Sharing the Fascinating Ice Age Floods Story Since 1995

Meeting

  1. Events
  2. Meeting

Events Search and Views Navigation

Event Views Navigation

Today

Mapping the Pacific Northwest’s Glacial Legacy

Cheney Community Library 610 1st St, Cheney, WA

Enhanced LIDAR images (WA-DNR) Glaciers have shaped much of the Pacific Northwest’s landscape over the past 15,000 years. The Cordilleran ice sheet, repeated ice age floods, and expansive alpine glaciation have left their distinctive fingerprints on the topography of our region. Geologists and cartographers have been mapping and interpreting glacial landforms since the late 19th century. In the past decade, the Washington Geological Survey has created new maps that build upon this rich cartographic history by fusing older datasets and techniques with modern insights and technology, such as lidar. Using both historical and modern maps, this presentation by Daniel Coe, Washington Geologic Survey, Seattle, will be a visual journey through the Pacific Northwest’s glacial past and present. Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) Registration required on SCLD website. Registration opens at 6:30 PM Tuesday, March 18, 2025.)

Tom Pierson – Geology of the Gorge

White Salmon Valley Community Library 77 NE Wauna Ave, White Salmon, WA, United States

Tom Pierson, retired USGS Hydrologist, will present highlights and interactions in a talk about the Geology of the Columbia River Gorge. Tom will talk about how the Columbia River Basalt (CRB), BIG floods (Missoula and otherwise), big landslides, regional tectonics, and volcanoes have all played significant roles that many may not recognize in the features and character of the Gorge we see today. This talk will be hosted by the Columbia River Gorge Chapter of Ice Age Floods Institute at the White Salmon Community Library, beginning at 5:30pm on Monday, April 28.

How the Ice Age Floods Changed the Course of the Palouse River

Moran Prairie Library 6004 S Regal St, Spokane, WA

Palouse Falls - Photo Glenn Traver Before the Ice Age Floods, the Palouse River would have flowed through present day Washtucna, Kahlotus, Connell, Mesa, and Eltopia before entering the Columbia River near the Pasco Airport. Today, it takes a fifty-mile shortcut to the Snake River at Lyons Ferry via the Palouse Canyon and Palouse Falls. In this presentation by Lloyd Stoess, President, Palouse Falls Chapter, IAFI, we look at the two factors that caused this dramatic shift—either one by itself would not have been enough. To examine when this happened, we look at some possibilities and clues recently discovered by scientists. Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) (Registration required on SCLD website. Registration opens at 6:30 PM Monday, March 31, 2025.)

2025 IAFI Membership Meeting – Gorge-ous Gathering May2-3-4

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center 5000 Discovery Dr., The Dalles, OR, United States

 Celebrating Ice Age Floods Institute's 30th Anniversary The annual IAFI Membership Meeting is coming to the Columbia Gorge this May 2-3, 2025, and all our members and their guests are cordially invited to come experience some of the best and most interesting features the Gorge has to offer. There’ll be opportunities to explore storied Gorge wildflowers and native plants, geology and winery field trips, whitewater rafting, a membership meeting/dinner and a presentation by the ever-entertaining Nick Zenter. **REGISTER HERE!**    Check-in begins each day at 8:30 AM at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center    **REGISTER HERE!*** Friday, May 2nd, will be action packed with activities during the day. Choose between a guided Spring Wildflower Walk, a Journey Through Terroir field trip, an Unveiling the Gorge field trip (repeated on Sunday, May 4). Spaces on these activities is limited, the Friday Spring Wildflower Walk and Unveiling the Gorge field trip are now full. There are also opportunities available every day for full-day or half-day adventure whitewater raft trips on the Klickitat or White Salmon Rivers with Wet Planet Rafting, a local world-class rafting company. Friday evening will feature our members meeting and dinner, followed by an entertaining and informative presentation by the inimitable Nick Zenter exploring and geolocating J Harlan Bretz’s field notes. Limited seats available. Register today! Jim O'Connor Richard Waitt Saturday, May 3rd, will feature the main Ice Age Floods Gorge Geology Field Trip – Explore evidence of the Ice Age Floods in the Columbia Gorge led by USGS expert geologists Jim O’Connor and Richard Waitt. This  field trip will examine the geology of the Columbia River Gorge with emphasis on the effects of the Ice Age Missoula floods, examining key sites and discussing the latest research. Learn more about the Missoula Floods, explore dramatic flood landforms, and enjoy beautiful vistas, lunch at the Deschutes River Park (order a box lunch or bring your own), and a no-host afternoon recap at Maryhill Winery. Buses leave May 3rd, 9:00 AM. This field trip is full. Sunday, May 4th, the Friday Unveiling the Gorge field trip is being repeated. There is also plenty to see and do in the Gorge to keep you fascinated and engaged if you can stay another day. Visit iconic Multnomah Falls (I-84 access only) and spectacular Vista House at Crown Point overlook. Visit Timberline Lodge, a stunning 1930’s CCC project, on the snowy upper flanks of Mt. Hood. Travel the Hood River Fruit Loop or ride the Mt Hood Railroad Hike one (or more) of the innumerable and spectacular Gorge hiking trails Take Windsurfing and Kiteboarding lessons or just watch the action Enjoy fine dining, artisan wineries, breweries, museums and shops throughout the Gorge. There’s so much more to see and do that we can’t even begin to list it all.

How Do They Know? Major Findings About the Ice Age Floods

Spokane Valley Library 22 N Herald Rd, A, Spokane Valley, W, WA, United States

  Maps Have you ever been watching a science program and wondered “How do they know that?” Dr. Gary L. Ford, President, IAFI, will briefly discuss the how and who “figured it out” regarding aspects of the Ice Age Floods, looking at five questions. These include: how we know there was a huge glacial lake in western Montana thousands of years ago, how we know it drained rapidly perhaps a hundred times, about how many floods there were and when they occurred, where the floodwater came from, and about how long it took the floodwater to get to the ocean. We also go over which answers to these questions are still being debated by researchers. Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI)

Ice Age Floods Institute is a registered non-profit educational organization devoted to publicly sharing the ice age floods story. 
All article images on this website are used under Creative Commons license for educational purposes only and no profit is derived.

Members

Happenings

Facebook-f Mastodon Youtube Envelope

Visit us at Facebook, Mastodon and our YouTube Channel.

IAFI Copyright © 2002-2025 – All rights Reserved

Ice Age Floods Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit EIN 91-1658221
Donations and member fees may be tax deductible

Refund and Returns Policy     Privacy Policy     Terms and Conditions

About

Resources