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The Summer 2014 Post Newsletter of the Floods Institute

Officers President’s Message Gary Ford (President) Hello Everyone. Here is your Summer 2014 IAFI Newsletter. We hope you find it interesting. [email protected] Here are some of the articles you will find in the newsletter.

Gary Kleinknecht September 13, 2014 Institute Field Trip in the Tri-Cities Area. This year’s fall IAFI (Vice-President) [email protected] field trip is sponsored by the Lake Lewis Chapter and is titled “Ice Age Floods Through the Mid-Columbia Region.” The two field trip leaders are Bruce Bjornstad and Gary Kleinknecht. Bob Robinson Additional information on the field trip as well as the registration form and field trip waiver (Secretary) [email protected] and release form are included with this newsletter.

Monte Nail Institute Activities - Our ten chapters offer a wide variety of member oriented activities. We (Treasurer) [email protected] hope you enjoy reading about their many recent interesting and enjoyable activities. Consult the IAFI website periodically to find out about upcoming events offered by our chapters. Board of Directors Gene Kiver A Message from the National Park Service - Dan Foster, the Ice Age Floods National Ken Lacy Geologic Trail Superintendent, again provides the latest information on the Trail. We Counsuelo Larrabee appreciate his timely updates to ensure that our members know about activities related to Norm Smyers the Trail. Melanie Bell Thank you to IAFI Supporters – We want to again thank all of you for continuing your Chapter Presidents memberships and for the donations you make to the Institute. We couldn’t do any of this Tony Lewis without you! (Coeur du Déluge) Rick Thompson The Ice Age Trail, Part 2 – This is a continuation of the article by Rick Thompson (Lower Columbia) from the Spring newsletter. Part 2 covers the trail from the John Day River to the Willamette Brent Cunderla Valley. (Wenatchee Erratics) Gary Ford Field Trips for Geoscience Teachers – The Wenatchee and Ellensburg Chapters hosted (Cheney-Spokane) field trips for geoscience teachers from the northwest. Helping teachers learn aboutthe Terry Hurd floods so they can help their students learn about them is one of the most productive ways for ( Gorge) us to spread the word about these remarkable geologic events. With great chapter field trip Gary Kleinknecht leaders, I’m sure it was a very productive and enjoyable session for everyone. (Lake Lewis) John Moody Volunteers Needed – All of the work that is done by our chapters is done by volunteers. (Lower Grand ) We are always looking for new volunteers to help with both small tasks and large events. If

Jim Shelden you have some time and interest we would be pleased to have your help. Please see any of ( Missoula) your chapter officers or board members to learn about local volunteer opportunities. Nick Zentner (Ellensburg) My thanks to Signe White for preparing another fine newsletter. Dale Middleton (Puget Lobe) --Gary Ford

IAFI Program Managers Membership Manager IAFI Store Newsletter Website Sylvia Thompson Patty Hurd Signe White & Gary Ford Steve Carr of Etherjazz [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 2 2 Chapter News

Cheney – Spokane Chapter many important geologic forces—Ice Age Floods from the northeast, Columbia River Basalts Tour Brochure. and the from the southeast, and Cascades Ice, ash, and Ice Age Floods, a third tour brochure was made mudflows from the west. Photos, maps, and short available to the public in March. The tour begins videos were featured. Zentner teaches geology and ends in Cheney and takes approximately four at Central University in Ellensburg, and a half hours, plus time for stops. It covers Washington. His “Geology of Washington” course approximately 160 miles. To obtain this brochure, is popular both with college students and many contact IAFICS board member, Linda Long, at local residents who attend classes for free. He is 509.235.4251 or email her at lindakl@centurytel. also the host of video programs “Central Rocks” net. and “2 Minute Geology.”

Palouse Falls Hike. Seventy hikers gathered “The Case of the Missing Cataract: The under the railroad bridge near Lyons Ferry Upper ” Field Trip and State Park Hatchery, not far from Washtucna, Lecture. On May 10, 70 floodies explored with in mid-March before the rattlesnakes begin leaders, Gene Kiver and Bruce Bjornstad, the sharing the hiking trails. Participants hiked the geologic evidence and sequence of events that Palouse for an eight mile field trip, led by resulted in the formation of one of Washington’s Lloyd Stoess and Gene Kiver. The hike included most spectacular . Cataracts of immense , geology, botany, zoology, Ice proportions hold the key to understanding the Age Floods, and early Indian history. The hike formation of the Grand Coulee. Participants followed a combination of established trails, game attended a lecture in the EWU JFK Auditorium the trails, and bush whacking. Shuttles were waiting prior evening to prepare for the field trip. Sponsors at to return enthused hikers to Lyons of these events included EWU Department of Ferry State Park, the starting point for the hike. Geology, Jackie Scholz State Farm Insurance, Doug Nixon Farmers Insurance, Sarah Nixon Farmers Zentner Lecture. On March 18, Nick Zentner Insurance, and Kevin Ottosen Allstate Insurance. gave a public lecture, Geologic Crossroads in Charlie Foster, a retired railroad worker from Central Washington, to 200 attendees. This Cheney, won the raffle for photographer Dr. Otto lecture was co-sponsored by IAFI Cheney- Stevens’ donated aerial image of winter Palouse Spokane Chapter and the Department of Science Falls uniquely printed on aluminum. The raffle at Spokane Community College. Zentner offered brought in $449 in revenue to the chapter. that Central Washington is a crossroads for

Crown Point Vista at Grand Coulee Dam. (Photo by Michael Long)

Barker Canyon. (Photo by Michael Long) Chapter News Continued 3

Northup Canyon. (Photo by Michael Long)

Gene Kiver and Bruce Bjornstad lecturing (Photo by Gary Ford)

Last Minute Raffle Sales (Photo by Gary Ford) Charlie Foster, Raffle Winner (Photo by Linda Long)

Festival. The third annual “Floods, Flowers other speakers who shared the status of trails with and Feathers Festival” was held at Turnbull which they are affiliated. Board member, Dan National Wildlife Refuge on May 31. More than Lewis, shared the floods map that he prepared 500 attended and took a walk on the wild side for the kiosk located in southwest Cheney. IAFI and discovered birds, wildflowers, insects, other brochures flew off the table as individuals sought wildlife, and caught a glimpse of remnants of the more information on the Ice Age Floods. An Ice Age Floods that created the diverse Scablands attendee from Texas was so taken by the Ice Age habitat. Nature hikes, geology tours, Ice Age Floods story that he did an episode on the Floods Floods talks, kids’ activities, and informational for Houston Public Radio. booths made for a wonderful spring day outdoors in this remarkable environment. Cheney Jubilee. On July 12-13, the Chapter provided a booth at this fourth annual community Inland Northwest Trails Coalition. Melanie event and discussed the Ice Age Floods story with Bell spoke on the status of the Ice Age Floods more than 183 folks that stopped by the display. National Geologic Trail to 94+ outdoor enthusiasts Board members and volunteers handed out at the yearly meeting in Spokane at Mountain brochures, sold maps and field guides, and gave Gear Headquarters on June 12. She joined 12 the children mammoth stickers and tattoos. Chapter News Continued 4

EWU Retirees. Gene Kiver spoke to the EWU Southeast Asia. This interest Retirees at the Riverpoint Campus in Spokane on led to a Ph.D from Indiana March 20. Board members, Dan Lewis and Jim University in Comparative Fox, attended and handed out brochures Political Systems-Southeast Asia. David’s passion Ice Age Floods Kiosk Installed in Cheney. for comparative politics A kiosk, contributed to the Chapter by the City sparked the imagination of of Cheney, is now available in downtown Cheney his students during his 35 at the intersection of West 1st and Cheney-Plaza years of teaching at Eastern Road. The work was accomplished by IAFI-CS Washington University. board members Dan Lewis and Dave Daugharty. Through Fulbright grants, It features a panel on side one of the self guided exchange programs, sabbaticals, and other travel tour brochure written by Gene Kiver and Charles opportunities, he conducted research, taught Dotson and produced by the chapter, and the classes, consulted, and led student and teacher locations of some important Ice Age Floods groups to Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, South features on side two. Korea, Japan, and 27 times to Thailand, a country he cherished. After David retired, he studied the Ice Age Floods literature, went on day trips throughout the Floods region, and spent his leisure time reading, gardening, fishing the Columbia River, and volunteering on the Board of Directors for the Ice Age Floods Institute, Cheney-Spokane Chapter. Memorial contributions were made to the Ice Age Floods Institute, Cheney-Spokane Chapter, P.O. Box 622, Cheney, Washington 99004.

--Melanie Bell

Coeur du Deluge Chapter

Hoodoo Valley Field Trip. The major Chapter event was the Hoodoo Valley Field Trip that was conducted by Roy Breckenridge and Dean Garwood (Idaho Geological Survey) on June 1, 2014. This was a private car excursion with 8 vehicles and 28 participants. The field trip started at Sandpoint’s City Beach. Some of those attending our 2013 Annual Meeting will remember a windy City Beach last September when we began our IAFI field trip and headed east. This time we headed south. We explored the effects of glaciation in the southern Linda Long standing by our recently completed kiosk. part of the Purcell Trench and the northern route of the glacial floods from the southern end of Lake Passing of Board Member, Dr. David Bell. Pend Oreille through the Hoodoo Valley, then Dr. David Scott Bell passed away at home on the back north to the Pend Oreille River. east bank of his beloved Columbia River in Evans, Washington. He is survived by his wife, Melanie, Crossing The Long Bridge it was explained that four children and 11 grandchildren. He served in the Sagle area, south of Sandpoint, and the the U. S. Marine Corps where he discovered a love of associated peninsula that juts eastward into Lake the diverse cultures of the globe and, in particular, Pend Oreille are mostly underlain by till rather Chapter News Continued 5 than flood deposits because the area was covered The fifth stop was a private quarry and so we did by thousands of feet of glacial ice. not enter, but we did view the dipping foreset beds as well as a layer of Mt. Mazama ash that is We stopped at the north end of Cocolalla Lake often used to establish a geologic time line. The which is bounded on the south by a recessional drive along USFS 2697 provided more views of the formed by a retreating glacial sublobe channel and sequences in the Hoodoo Valley. of the same origin as the sublobe that blocked Seneacquoteen Boat Ramp Stop, the sixth stop, the Clark Fork River to the east. This sublobe is on the Pend Oreille River across from Laclede travelled south and carved out the landscape and was scoured out by a westward moving glacial along State Highway 95 and was additionally fed sublobe similar to the one blocking the Clark Fork by ice from another sublobe to the west moving River. Occasionally this sublobe reached and through the Lake Pend Oreille basin. This sublobe blocked the Priest River forming a small glacial left an end moraine and recessional moraine that lake. helped form both Cocolalla Lake and Algoma Lake, respectively. The southerly flowing glacial Final stop, Round Lake State Park, and a discussion sublobe made its way through the gap between about the formation of this round and relatively Huckleberry Mountain and Long Mountain. shallow lake.

Next stop Bayview – Lake Pend Oreille in Farragut State Park, after we stopped and paid our entrance fee. This is an area with limestone outcrops, the actual beginning of the Ice Age Flood deposits, prominent kettles, Jokulhlaup Point, US Naval acoustical research center, the original site of Farragut Naval Training Base and the beginning of the Hoodoo channel. Seismic reflection surveys by the US Navy indicate that flood deposits over 1000 ft. thick can be found below the 1100+ ft. of water. This in conjunction with the evidence of ice scour and deposits over 2000 ft. above the water surface means the ice was, at least occasionally, over 4000 ft. thick. There are a lot of things to see in Farragut State Park. Hoodoo Valley field trip group listening intently to Roy Then a quick stop at the Pend Oreille City Sign Breckenridge Pullout. Flood outburst deposits from the Lake Pend Oreille basin primarily flowed south toward Coeur d’Alene or west toward Spokane; however, another flood path followed the Hoodoo and Blanchard Valley eventually emptying in the Pend Oreille River. The Floods deposits formed the aquifers that provide water for many towns and cities, including Coeur d’Alene and Spokane. Most of the lakes, such as Spirit, Liberty and Coeur d’Alene, were formed by the blockage of their catchment area by outburst Floods deposits.

Basalt Outcrops and Boulders Stop was the fourth stop and was where we viewed outcrops of the Columbia River Basalts. Discussion centered on the age of these features and how they were Dean Garwood discussing flood boulders of basalt in Hoodoo impacted by the Floods. Channel 6 Chapter News Continued

Sandpoint To Cabinet Gorge Dam Field Trip. Tony Lewis gave two presentations: One titled This half-day field trip on June 12, 2014 for the “Origin and Impact of Ice Age Floods: Focusing retirement community at Luther Park at Sandpoint on the Inland Northwest” was presented to the visited Ice Age Floods features between Sandpoint Community Assistance League, in Sandpoint, ID. and Cabinet Gorge Dam and was based on the The second, titled “Sandpoint: Heart of the Ice field trip developed by Roy Breckenridge and Jack Age Floods,” was presented to the 48th Annual Nesbit. The field trip followed a presentation on Bonner County Farm Tour sponsored by the the Ice Age Floods focusing on local glacial and Bonner County Agricultural Extension. flood features that we could see on the field trip. So after the presentation and lunch we travelled --Tony Lewis to the Geological Viewing Site on Hwy 200 east of Sandpoint where we discussed the Purcell Trench and it importance to the ice flow, the depth of the Chapter ice at that spot and the trajectory of the sublobes going west, south and east. Then a brief stop east In April and May we hosted two more field trips of Hope to see grooves in the bedrock that were with visitors from around the Northwest, Texas and scoured by the and a view of the Clark Fork Arizona. I was curious about why Marsha Garner River. Our final Ice Age Floods stop was at Cabinet from Kyle, Texas is an At-Large IAFI member and Gorge Dam where we talked about strandlines and came all the way up here for a field trip. She told me evidence of glacial and the Clark Fork Ice she was raised in Odessa and has had an interest Plug that formed Glacial . in the Floods story since childhood. I guess you can take a girl out of the scablands but you can’t take the scablands out of the girl. These trips went from Cascade Locks, OR to The Dalles, OR on the Oregon side of the river and then back to Cascade Locks on the Washington side with many stops in between. For future reference please note that our trips fill up 2-3 months in advance.

Tony Lewis and several Luther Park field trippers at Ice Age Floods display on Hwy 200 east of Sandpoint

Other Chapter Activities. Barbara Lewis designed and constructed a display titled “Bonner County Under Ice” that can be seen at the Bonner County Museum in Sandpoint. Rowena Crest – Geologist Lloyd DeKay in red hat, Marsha Garner of Kyle, TX (back to camera, 12-year old Maddie Jon Bair gave a presentation titled “Setting the Selby (in blue) with her grandfather David of Lake Oswego, Stage: Insights on Local Historical Geology” at the OR, Bradley Clem of Kirkland, WA (upper right). Chapter Meeting at Bonner County Library.

Chapter News Continued 7

Dalles, Rulo Outcrop, Winans Road 1, Poplar Heights, Yakima Bluffs, Canal Outcrop, Othello Canal, Reese Coulee, Potholes Coulee, E. Callaway Road, Frenchmen Coulee, Macall, Ritzville, and East Connell. One site has a paleosol with Stage III+ development (35-50% CaCO3): Othello Canal. Ancient Cataclysmic flooding initiated in the Early Pleistocene, at least 1.5 Ma. Sixteen field sites show evidence for Early Pleistocene flooding, preserved in all six provinces: Othello Channels, Columbia River Gorge, Cheney-Palouse Scabland, Quincy Basin, Pasco Basin, and the Walla Walla Valley. There are 26 field sites with evidence for Middle Pleistocene flooding, present in all regions except Othello Channels. Eleven of those 26 sites Lloyd DeKay telling the story of the also show evidence for Early Pleistocene floods. On July 12th a group of about 50 people joined us in Evidence for Early and Middle Pleistocene floods the air conditioned Hood River Library as outdoor is present over a wide distribution of elevations temperatures were pushing triple digits to hear from 117 to 524 meters. A special section will Dr. Scott Burns of Portland State University tell discuss the Highway 197 site outside of The Dalles us about ancient cataclysmic floods that occurred where we now describe 8 paleosols! (This is one of at least 600,000 years ago. our field trip stops).

Ancient Cataclysmic Floods In The : Ancestors To The Missoula Floods. Erika Medley and Scott Burns. Department of Geology, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207. Ancient Cataclysmic Floods were the Ice Age Floods that left erosional and depositional features and preceded the Missoula Floods (15-18,000 ka) in the Pacific Northwest of the United States (Allen et al., 2009). All previously studied ancient sites were visited (14) and new sites (11) were found; four Missoula Flood quarries were also visited; a total of 29 sites were studied. The use of calcrete paleosols to provide relative age dates for flood deposits was analyzed. Missoula Floods gravel pits were sampled in order Scott Burns presenting to examine the degree of calcrete development in Floods deposits of known ages. All of the Missoula Flood deposits tested contain Stage 1 calcrete -- Terry Hurd soil development. Calcrete paleosols at sites with evidence for older floods were all analyzed. Eight Ellensburg Chapter sites have paleosols with Stage II development (3-12% CaCO3): Rulo Outcrop, Potholes Coulee, Based at Central Washington University in Leslie Road, Benge, E. Callaway Road, Collier Ellensburg, Washington, the chapter continues Coulee, Palouse, and Connell. Five sites have to enjoy enthusiastic participation and discussion paleosols with Stage II+ development (12-17% both in the classroom and in the field. Our lectures CaCO3): Brown Road, Leslie Road, Benge, Reese average 120 people - and our field trips average 60 Coulee, and Connell. Fourteen sites have paleosols folks. All are welcome to attend any of our lectures with Stage III development (17-35% CaCO3): The or field trips! Chapter News Continued 8

Recent evening lectures have included Andrew Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter Perkins’ “Glacial Lake Drainage on British Columbia’s Fraser Plateau,” Kevin Pogue’s Our big summer news is an opportunity to “Terroirs of the Columbia Basin”, and Ralph work with three national forests in Montana to Haugerud’s “The Last Glaciation of the Puget identify and accomplish Floods related projects. Lowland.” This includes the Bitterroot, Lolo, and Flathead National Forests. We are prioritizing common Our Sunday field trips lately have included Karl goals and projects that we could accomplish. Lillquist & Jack Powell leading a trip to the Upper From this we will go forward with an agreement Grand Coulee and Nick Zentner leading a trip to to accomplish the projects. the Lower Kittitas County Glacial Deposits. The project to catalog and describe the Joseph Thanks to all of the support from our IAFI Pardee archive material was sidelined due to members! illness but is back on track.

A local hiking map brochure and driving tour brochure is complete and is printed on demand. The Montana Natural History Center is the main user.

Work continues to spruce up our new exhibit at the Montana Natural History Center. In the remodeled building we have our own room with improved audio visual capability and less impact on other users.

--Jim Shelden

Lake Lewis Chapter Glacial outwash terraces near Cle Elum, Washington The Lake Lewis Chapter had a fairly quiet Spring this year, with two chapter meetings and a one day hike. On March 11, 2014 we hosted Nick Zentner (Central Washington University), who presented “Palouse and Dry Falls of Washington State.” On April 12, 2014, Bruce Bjornstad led a group of about 30 people on a hike among Rattlesnake Slope erratics and bergmounds (Figure 1). Our May chapter meeting featured Dr. Victor Baker (University of Arizona), who presented “The Science of Ice-Age Megafloods: Current Research Questions”. This talk was held at the Washington State University – Tri-Cities auditorium and well attended with over 80 participants.

Lake beds in Grand Coulee Chapter members also participated in a number of community events and speaking engagements including the Pasco Kiwanis Club, the Lewis and --Nick Zentner Clark Elementary School’s Science Extravaganza, the Sandhill Crane Festival, the Presbyterian Church, and the Sagebrush Montessori School. Chapter News Continued 9

May 10th was our chapter field trip on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Highlights were:

1) A river-level view of Beacon Rock, named by Lewis & Clark in 1805, but called Castle Rock until 1915 when it was officially named Beacon Rock. It is over 800 feet of basalt lava that once was the core of a volcano. Its sides were cut away by the Lake Missoula Floods.

Figure 1. About 30 people participated in the Lake Lewis Chapter’s April 12, 2014 hike among Rattlesnake Mountain erratics and bergmounds. Photo courtesy of Bruce Bjornstad. Bruce Bjornstad and Gary Kleinknecht both led a number of field trips for the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center, and the Kennewick School District’s Community Education Program.

Our members were also active in community and regional initiatives, participating in the design Beacon Rock - An erosional remnant in the Columbia River Gorge of Hanford Reach Interpretive Center displays, supporting the Coyote Canyon Mammoth dig, and 2) Coyote Wall, a 200-foot high cliff that dips continuing support to the Ridges to Rivers Open down to the Columbia River as part of an over Space Network, and Friends of Badger Mountain. 1,600-foot geo-syncline. It was formed from a basalt flow emanating from a fissure that spread -- George Last hundreds of miles at least partly under water.

Lower Columbia Chapter

On March 20th we had Sarah Gray & Gary Fawver at our meeting to talk about the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge. This wetland area, very close to the Tonquin Scablands, was created by the Lake Missoula Floods.

In our partnership with the Tualatin Historical Coyote Wall in the Columbia Gorge Society, our April 17th guest speaker was Norb 3) Underwood gravels, part of the deposits that Murray who told us filled the Portland Basin where they are called the about piloting the US Troutdale Formation. Presidents to Camp David. 4) Dog Creek Falls – well worth the short hike.

5) Catherine Creek Trailhead. Excellent views across the Columbia River and three short hikes. Marine One Pilot - Norb Murray One, which is a paved, wheelchair-accessible Chapter News Continued 10 walkway takes you along the bluff overlooking Park and was sponsored by the Washington State the Columbia River and also has a viewpoint Parks and Recreation Commission. With activities for the Catherine Creek waterfall. The second beginning at 9 AM, a variety of educational booths went up the hill where we investigated the mima were staffed by event partners that included the mounds and discussed the various theories about Lower Grand Coulee Chapter of IAFI. Chapter their development, and across the meadow for a members manned an information table to tell glimpse across the canyon at the Catherine Creek visitors about the Ice Age Floods and answer Arch created by the Lake Missoula Floods. The questions. During the Flood Fest, speakers third hike, down along Catherine Creek, led to two included Nick Zentner, CWU Geology Professor, large diorite erratics brought in the Floods. in the morning and Bruce Bjornstad, Geologist with the Pacific Northwest Laboratory, in the May 15th George Taylor gave his talk “Recipe for afternoon telling about the Ice Age Floods and a Flood” giving meteorological information about resulting geologic features. what it would take to make an Ice Age. At noon, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to June 19th Ed Edmo, a Native American storyteller mark the grand-opening of the recently installed related various Shoshone, Bannock and Nez Perce exhibit inside the Visitor Center entitled, “New traditional stories which included some Floods Interpretations of the Ice Age Floods. The exhibit accounts. explores the geologic history of the Grand Coulee from different perspectives with a focus on the work of J Harlan Bretz. The exhibit was developed in collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and members of IAFI.

Located along the middle of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, the Dry Falls Visitor Center is open daily from 9 to 6. Stop by and visit and take in the view.

Our Chapter’s next informational event will be at the Quincy Farmer Consumer Awareness Day on Saturday, September 13. Chapter members will set up and man displays at the Quincy High School telling about the Ice Age Floods. Also, the Chapter will present Flood and geologic information through speakers and videos in the auditorium for the general public attending this event. In addition, Ken Lacy will conduct a bus tour in the afternoon to nearby Ice Age geologic features.

The Lower Grand Coulee Chapter meets the Ed Edmo story telling for the Lower Columbia Chapter second Saturday of each month, and a free outing is conducted for members and friends in the --Rick Thompson afternoon following completion of the meeting and program. Attendees of the afternoon outings Lower Grand Coulee Chapter are visually rewarded by more than seeing the multitude of Ice Age Floods-shaped features. On Saturday, June 28, the “2014 Flood Fest” There are various birds and other wildlife along celebration was held at the Dry Falls Visitor Center with wildflowers and other plant life to be seen overlooking the Dry Falls cataract near Coulee and photographed. A spring outing along a portion City, WA. The purpose was to feature the unique of the “Cariboo” Trail is pictured. This location is geologic heritage of the Sun Lakes/Dry Falls State south of Deep Lake in Sun Lakes State Park. Chapter News Continued 11

However, the immediate situation regarding the viaduct replacement was not the focus of the presentation. The huge tunnelling machine known as “Bertha” had been shut down, but it was not yet known what the problems were, what action was appropriate, and how costs would be handled. It can now be reported that significant repairs and modification of the boring head will be made, and the complications involved are startling. A diagrammatic animation of the process has been posted online at http://mynorthwest. com/11/2545947/Seattle-tunnel-contractor- releases-detailed-plan-for-repairing-Bertha. Officials say tunnel boring is scheduled to resume Caraboo Trail South of Deep Lake in March 2015.

The structure is in place, and now the work --John R. Moody is in loading the new Washington glacial erratics database. Erratics of any variety are generally interesting, but to focus just on the Puget Lobe Chapter geological variety, a widely accepted definition of “erratic” is a rock fragment carried in or by “A Brief Illustrated History of Tunnelling glacial ice, including icebergs, and deposited at in Seattle” was the topic of the Puget Lobe rd some distance from the outcrop from which it was Chapter meeting program on March 3 . The derived. program was presented by Robert “Red” Robinson, who is the Senior Vice President and Director of As reported at the June 2 meeting of the Puget Lobe Underground Services with Shannon & Wilson, a Chapter, a long-awaited online erratics inventory prominent geotechnical and environmental firm system is now open for everyone to start using for that is actively engaged in engineering projects initial input, and for inquiries. But at this point around the world and has its headquarters in it contains only a limited amount of processed Seattle. He described how the Seattle area has data, and the next steps of collecting a substantial experienced 130 years of increasingly challenging number of additional entries, and systematically tunnelling, constructing more than 150 tunnels, editing the data and entering it, with appropriate totaling over 80 miles, beneath hilly topography notes, in the database are being undertaken. and through complexly interbedded glacial and inter-glacial soils, and with pre-existing, highly For the Puget Lobe Chapter, the availability of sensitive urban development at the surface. Most this kind of online system has been an objective of those Seattle tunnels are still in use today. since the chapter was first organized. In its final realization, Terry Swanson, Principal Lecturer at Local tunnelling has evolved through at least four the UW Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences, has phases, beginning with hand-mining and timber been a mentor to Ashly Padgett in her work on support, leading to today’s huge closed-face tunnel the inventory system, as a special student project. boring machines and pre-cast concrete tunnel-wall From the start, it was intended that it would be segments. The nature and scale of the problems open to public input and participation, with expert encountered have changed over the years, and review. And the possibility of formally including remarkably ingenious new techniques have been other institutions and agencies in the project developed to successfully meet the challenges. is already under consideration. For students of That is, until the current project was undertaken phenomena, the apparent to replace the earthquake-damaged SR 99 Alaskan limitation to Washington is not crippling, in that Way Viaduct along the Seattle waterfront. it applies to where a rock is deposited, and not to its source. Chapter News Continued 12

Terry opened the meeting presentation with an presented in a news-item style. In fact, he has a overview of the succession of extended cycles of book in press, Geology Underfoot in Western global cooling and warming that account for the Washington, now expected to be released in expansion and reduction of polar ice fields, and spring 2015. the geologic markings and debris that are left as evidence of these major processes. It is in this -- Dale Middleton connection with the Ice Ages that erratics are valuable for research and teaching. Wenatchee and Ellensburg Chapters Share Ashly followed with a description of the online with Geoscience Teachers system and information on how new material can be submitted and how it will be processed. The Members of the Ice Age Floods Institute recently crucial points are presented at the Washington played a major role in exposing geoscience teachers glacial erratics website: http://waglacialerratics. visiting from around the Pacific Northwest to the ess.washington.edu and the add an erratic Ice Age geology of north central Washington. form: http://waglacialerratics.ess.washington. Leading field trips for the group to key sites edu/?page_id=58 throughout the region, members of the Ellensburg Chapter and the Erratics Chapter in Wenatchee If you have found or know about what may be a generously shared their knowledge and interest potentially significant erratic in Washington state, in the field evidence that uncovers the Ice Age that is not already listed in the inventory, please Floods story. use the form on the website to nominate the rock for inclusion in the inventory database. The rock The annual summer conference of the National might be notably large (e.g., diameter 8-10 feet Association of Geoscience Teachers, Pacific or larger), but smaller rocks are not excluded if Northwest Section, was based at Wenatchee they have other significant features, such as an Valley College from June 18 to June 22. Ralph unusual rock type or color, or being situated at a Dawes, ex officio board member of the Erratics geologically revealing location. chapter of the IAFI in Wenatchee and professor of Earth Sciences at Wenatchee Valley College, and The basic routine is quite simple, but an extensive Cheryl Dawes, were meeting organizers and hosts report could be very useful. Provide as much for over 50 geoscience teachers and geologists information as possible, including GPS location who came from Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, or other location detail, and geological specifics Oregon and Washington to attend the conference. about the erratic. Include at least one high- The conference included a day of talks and posters resolution color photo (300 dpi or higher), and on campus in Wenatchee as well as full-day field provide image URLs (i.e., list the file names and trips in north central Washington. types). Nick Zentner, President of the Ellensburg IAFI Questions and suggestions can be addressed to chapter, and Ralph Dawes co-led a field trip through Ashly Padgett at [email protected] or the Ice Age geology of the Wenatchee Valley on [email protected]. June 19. Because of its position along the great northwest bend of the Columbia River, where it The online inventory is not the only format for was cut off by the Okanogan lobe of the Cordilleran presenting information about erratics in our area. ice sheet during the Ice Age, the Wenatchee Valley An important example is the work already done has a unique Ice Age Floods history. Evidence of by Dave Tucker, who has spoken about erratics the unusual sequence of flooding and glaciation at earlier chapter meetings and has contributed in the area includes silt and clay deposits in the to the inventory project. He has developed a valley bottom from Ice Age lakes that covered the website, Northwest Geology Field Trips, at http:// valley; an older (over 100,000 years old) flood nwgeology.wordpress.com, with an enormous bar above East Wenatchee; the 14,000-19,000 amount of material related to the geology of year old Pangborn Bar that underlies most of Western Washington and bordering areas, East Wenatchee and is one of the largest of all Chapter News Continued 13 the Ice Age flood bars in eastern Washington; Ken and Susan Lacy, members of the Wenatchee and icebergrafted erratics on hillsides up to Valley Erratics chapter, shared a stunning view of 1,000 feet above the Columbia River. In addition, giant flood current ripples on West Bar from their iceberg-rafted erratics and valley-bottom lakebed home in Trinidad with the geoscience teachers sediments show that the Wenatchee River Valley and hosted them for a barbeque dinner on June was flooded several hundred feet deep as far 21. Ken and Susan have worked to promote the upstream as the Leavenworth area, where the IAFI and serve in various roles as officers and flood water may have met the terminus of the board members in the Wenatchee Valley Erratics local Icicle Creek glacier. chapter and the IAFI since the early days of the Institute. Brent Cunderla, President of the IAFI Erratics Chapter in Wenatchee, along with Jon Riedel, lead Karl Lillquist, Vice President of the Ellensburg geologist for North Cascades National Park, co- chapter of the IAFI, and Jack Powell, Washington led a field trip on June 21 to examine the glacial State DNR geologist (retired) co-led the final field geology of the Lake Chelan area. The Lake Chelan trip of the conference for the geoscience teachers field trip was a preview of the annual IAFI field on June 22. This trip looked at evidence of Ice Age that will take place in September, 2015, and will Floods channeled through lower Grand Coulee be led by Brent and Jon out of Wenatchee. Come and fanning out across the Ephrata area into the to the annual IAFI meeting in Wenatchee in 2015 Quincy basin, measured giant current ripples to learn details of the glaciation, flood history, and on a gravel and boulder bar left by Floods that the American Viticultural Area of Lake Chelan. followed the Telford- channels into the Moses Lake area, and studied layers of Columbia River Basalt that resulted from huge lava flows that poured out across the region millions of years before the ice ages. The field trip culminated in the remote region around Odessa, where enigmatic features known as ring dike craters formed in the basalt flows.

The geoscience teachers heartily expressed their appreciation for the time and effort expended by IAFI members to help them more fully experience the geology of the area and its impressive Ice Age Flood features. --Ralph Dawes and Cheryl Dawes Geoscience teachers looking at iceberg rafted erratics on a hillside above Wenatchee that Nick Zentner led us to.

Brent Cunderla (microphone) and Jon Riedel speaking of the Brent and Jon pointing to glacial terraces on the other side glacial geology of Lake Chelan. of Lake Chelan, while some geoscience teachers consider dipping their toes in the lake. Photos courtesy of Ken Sutton 14 A Message from the National Park Service

I am writing to let you know of some items that are We also applied for National Park Foundation grant shaping up in a positive manner. The legislation for Ice funding to develop a transportation plan, including a Age Floods National Geologic Trail (IAFL) called for the series of trail transportation maps delineating the 1,300 development of both a management and interpretation mile main stem trail and multiple loop/spur trails that plan. will be the basis for developing new and integrating existing interpretive and education opportunities for In February 2014, the IAFL Foundation Statement the trail. This plan would be utilized by the partners in was finalized. Although not a management plan, the guiding the development of interpretive opportunities Foundation Statement was completed in cooperation for the public visiting the only national geologic trail with many partners and documents the site purpose, in the country. Although we were not selected for this significance, fundamental resources and values, and project, LARO has announced an internship through primary interpretive themes. With this, the Foundation the Geological Society of America to move forward Statement serves as the guiding document for partners on this in the fall of 2015. We are in the process of in participating in trail development and management. selecting the person to accomplish this task, with over 25 applications to choose from. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO) has been given administrative responsibility for IAFL and This summer, I had the privilege to attend ribbon the staff recognized the importance of completing the cutting ceremonies for two interpretive centers with second legislative mandate, to develop an interpretation exhibits highlighting Ice Age Floods. Dry Falls State plan for the Trail. LARO staff applied for National Park Park near Coulee City, Washington had their ribbon Service funds to complete an interpretive plan, however cutting ceremony on June 28 with new exhibits. the waiting list for project funds is long and, in most REACH Interpretive Center in Richland, Washington cases, years in the coming. With this in mind, the LARO had a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 30, and also Management Team set aside the funds to contract for an includes Ice Age Flood events. interpretive plan to begin in October of 2014. This plan will provide a vision for the future of interpretation, Good things are happening. Thanks for your diligence. education, and visitor experience opportunities. This Until next time. will identify and analyze interpretation, education, and visitor experience goals and issues, while also guiding -- Dan Foster, Superintendent all partners in the most effective, efficient, and practical Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail ways to address those goals and issues. This plan will address both non-personal services (interpretive media and facilities) and personal services (programs, personal contacts), while ensuring that all partners match interpretive media to messages to make sure they work well individually and collectively. 15 Thank You to IAFI Member Supporters

Every member at every membership level is vital to IAFI’s continued success. Your support helps us meet our mission of providing the Ice Age Floods story to the public and continuing our work on the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. Every gift—no matter the size—counts. Thank you for making the IAFI what it is today and for helping shape it for the future.

We would like to acknowledge the following people and company that joined the IAFI at the Benefactor or Sustainer levels. (Jan – June 2014). We also want to thank the people who made notable donations beyond their membership renewal during this same period.

2014 Benefactors

Christine & Don Barnes Mike Long Michael & Marilyn Chartock Karen & Mickey Schurr Douglas Henne Douglas Shearer Jeff Lane Larry & Nancy Sides Rick & Conchita McCain Bud & Rose Mary Tyner Launa Morasch Steven & Lynn Washington Chris Murray & Carla Chiotti Neil & Ann Whimberly Sandra Klipper & William Scott

2014 Sustainers

Freestone Environmental Services, Inc. Richard & Heather Russell Dean Wheelon

2014 Notable Donors

Susan D. Freiberg John & Mary Hartman Art Kohler Bud & Rose Mary Tyner

The Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Membership dues and donations are tax deductible as charitable contributions within the limits of the Internal Revenue Code. 16 The Ice Age Oregon Trail Part Two: John Day River to the By Rick THompson, Lower Columbia Chapter

Figure 1. Map of North Central Oregon with the Oregon Trail (Red Dotted Line) and the areas covered by the ice age floods (Blue) and Flood Channels (Black Arrows). Where the red and black overlap is where the trail was in a flood channel.

The Ice Age Floods had cut good paths for the Oregon a basalt ledge above the Columbia River. Trail immigrants down to the John Day River but getting back out of the canyon was a whole new story. The ruts here are still very visible, even from I-84 if It took as long as a week for a wagon train to climb out one knows where to look. They stayed on this ledge of the John Day Valley, even using double and triple until they met the Deschutes River. There, an island teams because of the steepness of the hillside. The first at the mouth of the river, and the aid of local Native wagons up the hill west of McDonald Ford camped Americans, for a price, helped them ford the stream while their teams were used to bring up the remaining and head back up to higher ground. wagons. There are several sets of ruts visible on the west side The trail after McDonald Ford is above the affects of of the Deschutes, but one of the main trails is now the Lake Missoula Floods. A fork in the trail (after the followed by Moody Road to Fairbanks Gap where it is Barlow Road was created) allowed travelers to go SW met by a portion of the trail that stayed on the top of toward Mt. Hood or proceed northwest toward the the ridge above the area scoured by the floods. Columbia. Near Biggs the trail came down a ravine to 17 The Ice Age Oregon Trail (Continued)

Figure 12. Trail up from the John Day River in the center right. Figure 14. Looking across the Deschutes River at the Oregon (Note scour marks and slumping) Trail ruts climbing up the hillside (center right to the top center)

Figure 13. Oregon Trail ruts above modern highway west of Figure 15. Oregon Trail (Moody Road) west from the Deschutes Biggs crossing.

Fairbanks Gap is one of two overflow channels from the Columbia River into 15 Mile Creek. Here the Oregon Trail followed the expansion ripples down to the Creek. A rock harvesting area shows that a huge amount of gravel flowed through Fairbanks Gap.

Just northwest of Fairbanks Gap is another, even larger gap scoured by the floods and an even larger gravel harvest area in what used to be the town of Petersburg.

Petersburg Gap is over a mile wide but was not used by the Oregon Trail pioneers because at Fairbanks they climbed out of 15 Mile Creek and went overland into The Dalles where they had a major decision to make. Figure 16. Trail west turning south through Fairbanks Gap down to 15 Mile Creek. The Ice Age Oregon Trail (Continued) 18

Figure 20. Petersburg gravel deposit.

Figure 17. Fairbanks Gap from the air looking north. Oregon Trail cuts from the center to the lower right side of the photo. It then crosses the lower part of the photo and exits the canyon at the lower left.

Figure 21. Before the freeways were built the cliffs of Rowena Figure 18. Fairbanks bar gravel deposit. Gap went straight down into the river making no room to get wagons passed except on rafts. The other choice was to turn south from The Dalles and follow the newly built Barlow Toll Road. One would think that the Oregon Trail would get easier as you got further along. No so!

The Barlow Road was considered by many to be the roughest and hardest section of the whole trail. Having to pay to use it was like adding insult to injury so they tried to bypass the tollgate wherever possible. This led to the tollgate being moved every few years. As it was, Barlow and his partners never really turned a profit from the road.

This road left the ice age flood paths behind until it Figure 19. Petersburg overflow into 15 mile creek. (Purple reached Eagle Creek in the Clackamas Valley, where Arrow. The Dalles Dam upper left. “A” marks the gravel area) they were again in a Lake Missoula Flood area. Near The only trail, if you could call it such, west from The Carver Gap they climbed out of it to cross a ridge into Dalles was the Columbia River itself. This was because Oregon City which was their final destination. the sleep cliffs of Rowena Gap came right down to the river leaving no place to put a trail. But the river route Oregon City was built on Lake Missoula Flood terraces was expensive. They had to rent or build a raft to float at Willamette Falls which was created by the Ice Age their belongings. It was also dangerous. Each year Floods. From there, they could file land claims and both lives and belongings were lost due to overturned start farming the rich deposits of Lake Missoula Flood rafts. soil in the Willamette Valley which had been their goal all along. ICE AGE FLOODS INSTITUTE 2014 FIELD TRIP

“Ice-Age Floods Through the Mid Columbia Region” September 13, 2014

INFORMATION, REGISTRATION FORM AND LIABILITY FORM

WHEN: Saturday, September 13, 2014, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: The tour will leave from the southeast parking lot of Shilo Inn and Suites, 50 Comstock Street, Richland, Washington 99352

LEADERS: Bruce Bjornstad and Gary Kleinknecht

DESCRIPTION OF FIELD TRIP: The Lake Lewis Chapter will host the annual Ice Age Floods Institute field trip highlighting many of the flood features around the Tri-Cities and Hanford Reach National Monument, including the Lake Lewis Isles, giant flood bars, Ringold coulee as well as prolific erratics and berg mounds. The trip ends with a tour of the Coyote Canyon Mammoth Site and an opportunity to sample some of the local beers and wines. Note that we may take a few short walks of about 200 meters (657 feet) or less from the bus.

CANCELLATION: Registration fee is refundable only if cancellation is made by September 5, 2014.

INSTITUTE MEMBERSHIP: You are encouraged to become a member of the Ice Age Floods Institute and support our educational efforts to tell the Ice Age Floods story. On-Line membership is available at www.iafi.org or you can print off a form and mail with your field trip registration.

ITEMS TO BRING WITH YOU: Participants should bring boots or sturdy shoes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, optional personal snacks and beverages, and a camera if desired. Since we will be on a bus all day, please be considerate of other who may have allergies and do not wear fragrances.

FIELD TRIP FEE: Registration is open first to all members of the Ice-Age Floods Institute and then the general public on a first come, first serve basis.

Registration and payment must be received by August 29, 2014 to reserve a place on the bus or to be put on the standby list.

Fee for the tour is $47 for members and $87 for non-members. For non-members, this is the equivalent of the $40 individual basic membership dues plus $47 field trip registration). Fee includes charter-bus transportation (with restroom), catered lunch, field guide, and light mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks.

A separate waiver/release form must be filled out by each participant and returned to the registrar with the registration form.

Lodging: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock Street, Richland, WA 99352. For reservations call 509-946-4661 and let them know you are with the “Ice Age Floods Institute.” The total cost for a single is $81.42 per night (this includes the room tax and other fees). Make your reservations early to ensure you have lodging.

Pre-Field Trip Lecture And Annual IAFI Membership Meeting: Friday September 12, WSU Tri-cities Auditorium, 7-9 pm. Lecture by Bruce Bjornstad on “Ice-Age Floods Through the Mid Columbia Region.” “Ice Age Floods Through the Mid Columbia Region” Saturday, September 13, 2014 FIELD TRIP REGISTRATION FORM

Prior to August 29, Complete: (1) Registration Form, (2) Liability Release Form (3) field trip payment Make checks payable to: Lake Lewis Chapter

Mail to: Field Trip Registrar, Monte Nail, 1880 Fowler St. Richland, WA 99352

Confirmation will be sent to you via email or phone.

To join IAFI go to: www.IAFI.org and click on “Membership”

For questions: call George Last at 509-946-8050 or email [email protected]

[_____]$47 field trip fee per person – Registering as Ice Age Floods Institute Member (current paid-up member) Chapter______

[_____]$87 field trip fee per person – Registering as non-Institute Member. If you want to apply $40 of this towards membership dues, please go to www.iafi.org/join.html, download the membership form and mail the completed form (with any additional dues or contributions) along with your field trip registration.

[_____]$20 field trip fee per person – Registering as a student

Sack Lunch Options (incl. sandwich, soda or water, chips, & cookie): ___ Turkey ___ Ham ___ Tuna ___ Beef ___Veggie

Last Name: ______

First Name: ______

Mailing Address: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip Code: ______

Email: ______

Phone #: ______Cell Phone #: ______LAKE LEWIS CHAPTER OF THE ICE AGE FLOODS INSTITUTE

FIELD TRIP WAIVER AND RELEASE FORM

Field Trip from Richland, Washington, September 13, 2014

NOTE: A separate waiver form must be filled out by each person participating and the completed form(s) must be returned to the field trip registrar before boarding the bus.

I understand that field trips may involve inherent risks. I realize that natural hazards do exist, and that falls and collisions do occur, that therefore injuries may result, and therefore accept the risks to myself and others and agree to use extreme caution at all times on this trip.

I understand that any costs for medical expenses incurred as a result of accidental injury or death while participating in the field trip will not be paid by the Lake Lewis Chapter, Ice Age Floods Institute, hereafter referred to as SPONSORS.

I, undersigned, intending to be legally bound, hereby for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, waive and release any and all rights and claims for losses and damages I may have against the SPONSORS, their officers, board members, and field trip leaders, and all other parties and their representatives, successors, and assigns for all and any injuries suffered by me on this field trip. I attest and verify that I am participating at my own risk.

Signed ______Date ______Name (print)______Phone ______E-mail ______If participant is under 18 years old, signature of parent or legal guardian______

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY Call (name) ______Relationship ______City ______Phone ______

MEDICAL INFORMATION Name of physician ______City ______Phone ______Allergies ______Special medications and medical conditions: (please list on reverse side)