on site.

The project was carried out in two phases. The first phase involved two days of excavation to open both trenches for the research team. About a month later, once USGS finished its field investigation, our crew returned for two more days to backfill the trenches and restore the surrounding area. Close coordination with the USGS team was essential throughout, since our schedule had to align with their ongoing research timeline. The project was completed successfully, giving scientists the access they needed to study the exposed fault line layers, followed by a thorough restoration of the site. While no formal client review was collected for this project, the work reflects a strong standard of safe excavation practices, careful attention to a sensitive research environment, and effective coordination with the USGS team from start to finish.