Ellensburg Chapter

Spectacular Coulees and Channels

coulees, channels, petrified forests

The Ellensburg Chapter includes the area of the Quincy Basin at the southwest end of the Grand Coulee and the Telford-Crab Creek Scabland Tract.

The Floods flowing south across the Quincy Basin carved out the broad Drumheller Channels area, and those spreading west to the Columbia River carved out the Frenchman and Potholes Coulees.

As the flood waters backed up behind the downstream constriction at Wallula Gap the waters of temporary Lake Lewis filled part of the Quincy Basin, depositing fine grained Palouse materials that had been stripped off the more northerly portions of the Floods path.

The present day Columbia Basin Project diverts water south from the Columbia River at the Grand Coulee Dam to provide irrigation that transforms this soil in a high desert environment into a rich and abundant garden.

The Ellensburg Chapter area includes many other geologic wonders including the Gingko Petrified Forest, the Saddle Mountain and Frenchman Hills anticlines, as well as the features of the Mt. Stewart Range. 

Ellensburg Chapter​

IAFI’s Ellensburg Chapter serves the Ellensburg, Washington area.

Chapter Meetings
The Ellensburg Chapter meetings are on temporary hiatus pending appointment of new officers. If you are interested in helping  revive the Ellensburg Chapter please email Karen Martinis. Regular meetings may then resume on the first Wednesday of every other month: Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, Dec. The Ellensburg Chapter emphasizes informality, OPTIONAL membership dues, and a hearty welcome to anyone interested in the dramatic story of the Ice Age Floods and other geologic tales of central Washington. 
For more information about the chapter, please contact IAFInstitute@gmail.com.

President
Vacant

Vice-President
Vacant

Secretary
Vacant

Treasurer
Karen Martinis

Technical Advisor
Karl Lillquist

Technical Advisor
Nick Zentner

Ellensburg Chapter News

Ellensburg Chapter News

Events & Map

Upcoming IAFI Events

March 2024
April 2024
Apr 05
April 05, 2024
Central Washington University, 400 E University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926 United States
Apr 12

Chapter Location

Upcoming  Chapter Events

April 2024
Apr 05
April 05, 2024
Central Washington University, 400 E University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926 United States

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