Traveling east along Lake Roosevelt from the Grand Coulee brings you closer to an area steeped in geological and historical intrigue. This journey not only unveils the legacy of ancient Glacial Lake Columbia but also leads to one of the most captivating sections of the Channeled Scablands: the Telford Tract. A critical player in the narrative of Ice Age floods, the Telford Tract offers a striking example of the power and scope of these ancient cataclysmic events.
The Role of Glacial Lake Columbia
The current Lake Roosevelt occupies much of the previous western Glacial Lake Columbia area, a massive lake formed when glacial ice blocked the Columbia River’s southwestward flow. The lake’s height and timing had a dramatic influence on the routes taken by the incoming Glacial Lake Missoula floodwaters. A portion of these immense floods, among the largest known in Earth’s history, surged south through the Telford region, carving canyons, depositing sediments, and shaping the land into what we now call the Channeled Scablands.
J Harlen Bretz, the geologist who first described the scablands in detail, outlined these pathways or “tracts” in his seminal 1928 paper, The Channeled Scabland of Eastern Washington. Among the four major scabland tracts Bretz identified, the Telford-Crab Creek Tract is particularly significant for its geological features and historical context:
“The Telford-Crab Creek scabland tract…heads in the vicinity of Telford station…as wide as the Cheney-Palouse River tract…convergence of all these (and of all but one of the Cheney-Palouse River divergences) occurs in a wide shallow structural sag (Quincy Basin) in the western part of the plateau. In this basin is the largest single area of gravel left by the glacial waters…There is continuous scabland northward from all channel heads of this tract across the plateau divide to the limits reached by the ice sheet.”
Exploring the Telford Tract Today
The Telford Tract, adjacent to the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, provides an unparalleled opportunity to witness the scars of Ice Age floods. Once a 900-acre homestead, the tract’s eroded flood channels and gravel deposits serve as a testament to the massive forces that shaped this region. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Telford Recreation Area invites visitors to explore this geological marvel. Hiking trails weave through remnants of these ancient waterways, offering a chance to immerse yourself in one of the major routes of the Missoula Floodwaters. Check out these resources to help plan your visit: BLM Telford Recreation Area and Washington Trails Association: Telford Recreation Area
Beyond Telford: Exploring Upper Crab Creek
For those looking to expand their journey through this region, the Telford Tract’s channels eventually connect to Crab Creek, another iconic feature shaped by glacial waters. The Upper Crab Creek Field Trip offers a deeper dive into this fascinating landscape, combining geological exploration with breathtaking scenery. In 2013 Karl Lillquist and Jack Powell created an Upper Crab Creek Field Trip guide for the Ellensburg Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute.
A Landscape Worth Protecting
The Telford Tract exemplifies the dynamic history of the Channeled Scablands and the profound environmental changes brought about by Ice Age floods. As part of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, this area’s preservation ensures that future generations can continue to learn from and appreciate its unique geological story. Whether you are a geology enthusiast, history buff, or outdoor adventurer, the Telford Tract promises an unforgettable experience. This landscape, shaped by forces beyond imagination, stands as a humbling reminder of nature’s power and its enduring impact on the Earth’s surface.