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Introduction

Introduction

Ice Age Floods Study of Alternatives Interpretation

section j INTERPRETATION

Introduction

he Organic Act of 1916, which created the , charged the TNPS with not only the task of preserving and protecting the parks’ resources, but also to “provide for the enjoyment of the same.” The “enjoyment” mandate has come to mean interpreting the meaning and value of the parks’ resources to the public. In most cases, interpretation can be provided on-site unless the area is too small or the resources too fragile. The larger the park or area and the larger the number of resources contained in that area, the more complex the interpretation becomes.

The challenge within the Ice Age Floods 2. Developing physical and visual access Study Region is to creatively address to specific Floods resources. three major issues: 3. Developing an interpretive 1. Identifying Ice Age Floods resources, framework and program for the which are scattered across a four-state natural and cultural history of the area. These specifically include Floods region. resources related to Glacial Lake

Columbia Basin Herald Missoula and to the flooding events associated with ice dam failure.

M. Sear/ Tours arranged by the Ice Age Floods Institute bring the visitors face-to-face with the evidence of the Ice Age Floods. At Wilson Creek, the visitor can appreciate Bretz’s analysis and understand the Floods’ impact on the land.

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Area impacted by Glacial and the Floods

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1. Basic Concept

he basic concept developed by the Study Team for interpreting the Floods story is Tthat the study area, which covers a four-state area, be defined as an Ice Ages Floods Geologic Region. Within the Floods Region would be Floods Pathways that follow existing highways. These Floods Pathways would provide visual and physical access to significant Floods features and help link the features as part of a coordinated project.

There are a number of different media alternatives. The majority of approaches that can help a visitor existing Floods features are best understand and appreciate the many and experienced in person, either by walking varied aspects of the Ice Age Floods or driving to features, or by flying story. Because of the scale of the Floods overhead. Interpretation at specific region, a narrative approach may be the locations and regionwide could: most effective way to develop an • Explain the story of the Floods understanding of the larger story. This resources both at specific sites and at narrative could be in written format or regional and other interpretive be integrated with a number of multi- centers M. Sear/Columbia Basin Herald • Place a site into the context of the larger Floods story • Explain the geologic background of a site prior to the Floods • Interpret the cultural history of an area as influenced by the Floods, Tour groups mix with school groups tying in the dynamic historic story at Interpretive Center to with the geology of each area. see remarkable remnants of the Ice Age Floods.

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Floods2. Development of a Floods Tour Route Approach The Ice Age Floods Created Falls he original planning concept was to develop Floods Tour Routes and to direct Tvisitors to selected Floods features near major Interstates and U.S. Highways. Before the great floods, the These routes would be defined as being “primary” or “secondary” based upon the type flowed down Washtucna Coulee to join of road and the number of significant Floods features nearby. After discussions with geologists and other Floods experts, it was agreed that this approach was overly the in the Pasco Basin. simplistic and would not work as originally intended. With the number and variety of The huge torrents of the Floods filled Floods resources, it was felt that visitors would gain greater appreciation and understanding if a number of Floods Tour Routes were identified and marked, and overflowed Washtucna Coulee and allowing a greater variety of sites to visit. If time is limited, visitors could choose swept across the divide down into the conveniently located sites along their way. If they have several days, visitors could see a greater number of sites. adjacent Valley. This enormous overflow carved back the This modified planning concept defined as Pathways providing access to focused on identifying Floods Pathways significant Floods features. In many divide in one place enough to capture that would follow U.S. Highways as ways, this approach is more in keeping the Palouse River, diverting it south to well as state highways and local roads, with the paths taken by the original but would stay off interstate highways floods. the Snake. The lower 10 miles of the as much as possible. In some instances, Palouse now flow through a deep non-motorized trails and water trails It should be noted that the original could link to certain Floods features. concept was described as an interpretive spillway. Its last descent is over a 200- There would be no “hierarchy” of motor tour, but was rapidly expanded to foot cliff: . routes based upon importance to the include auto, train, tour boat, airplane, Floods story; all would simply be bicycle and even hot air balloon tours. Facts

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Floods3. The Process of Determining the Most Effective Tour Route Hydraulic Dam etermining which existing roads and highways would be designated as What is a hydraulic dam? It is the D“Pathways” was based upon two criteria: (1) path of the original flood waters, and (2) the location of significant Floods features, including Glacial Lake Missoula. restriction of the rate of water flow caused by a narrowed reach in a river The Floods resulted from the release of Willamette Valley. The Floods continued water impounded in western by down the lower Columbia to the ocean, valley. During a valley-filling flood, the ice dams near the mouth of the Clark which was 40 miles west of present-day narrows restrict flow, thus causing water Fork River. Glacial Lake Missoula Astoria, . It was important that extended far upstream from Missoula in Floods Pathways allow a visitor to follow upstream to pond partly and temporarily. several valleys. The lakeshore came the path of the floodwater from Missoula The most spectacular example of a within about 15 miles of the contental to the mouth of the Columbia at the divide. The volume of water from the Pacific Ocean. hydraulic dam during the Ice Age Floods Floods was so great that it followed was , which restricted nearly several different channels across the The inventory of the Ice Age Floods Panhandle. When the floodwater resources was used to help determine 200 cubic miles of water in a huge, reached the relatively flat Columbia Basin pathways of the Floods. To date, more temporary pond in Pasco basin. On the of eastern , it spread out than 350 Floods resources have been across three major drainage areas on its inventoried, and additional inventories are lower Columbia, a narrows near Kalama way to the Columbia River, Wallula Gap still being conducted. The four Study Zone also briefly ponded floodwater. This and the Columbia Gorge. At the Gorge, Working Groups, after identifying the the water was confined to the steep river resource sites, were asked to rank their narrows thus helped to back up valley. Farther down the Columbia River, Floods resource sites whenever possible, floodwater upstream, flooding not only a hydraulic dam was formed at the and those sites were located on a map of narrows at Kalama, Washington, and the the study area. The intent of the Pathways the Portland–Vancouver basin but also backwaters flooded south into the was to provide access to these sites. the Willamette Valley to beyond Eugene.

Facts

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Floods Pathways, Loops, Spurs, and Gateway Communities

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Floods4. Recommended Routes of the Pathways Well-Traveled Meteorite Pathways An earlier discussion of the development of a tour route approach examined the The Willamette meteorite is the largest desirability of using the term “Pathways” over “Primary” and “Secondary” Floods ever found in the , weighing routes. The use of the generic term “Pathways” does not denote a hierarchy of routes, but is intended to indicate to visitors the various alternatives they can take to see 31,107 pounds. It was found in 1902 two Floods resources. These various alternatives include CONNECTING Pathways, LOOP miles northwest of West Linn, Oregon, at Pathways and SPUR pathways. Wherever appropriate, Floods Pathways should utilize existing designated state and National Scenic Byways. Public agencies should an elevation of 380 feet above sea level. coordinate with state transportation departments on these opportunities. These Apparently, an iceberg carried the recommended routes are intended to be conceptual in nature to illustrate the basic approach. More detailed management planning will be needed to determine specifically meteorite along with granite erratics the location of routes and interpretive facilities once the area is formally designated. from either the or Gateway Communities to the perimeter of the Floods region, (5) the Purcell lobe in British Columbia to Related to the Pathways are “Gateway connectivity to existing roads, and (6) the Willamette Valley. The meteorite Communities,” which would be the ability to provide visitor services. entry points into the Ice Age Floods must have been moved with the glacial region and the network of Flood The Study Team identified the following iceflow to near Lake Pend Oreille and Pathways. These Gateway Communities Gateway Communities within or adjacent to the Floods region are important, to the Ice Age Floods Region and the then carried downstream with one of the because at these points visitors would major connecting highway or highways: great Ice Age Floods. find out about the interpretive and educational opportunities of the Ice Age • Missoula, Montana—I-90, U.S. Highway 93 and State Route 200 FactsFloods region and select portions of the region that might be of interest. Criteria • Polson, Montana—U.S. Highway 93 used to identify Gateway Communities and State Highways 28 and 35 should include: (1) proximity to Floods features, (2) significant representative • Sandpoint, Idaho—U.S. Highway 95 features, (3) accessibility, (4) proximity and State Route 200

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• Lewiston, Idaho—U.S. Highways 95 and 12 • Spokane, Washington—I-90 and U.S. Highways 2 and 395 • Wenatchee, Washington—U.S. Highway 2 • Ellensburg, Washington—I-90 • Yakima, Washington—I-82, U.S. Highway 12 and State Routes 22 and 24 • Longview/Kelso, Washington—I-5 and State Route 4 • Pendleton, Oregon—I-84 and U.S. Highway 395 • Eugene, Oregon—I-5 and State Route 58 • Astoria, Oregon—U.S. Highways 101 and 30 • Ilwaco, Washington—State Route 100 (near U.S. Highway 101).

Pathway Routes (Connecting and Loop/Spur Pathways) The routes of the Pathways range from simple to highly complex, especially in Tour route in the Glacial Lake Missoula Study Zone the of .

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The Flathead Lake Loop proceeds from Ravalli on U.S. Highway 93 to Polson and east and north on State Route 35 to State Route 82 near Big Fork. The loop continues west to Somers and south on U.S. Highway 93 to Polson. The Camas Prairie Loop continues south on State Route 28 at Elmo, past Camas and Hot Sprints to Plains, east on State Route 200 to Perma and north on Route 382. The St. Regis Loop begins at Missoula and progresses west on I-90 to St. Regis, north on State Route 135 to State Route 200 and east to Ravalli and south to I-90 and Missoula. The Camas Prairie Loop passes south of Camas. The giant ripples on Camas Prairie were formed by the fast-moving bottom waters of Glacial Lake Missoula during its draining. Tour route in the Idaho Panhandle and Central Washington Study Zone Along these spurs, features evidencing Montana Glacial Lake Missoula are well-exposed, In Montana the Pathways follow I-90 shorelines on the mountains bordering including wave-cut shorelines at west from Goldcreek to Missoula on the Missoula. Missoula and giant ripples at Camas Goldcreek Spur. The Bitterroot spur runs Prairie formed by fast-moving bottom north from Hamilton via U.S. Highway The Floods Pathways route begins in waters of the lake during its draining. 93 to Missoula. The Potomac Valley Spur Missoula and proceeds west on I-90 to Idaho leads from Missoula to Milltown and State Route 93/200 and north to Ravalli, north on State Route 200 and north on west on State Route 200 to Route 382 As the ice dam repeatedly failed, flood State Route 83 to Salmon Lake. Along and north Camas Prairie and south on waters from numerous Glacial Lake these spurs are Floods features that are State Route 28 to Plains and west on Missoulas crashed into the landscape of well-exposed, including wave-cut State Route 200 to the Idaho state line. northern Idaho. The Pathways continue

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Newport passes Mt. Spokane State Park, which offers superb views back into Idaho and the Spokane Valley. Near Spokane, the waters split, with one arm following the Spokane River to its junction with the Columbia River. The other spills over into the Cheney-Palouse drainage. The Cheney-Palouse can be seen from U.S. Highway 95, which parallels Hangman Creek. The Turnbull , near Cheney, contains significant Floods features. The Cheney-Palouse Scablands Loop follows U.S. Highway 195, roads to Rosalia and Malden, and State Highway 23 at St. John, then northwest I-90 at Sprague. Here visitors return to Spokane via I-90 or continue northwest to Tour route in the Mid Columbia Study Zone Harrington on State Route 23 and then along State Route 200, which is under Loop on State Routes 54 and 53 takes north to Davenport. U.S. Highway 2, study as a Scenic Byway by Idaho DOT, visitors to Post Falls, where the flood which goes through Davenport from to the northern edge of Lake Pend waters may have reached speeds of 50 to Spokane, defines the Medical Lake Loop. Oreille and Sandpoint. Here the waters 60 miles per hour. I-90 from Coeur Trail State Park also flooded west toward Priest River on U.S. d’Alene to the Washington State border provides opportunities for the public to Highway 2, southwest along the Purcell provides views of landscapes impacted review Floods features. The Telford Trench on U.S. Highway 95, and mostly by the Floods. Loop, off U.S. Highway 2, follows State south through Lake Pend Oreille and Route 28 to Odessa and then north on Washington over Farragut State Park. At Rathdrum State Route 21 to Wilbur. This Loop and Prairie, east of Spirit Lake, the Floods Floodwaters rushing into Washington the Channeled Scablands Loop goes created giant ripple marks and left gravel flowed down the Spokane River Valley through the heart of the Channeled bars and sediments as a record of the along the current route of I-90. The Mt. Scablands, which is dotted with many Floods passage. The Rathdrum Prairie Spokane Loop from Priest River and lakes and scour channels. The

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Channeled Scablands Loop includes the area generally south of Odessa and contains a maze of flood-related coulees such as Lind, Washtucna and Weber Coulees. State Routes 260, 26 and 21 provide access to much of this area. Each road in the area leads the visitor to another Floods channel or scour area.

To the north of U.S. Highway 2 at Davenport, the Hawk Creek Loop takes visitors to the Columbia River and the mouth of the Spokane River and then back to U.S. Highway 21 east of Creston. Here the Pathways continue along U.S. Highway 2 to Wilbur and State Route 174, which leads to , Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia River. The roaring floodwaters enlarged Grand Coulee as they headed southwest to Dry Falls, poured over the eastern coulee wall, and created a maze of channels, buttes and dry cataracts. State Highway 155, built on the floor of the Grand Coulee, is a spectacular drive leading to Coulee City and nearby Dry Falls.

Dry Falls, located on State Route 17, is Tour route in the Gorge, Lower Columbia, and the Willamette Study Zone part of the Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park. It is a premier site because of

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existing facilities and the fact that it is ice sheet. It contains some gigantic viewing this area, visitors could proceed the scene of a major cataract. The section erratics adjacent to the highway. U.S. north to and I-90, or go of State Route 17 from Dry Falls to Soap Highway 2 continues along the south on State Route 17. Lake follows the course of the lower Columbia River above Wenatchee where Grand Coulee. Closely related to Dry U.S. Highway 97 follows along the east Continuing south on State Route 17 to Falls is the area included in the Upper bank of the Columbia to East Wenatchee State Route 260, visitors encounter two Loop. Immediately west of and into the Loop. Moses Loop Pathways, the Walla Walla Basin the Telford Loop, the Upper Crab Creek Coulee was carved by the Floods. and Palouse Falls Loop. The two can be Loop includes Wilson Creek, which is Continuing east on State Route 28 brings combined into one rather large loop that located on State Route 28 from Soap the visitor to Quincy Basin, a remnant of leads to Lewiston, Idaho, and back along Lake to Odessa. Wilson Creek was one of , and to the Quincy Basin U.S. Highway 12 past Walla Walla. Just the areas originally studied by Bretz. Loop. For visitors wishing to proceed off U.S. Highway 12 on State Route 261 is Other significant Floods resources are west, State Route 283 intersects with I-90 , a dramatic Ice located within the Upper Crab Creek at George and proceeds past Frenchman Age Floods creation. All the roads into Loop. To the west of State Route 17 is a Coulee to the Columbia River, Vantage, the general areas lead to the Tri-Cities, complex of three Loop Pathways: and Ellensburg. Visitors could continue which lie near the confluence of the Waterville Plateau, Wenatchee, and on State Route 243 to the Drumheller Snake, Columbia, and Yakima Rivers. The Moses Coulee Loops. The Waterville Channels Loop. Along the Lower Crab Yakima Valley Loop goes from Ellensburg Plateau Loop on U.S. Highway 2 west of Creek in the Columbia National Wildlife on I-82 and leads past Yakima where Coulee City includes the area that would Refuge lies a marvelous collection of State Route 24 leads to the western edge have been the southern terminus of the butte and basin Floods remnants. After of the Lower Crab Creek Loop. The Tri-

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Cities Loop follows U.S. Highway 730 to 14 provides visitors outstanding views of Oregon Wallula Gap, a narrow constriction of the the river and the effects of the Floods. Just to the west of Crown Point is the Columbia River that caused the waters to Visitors could cross onto I-84 and the Portland-Vancouver Basin. A hydraulic temporarily back up and create Lake Historic Columbia River Highway to dam at Kalama Gap forced flood waters Lewis. In basins created by Lake Lewis Crown Point. Crown Point is 700 feet to back up into the Willamette Valley are excellent examples of rhythmites and above the river level and was topped by and swirl around the landscape near other depositions, as well as erosional floodwaters during the Ice Age Floods. Portland. Interstates I-84, I-205, and I-5, features related to the Floods. State Highway 14 and I-84 form the U.S. Highways 26 and 30, and State Gorge Loop, which runs from The Dalles Route 99-W and 99-E all lead to Floods Washington and Oregon to Portland. North of Portland on I-5, the resources in the Portland area. The Beyond Wallula Gap, Floods waters Pathways continue to the Kelso/ Hillsboro Loop leaves Portland on U.S. inundated the Umatilla and Dalles Longview area. The Castle Rock Spur Highway 26 to State Route 47 and south Basins, creating . Along this connects Castle Rock and the Kelso/ to State Route 99-W. Following State part of the Columbia River, two Longview area. The Pathway turns west Routes 213 and 214 will lead visitors to highways parallel the river—I-84 on the on Washington State Route 4 on the the Mt. Angel Loop. The Big Bend Loop south bank and Washington’s State Route north bank of the Columbia to Megler leads visitors southwest of Portland on 14 on the north bank. Together, these near the meeting of the Columbia River 99-W to State Route 22 west of Salem. two routes form the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Highway 30 South of Portland, I-5 and State Routes Loop. The Pendleton Spur of I-84 leads leads from Portland to Astoria along the 99-W, 99-E. 18, 22, 34, 228, and 126 to the Columbia River at Umatilla. south bank of the Columbia River, lead to Flood resources in the Willamette Between here and The Dalles, State Route forming the Lower Columbia Loop. Valley as far south as Eugene. The Willamette Valley spur runs from Salem to Eugene.

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5. Interpretive/Educational Potential of Recommended Route

nder the mandate of PL 105-391, the “interpretive and educational potential” Ushould be considered when examining an area. There are a few existing interpretive signs and facilities along the Floods Pathways that are oriented to a specific location but they do not provide a coordinated interpretive approach of the Floods. Tying existing interpretive sites into a more cohesive system will help visitors understand the links among individual Floods features.

Interpretive/Educational Materials • Interpretive centers for orientation There is no single “best” interpretive and interpretation, which would be tool; some approaches and tools work developed at critical locations across better at specific locations than others. the four-state area.

Curtis Archer Interpretation is the key that ties all the • Videos of the Ice Age Floods story to States have interpretive highway signs about the Floods, but Floods resources within the Ice Age Floods be shown at visitor centers, and sold there is no standardized format for easy recognition. Region together. Many of these to the public. interpretive methods can provide • Books on the Ice Age Floods, which employment for local subject matter should be written at various levels experts and together with the sales of and in various languages. interpretive materials add to the • Pamphlets covering specific economic base of the local area. By tying geographic areas or subjects. interpretation into local museums, • Computer games that include existing visitor centers, and Chamber of aspects of the Floods story. Commerce offices, additional • Multi-media applications to stimulate information on the cultural heritage of interest in the Ice Age Floods story. specific areas can be distributed. A list of These could be sent out in advance to potential interpretive methods could individuals or groups prior to their

NPS Photo include: visit to the Floods Region. On the Waterville Plateau, house-sized boulders • Printed tour guides for visitors. • Audio car and TV tapes to describe were transported great distances by the • Wayside exhibits near specific Ice what Flood resources the visitor is glaciers. Age Floods resources. seeing.

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• Travel maps covering the Ice Age Interpretive Efforts Within the Area Chamber of Commerce Offices—MT, Floods and specific areas. The area covered by the Ice Age Floods ID, OR, and WA • On-line resources. Region has many sites, parks and areas in • Privately-owned museums—MT, ID, • Personal tours and guided trips for which interpretation emphasizing other OR, and WA visitors to the Floods Region. themes is already taking place. A • Montana Natural History Center, MT • Exhibits to be shipped to local sampling of these areas includes: • Mirabeau Point, WA museums and visitor centers in or • Lewis and Clark National Historic • Maryhill Museum, WA near the region. Trail—MT, ID and WA • North Central Washington Museum, • Special study group programs, such • Oregon National Historic Trail—OR WA as Elderhostel or summer schools for and WA • Columbia River Exhibition of all generations. • Lake Roosevelt National Recreation History, Science and Technology • School programs in the region to Area, WA (CREHST), WA promote involvement in preserving • U.S. Forest Service Interpretive Floods resources. Centers, National Forests in MT, ID, These facilities and routes provide an • Interpretive centers at hydroelectric OR, and WA opportunity to interpret the Ice Age dams. • National Floods within existing programs or for Scenic Area, USFS—OR and WA expansion to include the Floods story. • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuges—WA and OR Interpretive overlays from various • Tribal Cultural Centers—MT, ID, OR sources enrich visitors’ experiences and and WA can provide unexpected pleasures. The • Historic Columbia River Highway various organizations involved with the Scenic Byway—OR Floods story offer a rich tapestry of • Heritage Corridors Program—WA natural and cultural interpretation that • State Parks—MT, ID, OR, and WA can only be strengthened by cooperation. • Scenic Byways Program—ID, OR, and WA • County Museums and Historical Societies—MT, ID, OR, and WA • Visitor Information Centers and

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Floods6. Interpretive Media Prescription/Alternatives Landslides in the Gorge—Not A Result of the Ice Age Floods here are several types of interpretive methods that could be used to tell the story of Tthe Ice Age Floods and the cultural history of the Ice Age Floods region. The Ice Age Flood ran down the generally a. On-Site Interpretation—For many exactly where various interpretive “U”-shaped, steep-walled Columbia Floods resources, the most effective facilities or overlooks should be Gorge without greatly changing it. way to provide interpretation is to located. For example, one question do so on site. If, for example, would be “Is it better to interpret Landslides occasionally descended into interpretive material is addressing the Floods related glacial lakes from the gorge both before and after the great gravel bars, the interpretive site the floor of the valley, or should the should be located near the feature. interpretive site be located on the floods. The largest is the Bonneville If a visitor can actually touch a the lake’s shoreline 800 feet above Landslide about 500 years ago. Nearly 14 Floods resource without damaging the valley floor?” it, the better the potential square miles of material slid into the interpretive impact will be. Because b. Orientation and Interpretation— Columbia River creating a temporary dam of the large scale of Floods There are two components of the resources such as ripple marks and proposed interpretive program for and lake that rose to an elevation of 277 gravel bars, a view from farther the Ice Age Floods Region: (1) feet. This event has been remembered in away can enable the visitor to Orientation, and (2) Interpretation. appreciate the feature better: In When visitors first arrive in the Ice local Native American legends as the certain situations, if visitors stood Age Floods region, they will want origin of the “Bridge of the Gods.” Lewis on top of a ripple mark, they might to know what educational not be able to recognize the feature. opportunities are available, and and Clark identified this strange Future planning will address where various interpretive sites are topography as a landslide and stated that it caused the dangerous rapids they called the “Cascades of the Columbia.”

Facts

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located. This process is typically they are entirely different things.” The development of interpretative referred to as “Orientation.” Interpretation would occur through waysides along Floods Pathways Orientation can be provided to printed tour guides, wayside could be tied into each of the four potential visitors in a number of exhibits, museum exhibits, states’ Departments of ways. One approach would be to pamphlets, maps emphasizing Transportation (DOT). The various use audio-visual techniques that specific aspects of the Floods, state DOT’s could administer the can be sent to interested personal tours, and guided trips that Highway Heritage Marking and individuals, or made available in focus on the Floods. All of the Scenic Byway programs as part of the Gateway Communities that lead information can, according to Tilden, partnership programs. into the Floods region. Orientation lead to a “revelation” for the visitor. can also continue throughout the Making interpretive materials region by using road signs, tour Floods features around Flathead available for visitors to take home guides, pamphlets, interpretive Lake (Montana) are already being with them when their trip is signage, and tour maps to help interpreted through a series of boat completed can reinforce direct visitors. Websites can be used tours. The boat captain of a local interpretation. Books, audio and to reach a broad audience. tour company has included Floods video tapes, computer games, and features as part of a tour around the inexpensive items such as postcards The second component of the lake. In many ways, this is one of can all provide reinforcement of the proposed interpretive program is the the better methods to see Floods visitor’s experience. actual interpretation process. features because the leisurely speed Freeman Tilden, in his Interpreting of the boat allows enough time for a c. Education—To many people, the Our Heritage, stressed the point that quality interpretive experience. term “education” is similar in “Information, as such, is not Chartered planes can provide the concept to interpretation. In this Interpretation. Interpretation is best views for areas such as the study, however, “education” refers revelation based on information. But Channeled Scablands. to educating the public about the

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Ice Age Floods region and Pathways One specific area that has great region, additional interpretive and in an effort to engender a sense of promise for the Institute is working tourism-oriented opportunities protection and “possessory” with local school districts to become economically viable. The interest. One way this could be incorporate the story of the Floods Channeled Scablands can best be accomplished is through public in earth science curricula. College seen and comprehended from the presentations in the cities and and post-graduate studies and air; this characteristic could lead to towns included in and surrounded research would also be encouraged. an increase in scenic flights in small by the Ice Age Floods region. Using planes or hot-air balloons. At the the concept of cooperative d. Tourism and Economic Benefits— present time, there are no management and responsibility, it is The educational and recreational interpretive boat trips through important that residents understand benefits of developing the Floods Wallula Gap, but the potential for and support the goals and region and Pathways have been developing such a service would be objectives of the Floods region. explained, but there is also a enhanced with the proposed Floods Partnerships at the state and local component of interpretation that is region. As seen in places such as levels would have to be built and related to economics. Providing Scotland and Ireland, the profusion maintained through the education quality interpretive recreational of bed and breakfast process. This process would be travel opportunities for visitors to accommodations would be expected ongoing as new residents move into the region has a direct relationship to increase in direct proportion to the area and as new leaders develop to the length of visitors’ stays and to an increase in visitation. There are and mature. the lodging, food service, and other adequate accommodations within facilities they require. Additionally, the Floods region at the present The Ice Age Floods Institute can the production of interpretive time. An increase in the number of play a significant role in education materials is a potential source of visitors would provide expanding and by providing additional revenue for local entrepreneurs. opportunities for the hospitality opportunities in outreach programs With increased visitation to the industry. and grant writing.

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7. Coordinated Interpretive Program

t the present time, there is no coordinated interpretive program for the Floods at Athe federal, state, and local levels. Among the responsibilities of a project or public agency support staff would be coordinating interpretation throughout the Ice Age Floods region. The goals would be to: 1) develop standards for directing visitors to the various Floods resource sites; 2) identify similar interpretive approaches at these sites; 3) recommend improvements to existing interpretive efforts; and 4) work with local museums and visitor centers to encourage participation in the region’s interpretive efforts. Within the past year the Port of Walla Walla has started preliminary planning, with help from the Ice Age Floods Institute, for a large wayside exhibit near Wallula Gap. Avista, a northwest power company, has shown interest in expanding and improving the interpretation at its hydro sites. More than 60 scientists and educators gathered in the Channeled Scablands to study Floods resources in the area. In addition, the Idaho Department of Transportation is studying State Highway 200 for “scenic byway” status.

In Washington State the Washington State Department of Transportation, in partnership with other state and federal agencies, including the Washington State Arts Commission, the Department of Community, Trade and Economic

Columbia Basin Herald Development, the Interagency Committee on Outdoor Recreation, the Department

M. Sear/ of Natural Resources, the State Parks and Ice Age Floods resources are evident all along the pathways of the floods and allow the visitor to Recreation Commission, the Washington obtain a vivid understanding of the power of the floods.

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Commission for the Humanities, Bureau and complexity of the Floods region. For region could be implemented a number of Land Management, and the NPS, are visitors to fully understand the story of of ways: 1) incorporating a Floods logo supporting an effort to promote cultural the Floods and the impact the Floods and/or title on existing or future signs, tourism along approximately 100 miles had upon the land, they need to 2) developing a small sign that could be between Othello and Grand Coulee Dam, experience individual Floods features. In attached to existing or future signs, or along State Routes 17 and 155 in central addition, they need to understand how 3) developing new standard signs that Washington. all of these features were formed and could be used along highways to identify how each is a piece of a much larger Pathways as well as specific Floods Such efforts point to the recognized need puzzle. features. In all instances, signing would for coordination to help standardize the be coordinated with state transportation production of interpretive material and Across the region there are few interpretive departments. to provide technical assistance. signs that refer to the Floods. Most of those that exist are very informative and Each sign should include a name, such Signage tell a part of the Floods story. as “Ice Age Floods Geologic Trail,” and a Perhaps the most basic way to help logo that needs to be developed. This visitors appreciate the Floods story is When visitors are traveling through the logo could visually include concepts through a coordinated system of signage Floods region, they need to be able to relating to the Ice Age, formation of the that can both convey information and follow easily a particular Floods Pathway ice dam and the resulting Glacial Lake help with orientation. Such a signage and to identify and locate individual Missoula, the power and force of the system is essential because of the size Floods features. Signage for the Floods Floods once the water was released, the

NPS Photo NPS Photo NPS Photo Intertwining canyon networks were cut by the Giant ripple marks at Camas Prairie, Montana The great floods left a lasting mark on the Ice Age Floods. landscape.

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extent of the Floods region, or the be greeted with signage and interpretive impact the Floods have had on the land. literature that says “Entering the Ice Age Floods Geologic Region” or something For the Floods Pathways, which follow to the effect that “You are about to enter existing highways, each sign should also an unusual geologic landscape similar to include the name of the loop, or spur. that on the Planet Mars.” These signs could be color coded for ease in following a specific loop. Each community and organization would

still have the opportunity to develop its NPS Photo Signage can also be used to help visitors own signage. The more these types of Flood waters unable to flow through the get a better understanding of what they signs relate to the Floods region, the Wallula Gap backed up to a height that are seeing. For example, visitors easier it will be for visitors to understand overflowed the bluffs to the right. entering the Channeled Scablands could the larger story of the Floods.

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8. Development and Enhancement of Interpretive Facilities

ne of the tasks of the Floods Study Team was to determine if any new facilities Owould be needed to help interpret the Floods story, or if any facilities needed renovating or expanding. In the planning discussions with the Study Team, five major interpretive center locations were identified. Three of these would be new facilities while two would require the renovation of existing facilities.

Major Interpretive Sites • /Cabinet Gorge, • Missoula, Montana—(to be Idaho—(to be developed). The area developed). Beginning in western around Cabinet Gorge and the Montana, the source of the Floods mouth of the Clark Fork River is a NPS Photo waters, there is a need to construct key geologic and interpretive area Crown Point, located at the western portal of the Columbia an interpretive facility to provide because it is the location of the ice River Gorge National Scenic Area, was topped by Flood water orientation to the Ice Age Floods dam that created Glacial Lake some 700 feet deep. region and to interpret Glacial Lake Missoula. Future planning should Missoula. The principal features of focus on the location of a major this site are the wave-cut shorelines interpretive and orientation facility marking lake levels of Glacial Lake and supporting services. This would Missoula far above today’s valley tie into current planning being done floor. Such an interpretive center to designate Idaho State Route 200 as could stand alone or be constructed a scenic byway. in cooperation with an existing site. The local, state and federal • Sun Lakes-Dry Falls Interpretive government officials in the area are Center, Washington—(expand existing interested in developing partnerships site). The J Harlen Bretz Visitor with interested agencies and the Center at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls

NPS Photo private sector to develop an Ice Age Interpretive Center has 63,059 Grand Coulee, upper center, channeled the flood waters to Floods Visitor Center. visitors a year (1999 figures). The Dry Falls, 20 miles south. Today, the Columbia Basin Irrigation District pumps water into Grand Coulee to support a vast irrigation system.

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limited program uses a relatively just to the north of the Gap on U.S. small facility that is often overloaded Highway 12 that will include the during the height of the visitor Floods story. The next step is to season. Sun Lakes-Dry Falls secure funding for construction and Interpretive Center is a premier operation of the visitor facility. If this Floods interpretive site and is near area is not suitable for future the core of the Floods resources in expansion, the local community and the central Washington area. future planners could determine Working with the Washington State where an interpretive facility could Parks and Recreation Commission, be located to provide orientation and local communities, and the National interpretation. In any case, some Park Service, future planners could interpretive facility covering the determine the most appropriate Floods should be located at the Gap manner of expanding the facility and to tie the interpretation directly to services. The Washington State the resource. Department of Transportation is currently working with local citizens • Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and to develop a Corridor Management Wasco County Historical Museum, The

Columbia Basin Herald Plan for State Highway 17, which Dalles, Oregon—(expand exhibits at

passes by Dry Falls. Among other existing site). The Discovery Center M. Sear/ items, the Corridor Management currently interprets the Ice Age Orientation is the essential first element of Plan will cover opportunities for Floods and their impact on the interpretation. Here Richard Waitt diagrams the increasing the number of wayside Gorge. The area around The Dalles course of the Floods at Dry Falls. exhibits and other interpretation. has a number of significant Floods resources that are easy to see and • Wallula Gap, Washington—(to be visit. With the anticipated increase in One grasps Bretz’s evidence developed). Wallula Gap is a the number of Floods-related visits, significant and highly visible Floods more exhibit space will be needed for most firmly by viewing it in resource. The Port of Walla Walla is greater in-depth interpretation and the field. . . . planning an interpretive wayside area orientation. Richard Waitt, USGS

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Ice Age Floods major interpretive sites, Floods Pathways, Loops, Spurs, and other significant interpretive sites.

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Floods9. Other Significant Interpretive Sites Snake River Flowed Backwards n addition to the five Major Interpretive Sites, the Study Team identified other The Ice Age Flood waters surged across Iexamples of sites where the Floods story could be told. Other existing interpretive the Channeled Scablands, across the facilities such as local visitor information centers, museums, and cultural centers will also be impacted by the increased visitation to the region and could be identified as Palouse, and into the Snake River with sources of Floods information. Partnerships with these local interpretive facilities such a discharge the river was should be developed to enhance the present level of interpretation and to assist the facilities in developing additional interpretive materials. Emphasis should be on the backflooded 80 miles east to beyond utilization of existing facilities where possible. present Lewiston, Idaho. On the banks of Some of the significant areas for center, and there is a wayside exhibit the Snake River south of Lewiston, a interpreting the Floods story include: near the lake. With an increased gravel bar laid down by the single Ice Age interest in the Floods, the park may • Mission Valley/Flathead Lake, find the demand for additional is overlaid with flood Montana—(to be developed). The interpretation will overwhelm current sands from several Ice Age Missoula Mission Valley contains several facilities. Avista, a regional power Floods features, including Markle company, is planning to upgrade the Floods. Pass, Camas Prairie and strandlines interpretation at all of its Factsfrom Glacial Lake Missoula. Flathead hydroelectric facilities, including Lake is possibly a remnant of Glacial Cabinet Gorge at the mouth of the Lake Missoula and one of the last Clark Fork River. The Study Team is remaining glacial lakes in the lower assisting planners at Avista with their 48 states. These are great places to interpretive efforts. view Floods resources. • Spokane Area, Washington—(to be • Farragut State Park, Idaho—(expand developed). The Spokane area is an existing site). Farragut State Park on ideal site for locating an orientation the south end of Lake Pend Oreille is and interpretive facility in

NPS Photo where the flood waters burst out conjunction with I-90 and other U.S. A huge haystack rock, transported by a glacier, from the broken ice dam. A small highway routes entering the area. At 10 miles west of Sims Corner, Washington display is planned for the visitor the present time, there is no such

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facility in the vicinity of Spokane. Sixteen miles south of Washtucna, I-5 corridor is heavily traveled and There has been no discussion with the Palouse River drops 198 feet into there is a need for an orientation/ the local or state officials regarding a gorge six miles north of the Snake interpretive facility in this area. By the location of a visitor center, but River. The Palouse River that flowed working with the local communities, with the increased interest in and the down the Washtucna Coulee was future planners could determine the economic potential from the Ice Age diverted south by the Ice Age Floods. best location for such a facility. Floods region, the opportunity Washington State Parks and becomes more attractive. There is a Recreation Commission maintains a There are a number of other Floods interpretive sign in Riverside modest park here with Floods opportunities to locate additional State Park in Spokane. interpretation. interpretive facilities or upgrade existing facilities to accommodate the visitors to • Frenchman Coulee, Washington—(to • Crown Point State Park, Corbett, the Ice Age Floods region. The Study be developed). Frenchman Coulee is Oregon—(enhance existing site). Zone Working Groups can survey their very close to I-90 and can be reached Crown Point State Park at the west respective areas and discuss the by taking Exit 143. It was formed as entrance to the Columbia Gorge interpretive opportunities with the local flood water drained from Grand stands at 700 feet above the river and communities. For example, within the Coulee and the Quincy Basin. The is an interesting Floods landmark. It Channeled Scablands of east-central water dropped 500 feet in a series of was inundated during the time of the Washington, the communities of Grand huge waterfalls to the Columbia peak floods. An adjacent area, Coulee, Odessa, Moses Lake, and Othello River. This site is an ideal area to Portland Women’s Forum State Park are expected to have increased visitation interpret or introduce the Ice Age Scenic Viewpoint, overlooks Crown with the designation of the Ice Age Floods and is in relatively pristine Point and could be considered for Floods region. These communities condition. enhanced exhibits to handle the already provide visitor services in a increased visitation and provide an remote and rural area, and will need Also of interpretive value are outstanding interpretive experience. technical and financial assistance to resources located at Ginkgo Petrified enhance and expand current interpretive Forest State Park across the • Willamette Valley, Oregon—(to be facilities. Other communities within the Columbia River at Vantage, developed). At the present time, Ice Age Floods region could, over the Washington. there is no facility in the greater years, demonstrate needs for interpretive Portland area and Willamette Valley facilities and join in partnership • Palouse Falls State Park, to interpret the Ice Age Floods and programs with Ice Age Floods managers Washington—(expand existing site). their impact on the Valley. The to enhance the visitor experience.

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