Ice Age Floods Institute

Geology Alive: Understanding Geologic Hazards in the Columbia Gorge
2024-11-13 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Columbia Center For the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR, 97031, United States
The great scenic beauty of the Gorge owes much to the geological processes that have shaped it. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and debris flows still occur in the area today, and they can pose hazards to Gorge residents and visitors. What is the scope, severity, and likelihood of these hazards? How do scientists use evidence from the geological and historical past to evaluate the hazards, and how do they use models to forecast future hazards and inform our efforts to prepare for them?
Join Dr. Richard “Dick” Iverson, Scientist Emeritus at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cascades Volcano Observatory, as he digs into the geological hazards of the Gorge—and explains why they don’t discourage him from living here!
GET TICKETS HERE
When: NOVEMBER 13th, 2024 | Doors 6pm, Show 7 pm
Where: Columbia Center For the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR
This event will be livestreamed on our Givebutter page: https://givebutter.com/geologyalive
Doors open at 6 pm, show starts at 7 pm. * We encourage people to take their seats by 6:45. * Seats not filled by 6:45 will be made available to our waitlist. * Event tickets are non-refundable.

Richard (Dick) Iverson spent 34 years as a research scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Wash., and he remains affiliated with the observatory as a scientist emeritus. His work there has focused mostly on the dynamics of landslides, debris flows, and volcanic eruptions, with particular emphasis on evaluating hazards downstream from Cascades volcanoes. Iverson grew up in Iowa, received his Ph.D. from Stanford University, and moved from Vancouver to Hood River in 2018.

Dr. Scott Burns - Ancient Ice Age Floods Before the Missoula Floods
2024-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Meeting
Join in to Learn About The Unfolding Story of Ancient Ice Age Floods in the Pacific Northwest
Ages End – Stev Ominski
We have had Ice Age Floods in the Pacific Northwest over the past 2.8 million years. We mostly concentrate on the last ones which are called the Missoula Floods that happened between 15,000-20,000 years ago. But there is an unfolding story in the Pacific Northwest of many Ice Age Floods before the Missoula Floods. Erica Medley, an MS student of Scott Burns, did her thesis on the topic and discovered many outcrops of these ancient floods which are rarely discussed. Dr. Burns will talk about these oft-forgotten floods and the very interesting story of these neglected Ancient Ice Age Floods in the Pacific Northwest
Join on Zoom to learn more about these very interesting older Ice Age Floods,
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM (Pacific Time)
Only on Zoom – Click Here to Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 867 5486 6921
Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile: +12532158782,,86754866921#
Meeting ID: 867 5486 6921
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdugrTW42K
Dr. Scott Burns taught geology for 54 years in Switzerland, New Zealand, Washington, Colorado and Louisiana before coming in 1990 to Portland State University. He loves talking about the geology of the Pacific Northwest and this subject that is so many times neglected.
Professor Emeritus of Engineering Geology, Portland State University
President IAEG (International Association of Engineering Geologist and the Environment)
Member Board of Directors, Lower Columbia Chapter Ice Age Floods Institute.
Co-Author revised Second Edition: “Cataclysms on the Columbia”
Email: BurnsS@pdx.edu Telephone: (503} 725-3389 Website: http://dr-scott-burns.com

Mammoths of Coyote Canyon
2024-11-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Meeting
On Nov11, 2024, Join the Ice Age Floods Chapter Puget Lobe for a look at the Coyote Canyon (Mammoth) dig site: This site was originally discovered in 1999; but left undisturbed until 2008, with formal excavation beginning in September,2010. The accompanied photo shows the work done thru Jun 2014. In the intervening 10+ years additional work has completed. As you can see by the photograph, the cinder block, 5-gal bucket, and the4x4 lumber bream, this may be a small portion of the overall site.
The presentation will be Zoom only and given by IAFI Vice President Mr. Gary Kleinknecht. Meeting starts at 7:00pm with sign-ins starting at 6:45.
click on Zoom link: https://us02web.Zoom.us/j/82985244730
Working Site as of June 2012

Lower Grand Coulee Field Trip
2024-11-09 10:00 - 16:00 | Soap Lake Senior Center, 121 2nd Ave SE, Soap Lake, 98851, United States
Monster Rock – Ephrata Fan
Join Geologist, Mark Amara and Outing Coordinator Gene Wing of the Lower Grand Coulee Chapter for an exciting outing exploring the Lower Grand Coulee area. We will leave the Senior Center at 10am and drive South to the famous “Monster Rock” and the “Ephrata Fan area”, Next we head North to the Lake Lenore area to see the Lenore Lake Monocline rocks and the Great Blade, and then we head North and do a short hike into the Deep Lake Potholes within Sun Lakes State Park and end the outing at the Dry Falls Visitor Center.
Meeting Place: Soap Lake Senior Center, located at 121 2nd Ave SE, Soap Lake, WA 98851
Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
Start time: 10:00am
More information: Contact Denis Felton
Discover Pass is required

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Fishtrap Lake Scablands Hike
2024-10-26 10:00 - 16:00 | Fishtrap Lake South Loop
Fishtrap Lake, Washington (BLM Photo)

Come join us for a 5-mile hike to explore the Ice Age floods features in the Fishtrap Lake area east of Sprague, WA!
The Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the IAFI is scheduling a hike at the south loop trailhead of Fishtrap Lake on Saturday, October 26th . The hike will start at 10:00 a.m. The hike will be led by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter. You will meet the leader at the trailhead.
Description of Fishtrap Lake Hike
The hike will begin and end at the south trailhead at Fishtrap Lake. The hike will follow the south loop trail, with a total length of about 5.5 miles. The trail is mostly single track over dirt and rock, with an elevation gain and loss of about 500 feet. The hike will provide an intimate view of the channeled scablands that were carved out by the ice age floods. Features will include pothole lakes, rock benches, mima mounds, kolks, and streamlined and scarped Palouse hills. The hike will also provide wide open views of Fishtrap Lake and the surrounding country. This hike is included in On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods – Northern Reaches, by Bjornstad & Kiver. However, we will be following trails that were constructed after the book was published.
Directions to the trailhead
From I-90 take Exit 254 and proceed south 3.6 miles on the Sprague Highway. Turn left (east) on Miller Ranch Road and proceed 0.2 miles to the “T” at the Miller Ranch house. Turn right(south) and drive 0.8 miles to the trailhead parking lot. There is a vault toilet at the parking lot. (Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/9Zz7nwdwziMzHYh69 map coordinates: 47.33381100925525, -117.863529217959)
Sign up for the hike on the iafi.org events website. The hike will be limited to 20 hikers.
Items to bring with you: appropriate shoes, day pack, water, snacks, appropriate clothing for changes in the weather, sun protection, emergency items, camera and binoculars. Walking poles will be helpful. The hike is free; however, donations for support of Chapter activities will be accepted. For addition questions contact Don at 509-891-5875.
A signed liability release form is required for each hiker. If you are able, please download the form and print a copy for each member of your group. Sign the form and bring it to the trailhead. (We will have extra copies on hand at the trailhead.)

"Mega-Floods" - Presentation by Bill Burgel
2024-10-24 18:45 - 20:00 | Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR, 97062, United States
Bill Burgel
In a field of geological investigation first identified and then pioneered by J Harlen Bretz, JT Pardee and Vic Baker, Mega-Floods have been recognized throughout the world and on the planet Mars. These catastrophic floods are quite capable of sculpting the landscape wherever they occur with disastrous consequences.
Can they happen today? What are some notable historic examples? Is Noah’s Flood one of these events? How are they different from Mega-Tsunamis that are also found around the globe? Bill will answer these questions and more at the October 24th meeting of the Lower Columbia Chapter of the Ice Age Institute.
Thursday, October 24, 2024, In Person 6:45PM PDT
at the Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR 97062
ALSO Simultaneous Live ZOOM from THC if you cannot attend the THC meeting in-person.
Click for Zoom meeting, Meeting ID: 869 4651 3479 Passcode: [REDACTED]
For more information contact: LowerColumbia@iafi.org

Earth Science Week
2024-10-13 - 2024-10-19 | WA
Earth Sciences significantly influence our homes, products, roads and transportation, offering vital insights into Earth’s materials and dynamic changes impacting our lives. The focus of the weeklong event is to highlight the widespread influence of geosciences across disciplines and the humanities. Recognizing these connections allows individuals to appreciate how geoscience relates to their interests, communities and future pursuits.

Earth Science Week Webinars
The American Geosciences Institute will celebrate this year’s theme, “Earth Science Everywhere” by hosting five webinars during Earth Science Week (October 13-19, 2024). Sign up here to receive the links to this year’s ESW webinars. In the meantime, watch recordings from prior Earth Science Week webinars.
Monday, October 14 – Views from Above and Below: Supporting Sustainability with Earth Observations
Tuesday, October 15 – Plastics in the Environment and Human Health
Wednesday, October 16 – Impact Craters and Geologic Mapping on the Earth and Moon
Thursday, October 17 – Earth Science at the Poles
Friday, October 18 – Common Ground: Healing Our Soil, Feeding the Future
Register Here
Earth Science Week Contests
Be part of Earth Science Week’s legacy of creativity. For Earth Science Week, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is sponsoring four contests focusing on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Earth Science Everywhere.” Unleash your talents and passion for earth sciences and enter the 2024 contests today! Whether you’re a budding photographer, an aspiring filmmaker, a visual artist, or a reflective writer, we have a platform for you to showcase your talents.

The Rush to Oregon Territory
2024-10-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission, Wenatchee, WA, United States
The Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will meet Tuesday, October 8 at 7:00 PM, at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission, Wenatchee. Or via Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84520197937
Our speaker is Dr. E.F. Cater, Director of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville. Dr. Cater will explore “The Rush to Oregon Territory,” how the twisting and turning of 19th-century society crossed up with the Ice Age Floods.
An odd happenstance occurred when a delegation of Salish men from the Walla Walla area traveled to St. Louis. They sought out their old friend, General William Clark, with an unusual question. This little spark caused a rush to Oregon Territory for reasons different than what Manifest Destiny has led us to believe.
And the stirring of this pot brought the discovery of fantastic geological features like Grand Coulee. Join us as we take a look at Western Expansion.
The program is free and open to the public.
[Illustration: Lewis and Clark on the Trail 1804, by Michael J. Deas]

The Case for Rapid and Recent Flooding in Upper Grand Coulee
2024-10-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Bellevue College Building T Room 117, 3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, WA, 98007, United States
On 07 Oct 2024 the Puget Lobe Chapter will have Dr. Karin Lehnigk, Postdoctoral Researcher at Georgia Tech, who has studied the Channel Scablands in Eastern Washington by performing cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating on Missoula flood transported-boulders to determine what path they took at different points in time. It will be a very informative lecture with new information. Think Mars and Himalayan Mountains.
Cosmogenic nuclide dating is a method used to estimate the age of rock exposure at the Earth’s surface. It relies on the interactions between cosmic rays and nuclides in glacially transported boulders or eroded bedrock. By measuring nuclide concentrations, scientists can determine the age of landforms ranging from a few hundred years to tens of millions of years. It looks like a crust or rind on surface of the sample when you cut or break a sample open. (Micrsosoft Bing)
Presentation will be at Bellevue Collage, Bldg R, Rm 11o or click on Zoom link: https://us02web.Zoom.us/j/82985244730

UNESCO International Geodiversity Day - Oct. 6th
2024-10-06 | WA
The International Geodiversity Day was established today by the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference!! From now on, the 6th of October will be an annual worldwide celebration, raising awareness across society about the importance of non-living nature for the well-being and prosperity of all living beings on the planet!
The winner of the competition for the International Geodiversity Day logo, Silas Samuel dos Santos Costa, is a student at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Natal, Brazil) and produced the attached logo that can be freely used in all initiatives related with the International Geodiversity Day. Congratulations Silas!
The success of this initiative was in no small part due to the breadth of international and national organizations that endorsed the proposal. In particular the support of both IUGS and the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO from Portugal played an essential role in submitted the proposal.
The website geodiversityday.org is the virtual focal point for all information regarding this International Day. New social media feeds were launched that you can use to stay updated with plans for International Geodiversity Day:
facebook.com/GeodiversityDay
twitter.com/GeodiversityDay

Cheney-Spokane Members Meeting and Public Lecture by Dr. Eugene Kiver
2024-10-05 14:00 - 17:00 | Doris Morrison Learning Center (DMLC), 1330 S Henry Road, Greenacres, Washington, 99016
This event is open to the public, but only IAFI Cheney-Spokane members can vote during the member meeting. It will be held at the beautiful new Doris Morrison Learning Center at 1330 S. Henry Road. Exit the freeway south on Barker Road, turn left at the roundabout at Sprague Road, then right at the three-way junction on Henry Road.

Member meeting: 2:00-3:00 PM
Dr. Kiver’s lecture will begin around 3 PM, after the member meeting. It is open to the public (see title and blurb below).

Note: At present, we have three openings on our chapter board. Our board meets the third Tuesday of each month from 3-5 PM at the Wren-Pierson Building in Cheney. Interested? Members with expertise in accounting or K-12 education or medical experience or any other expertise that would aid our chapter’s mission should send a very brief vita to Dr. Linda McCollum, President, IAFI Cheney-Spokane Chapter, lmccollum@ewu.edu

Dr. Eugene Kiver Lecture: GLACIERS AND MISSOULA FLOODS IN NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON
Immense quantities of Glacial Lake Missoula floodwater roared through not only the Rathdrum/Spokane floodway but also through the rugged mountain topography of the Northern Rockies in northeastern Washington. Here floods ripped across non-basaltic glaciated rocks and through the Little Spokane River drainage into the Channeled Scabland south of the present course of the Spokane River. This alternate route is often overlooked.
The Pend Oreille River course north of Newport has been reversed and now flows north into Canada. Glacial suppression of the crust is the suspected culprit. Over a mile of ice buried the Pend Oreille River valley near Canada during the late Wisconsin ice advance allowing water to flow north and cut deep canyons along the river course.

Save the Date: 2024 Ritzville Flood Fest
2024-09-27 17:00 - 2024-09-28 19:00 | Best Western Bronco Inn, Ritzville,WA, 105 W. Galbreath Way, Ritzville, WA, 99169, United States
Join us for a weekend of lectures and sight seeing in Ritzville, Washington!
There is a small block of rooms set aside at an event rate through the Best Western Bronco Inn (509) 659-5000, ask for the Ice Age Floods Tour rate when you reserve your rooms.
$170* field trip fee– Registering as a non-Ice Age Floods Institute Member
$150* field trip fee– Registering as a Ice Age Floods Institute Member.
If joining now or renewing as an IAFI member, also include your IAFI Membership Application with your field trip registration, fees and liability release form. Please write one check to IAFIPF for registration and a separate check to IAFI for membership fee.
$145* field trip fee – Registering as a Palouse Falls Chapter Ice Age Floods Institute Member (thank you for your support!)
*FIELD TRIP FEE covers:
1) outstanding and knowledgeable field trip leaders,
2) a very detailed and well-illustrated Field Trip Guidebook,
3) delicious lunch, snacks, and drinks,
4) comfortable deluxe chartered bus with microphone system for lectures while in route, and
5) delicious Mexican banquet!
-Friday evening: Dinner is on-your-own-adventure. Check-in located in the lobby of the Bronco Inn between 7 and 8 p.m., as well as after the FREE pre-trip lecture at 8:00p by Lloyd Stoess on the topic “Following the Course of the Columbia River” in the Bronco Inn meeting room.
-Saturday: Check-in located in the lobby of the Bronco Inn between 7:15 and 7:45 a.m.
FIELD TRIP LEADERS: Lloyd Stoess, Palouse Falls Chapter President and Dr. Eugene Kiver, Professor Emeritus Eastern Washington University.
DESCRIPTION OF FIELD TRIP: This bus tour will revolve around Saddle Mountain with stops including Lind Coulee, Drumheller Channels, Corfu Landslide Complex, Corfu ghost town, Smyrna Bench, Vantage interbed exposure, Beverly Bar, Sentinel Gap, McCoy Canyon Landslide, Priest Rapids Bar, Saddle Mountain summit, Othello Channels, multiple exposures of the Ringold Formation, Collier Coulee, and the Staircase Rapids.
ITEMS TO BRING WITH YOU: Binoculars, camera, sunglasses, and clothing for variable weather conditions. Snacks, drinks, and lunch provided.
-Saturday evening: FREE post-trip lecture at by Gene Kiver on the topic “Bonneville Flood and the Snake River” in the Bronco Inn meeting room.
Cancellation refunds will be made only if field trip registrar, Jacqui Hair, receives notice no later than September 22 and
vacancies can be filled from a stand-by list.
Registration and liability form are both available for download at this link.

Mike Full, Dave Ellingson - "Paleontology Panel"
2024-09-26 18:30 - 19:30 | Tualatin Public Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi Avenue, Tualatin, Oregon, 97062, United States
“Paleontology Panel” – The Willamette Valley Pleistocene Project – The river & landlocked search for Ice Age Fossils
with Mike Full & Dave Ellingson, Moderator: Yvonne Saarinen Addington
Thursday, September 26, 2024, Presentation 6:30-7:30PM
Simultaneous/ZOOM presentation from the Tualatin Public Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi Avenue, Tualatin, OR 97062
Note: We must Depart Tualatin Public Library by 8PM Sharp!!!
If you cannot attend in person, join us online. Click here to join zoom meeting Meeting ID: 869 4651 3479 Passcode: [REDACTED]
The Willamette Valley, at the time of the Ice Age Floods 18K-15K years ago, was backwater many times for massive floodwaters raging through the Columbia River Gorge to the Pacific Ocean. It became known as Temporary Lake Allison for the Geologist who first studied the Willamette Valley as a lake.
The Willamette Valley Pleistocene Project explores the late Pleistocene and early Holocene of the Willamette Valley in Northwest Oregon. Comprised of local volunteers and resources, avocational paleontologists, land owners, and local government working alongside trained professionals and museum staff, the goal is to discover, study and preserve our prehistoric past. Mike, Dave and Yvonne are all members of this project. Every fossil is collected according to scientific standards, documented, stabilized and curated into a database open to the public. The entire collection is destined to stay within the public domain and will ultimately be donated to an appropriate educational institution.
Mike Full
David Ellingson
Mike Full is a retired Police Officer and native Oregonian with a life long fascination of fossils and prehistoric life. Each summer finds him searching rivers in the Willamette Valley for fossils. He is accompanied by friends, students. volunteers and researchers. His fossil collection includes mammoth, mastodon, giant ground sloth, bison, horse, elk, camel, deer, giant beaver & wolf.
David Ellingson, a biologist and paleontologist, teaches Paleontology at Woodburn High School. Here he has a dig going many years (25) for megafauna and fauna fossil bones which involves his students in summer months.
Yvonne Addington
Yvonne Addington is a native Oregonian. She has lived in Tualatin most of her life. In her public service career, she has worked for five Oregon Governors. She is Tualatin’s first City Manager and had a role in the formation of the City. She also served for years as Municipal Judge. Her main interest has been preserving the history of the area, particularly fossil bones and erratic rocks of the Ice Age Floods. She’s a member of the Tualatin/Willamette Ice Age Foundation. Yvonne is a Board Member of Willamette Falls Heritage Area Coalition representing LCC/ IAFI where she’s on the Lower Columbia Chapter Board of Directors.
Tualatin Mastodon
She rediscovered the bones of the Tualatin Mastodon at Portland State University, which she then gave to the City of Tualatin where they are now on display on the Library’s glass wall (see photo). The Mastodon bones were found and originally dug by PSU student John George near the creek South of Tualatin’s Fred Meyer store.

Ellensburg Chapter Field Trip - Teanaway Frm. in Swauk Watershed
2024-09-21 11:00 - 16:00 | WA
The Ellensburg Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) will host a field trip that covers the western portion of the Swauk Watershed including Teanaway Ridge north of Ellensburg in the Wenatchee Range on Saturday 21 September. We will meet near the cabin on USFS road 9738 just off US 97 at 11:00am on the 21st. The trip will include stops at:

along Blue Creek to examine Teanaway Formation dikes;
the east side of Teanaway Ridge to explore recent landslides;
Red Top Mountain atop Teanaway Ridge to examine Teanaway Formation flows, forests, fire, landscape change, and the Red Top fire lookout.

The trip should conclude at about 4pm.
Ellensburg IAFI field trips are free and open to the public. There’s no need to pre-register—just show up! We typically car pool on these trips. We will drive USFS roads 9738 and 9702 from US 97. USFS road 9702 is potholed and rough in places but very passable for passenger cars (as of July 2024). Several of the stops will include short (<0.5 mile hikes) over sometimes steep and uneven terrain. Pets are OK if leashed and well-behaved.
If you have questions, feel free to contact Karl Lillquist at lillquis@cwu.edu. Click here for a pdf of the field trip guide. I will also provide a limited number of hard copies of the field guide at Stop 1. Lets hope for good weather and smoke-free skies for the trip! Hope you can join us!

Course Changes of Inland NW Rivers Due to the Ice Age Floods
2024-09-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Connell Library, 118 N. Columbia, Connell, Washington
Lloyd Stoess will present a free lecture with information showing how the Columbia, Palouse, and Yakima Rivers all had course changes during the last glacial period of the Ice Age. All three were changed by different forces. One was temporary and the other two were permanent. This lecture is in partnership with the Mid-Columbia Libraries Connell branch.

Dr. Vic Baker: Martian Megafloods: Investigating the Ice Age Floods Helped Understand Ancient Mars
2024-08-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR, 97062, United States
Lower Columbia Chapter hosts Dr. Victor R. Baker presenting: “Martian Megafloods: How Investigating the Ice Age Floods Helped Advance Geological Understanding of Ancient Mars”
Dr. Baker collecting samples
A few billion years ago the planet Mars was somewhat similar in its surface environmental conditions to the Ice Age Earth. At that time Mars had lakes, flowing rivers, glaciers, and even a kind of planetary ocean, the Ocean Borealis. This relatively recent understanding of Ancient Mars was partly achieved because of geological studies of the ice age floods that created the Channeled Scablands landscape of eastern Washington. This talk will focus on some of my personal experience with the relevant geological investigations and discoveries of the past 55 years.
This will be a simultaneous Live/ZOOM presentation Thursday, August 15, 7:00 PM PDT, from Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR 97062.
If you cannot attend the in-person meeting at THC, join us on-line: click here to join zoom meeting,
Meeting ID: 869 4651 3479 Passcode: [REDACTED]
For more information contact: LowerColumbia@iafi.org
Dr. Baker at the Channeled Scablands
Our speaker: Dr. Victor R. Baker is Regents Professor of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, Geosciences and Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona. Dr. Baker has authored or co-authored about 1200 scientific contributions, including 22 books and monographs, 450 research articles and chapters, 560 abstracts and short research reports. His research concerns paleoflood hydrology (a field of study he defined in the 1970’s and 1980’s); flood geomorphology; channels, valleys and geomorphic features on Mars and Venus; catastrophic Pleistocene megaflooding in the northwestern U.S. and central Asia; history/philosophy of Earth and planetary sciences; and the interface of environmental science with public policy.
Dr. Baker has received many honors in geology and geomorphology, and he has supervised more than 70 graduate students, including 31 for the P.hD. degree. His work on megafloods has been featured in multiple television documentaries, including the 2005 NOVA production “Mystery of the Megaflood” and the 2017 NOVA production “Volatile Earth” episode on “Killer Floods.”

Mapping the Glacial Legacy of the Pacific Northwest
2024-08-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission, Wenatchee, WA, United States
The Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will meet Tuesday, August 13 at 7:00 PM, at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission, Wenatchee. Or via Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84520197937
Our speaker is Daniel Coe, graphics editor for the Washington Geological Survey in Olympia; and an editor for the North American Cartographic Information Society’s Atlas of Design. He will talk about “Mapping the Glacial Legacy of the Pacific Northwest.”
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 will be a visual journey through the Pacific Northwest’s glacial past and present.
You can see Daniel’s work at dancoecarto.com
The program is free and open to the public.

Cascades24 - NSF Meeting on the Cascade Arc System
2024-08-05 - 2024-08-09 | Oregon State University Cascades Campus in Bend, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
Cascades24 is a National Science Foundation sponsored meeting focused on magmatic, volcanic, and tectonic processes in the Cascades. It will be a small meeting environment, Monday August 5th through Friday August 9th at Oregon State University Cascades Campus in Bend.
Cascades24 will be a multidisciplinary examination of critical aspects of magmatism in subduction zones from the perspective of the canonical Cascade Arc system, from the deep mantle to the surface, and will serve as a forum for synthesizing a broad range of geophysical, geochemical, volcanological, geological, cultural, and other observations relative to understanding the complex roles played by magmatic processes in subduction zone systems.
Cascades24 is an NSF sponsored meeting, no registration fees are required and lodging is provided on campus, but there are limited spots available, so you must register to attend. Limited travel support will be available to early career participants (use the registration form to apply for these funds).

When Yellowstone was in Oregon: A Talk by Bill Burgel
2024-07-30 17:30 - 18:30 | White Salmon Valley Community Library, 77 NE Wauna Ave, White Salmon, WA, 98672, United States
Bill Burgel, retired railroad geologist, will present a talk on “When Yellowstone was in Oregon”, on Tuesday evening, July 30, beginning at 5:30 at the White Salmon Valley Community Library.
Approximately 50 million years ago, an island the size of Iceland docked onto the west coast of North American. That island was formed similar to the formation of modern-day Iceland, which is being created by a relatively rare combination of mid-ocean ridge volcanism coinciding with a mantle plume.
After colliding with the continent in the area of present-day Oregon, this Iceland-like land mass, now known as Siletzia (southern half) and Yakutat (northern half now in Alaska), was scraped off the subducting oceanic crust and imbedded on the west coast of the continent.
As the North American continent continued moving westward the motion of now-attached Siletzia was reversed. But the motion of the mantle plume continued its relative motion in the eastward direction, creating volcanoes and calderas on the as the North American plate moved west over it.
Bill will explain the circuitous path the plume took through Oregon, creating the Crooked River Caldera (including Smith Rock State Park), then into SE Oregon creating the voluminous Columbia River Flood Basalts before exiting Oregon around 16-million-years ago to form the McDermitt Volcanic area in Nevada, the home of one of the world’s largest lithium deposits. Afterward, the plume’s relative path motion was directly through Idaho, forming the Snake River Plain, arriving at its current temporary location in Yellowstone.

This saga, though geologically complex, is a fascinating one that will help you make sense of the new research into the 50 million year-long journey of the Yellowstone Hot Spot!
Bill Burgel
About Bill Burgel – Bill retired in 2010 after a successful 40-year career working for several railroads in both the engineering and operating departments. His work for Union Pacific encompassed the design of the first computer-aided dispatching office in the nation. This office was located in Portland and Bill was the Regional Chief Dispatcher for several years before the office was moved to Omaha.
While working for the railroad, his interest and training in geology was often called upon to resolve landslide issues and rerouting studies, implement early earthquake warning strategies, and conduct numerous long railroad tunnel analyses. Bill has given numerous presentations on rail issues as well as earthquake preparedness and topics pertaining to regional geology to local audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest.
After retiring from the railroad in 1989, he assisted the Surface Transportation Board as their rail operations manager for two major mergers, once in Washington DC and the second time in Chicago. Bill has managed many rail studies for both Oregon and Washington DOTs as well as for TriMet and Sound Transit in Seattle.

2024 Dry Falls Flood Fest
2024-07-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Dry Falls Visitor Center, 35661 HWY 17 North, Coulee City, WA, United States
What is Floodfest?

Presenters and Booths will share their knowledge and their appreciation of Ice Age Floods Geology, the Channeled Scablands, Shrub Steppe Ecosystems, Wildlife, Anthropology, Archeology, History, and Photography.

2023 Flood Fest Group
Where: Dry Falls Visitor Center – Sun Lakes Dry Falls State Park, 35661 HWY 17 North, Coulee City, WA
When: Saturday July 20th 10 AM – 3 PM on the campus of Dry Falls Visitor Center.

Field Trip Hike: 8:30 AM – 10 AM
Where: Lake Lenore Caves Heritage Area: Sarah Overby, Washington State Parks Interpretive Specialist, and Kaley Wisher, Columbia Basin Conservation District Biologist, will lead an educational hike from the Lake Lenore Caves trailhead. The park is situated above Lake Lenore, and it offers stunning views of the valley. The caves themselves are shallow basalt formations created during the Great Missoula flood.
3D Ice Age Floods Map
Dry Falls Visitor Center – Inside Presentations:
10am – 11am
Interpretive Specialist, David McWalter, will present an overview of Washington’s Ice Age Floods, introduce the rugged terrain of eastern Washington that was shaped by floods of unimaginable power during the last ice age, and share how the scientific views of the landscape have changed over the last century.
11:30am – 12:30pm
Justin Radford, Program Manager, NPS, Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, will present an overview of this unique geologic trail starting in Montana, through Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
1pm – 2pm
Learn about the fragile yet resilient landscape of the Shrub Steppe and its role in our lives with Interpretive Specialist, Sarah Overby. This short presentation will get you familiar with the Shrub Steppe ecosystem and the complex and beautiful parts that make it into a whole.
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Viewing of Bruce Bjornstad’ s – Ice Age Floodscapes
 Bretz’ Great Cataract Group
 Primordial Potholes Coulee
 Grand Coulee – NW Exposures
 Dry Falls
 Deep Lake Potholes
Floods Fest Sandbox
Outdoor Booths:
10 AM – 3 PM on the campus of Dry Falls Visitor Center
Including representatives of Federal, State, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Nonprofits, Historians, Authors, & Volunteers
 Ice Age Floods Institute: Lower Grand Coulee Chapter and other Ice Age Flood Institute chapters from Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington.
 Lucy Luevano: An enrolled member and Historian of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Lucy will have historic photographs telling the story and the history of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. She will also share the legends of the beautiful landscape of the Dry Falls area and surrounding landscape.
 Dr. Karen Capuder: Anthropologist and Senior Archaeologist Colville Tribes, will share some of the cultural and political history of the Colville Tribes, from time immemorial to the present day.
 Grant County Historians/authors: Dan Bolyard & John M. Kemble – Dan Bolyard has been a lifelong Grant County Big Bend area resident and railroad historian. John M. Kemble is a local historian and explorer highlighting Dry Falls, Sun Lakes, Steamboat Rock, The Grand Coulee, and Banks Lake.
 North Central Regional Library –April Harward, learn about the NCW Summer Library programs – captivating storytelling to engaging workshops and fun activities, everyone can unleash their unique voice and explore their passions.
 National Park Service – Interpretive Rangers with a Mobile Interpretive Center showcasing the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, and The Grand Coulee: a National Natural Landmark.
 Foster Creek & Columbia Basin Conservation Districts – programs on Shrub Steppe ecology, water resources, wildlife, and native vegetation.
 Washington Department of Wildlife – wildlife found in Eastern Washington as well as the enhancement and preservation work that is done in the Columbia Basin.
 Archeologists – Mark Amara, Kim Lancaster, and Kellie Green; representing the Cascadia Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Their booth will highlight the importance of historical artifacts, tools of the trade, and hands-on activity too.
 Bureau of Reclamation – Ben White and Brandon Heintz Reclamation Guides – will have an overview of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, and the Grand Coulee Dam.
Join us Saturday, July 20, 2024, for Ice Age Floodfest 2024

Dust in the Cockpit: Volcanic Ash Aviation Hazards
2024-07-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR, 97062, United States
Dust in the Cockpit: Volcanic Ash Aviation Hazards – The 50-Year Effort to Mitigate Them

The 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption was a watershed moment in our understanding of volcanic eruptions and their hazards. Among the lesser-known events during that summer was the first documented case of in-flight engine damage from volcanic ash on May 25,1980. Two years later, a 747 nearly crashed in Indonesia when it flew into an ash cloud from Galunggung Volcano and lost power to all four engines.
A similar event in December, 1989 at Redoubt Volcano, Alaska finally convinced meteorologists, air traffic regulators, and volcanologists that we need a global infrastructure to detect volcanic ash clouds and communicate their trajectory to aviators. By around 2010 the infrastructure was in place. But it was shaken up again when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull sent an ash cloud to Europe, shutting down the world’s heaviest airspace, costing $5 billion dollars in economic loss.
This talk summarizes the ups and downs of these crises, and describes our efforts to mitigate the hazard through better technology and communication.
Larry G Mastin, Ph.D
Simultaneous Live/ZOOM presentation from Tualatin Heritage Center. If you cannot attend the in-person meeting at THC, join us on-line. Thurs. July 18, 7:00 PM PDT
click here to join zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 869 4651 3479 Passcode: [REDACTED]
Biography: Larry Mastin, PhD. is indeed a qualified authority on the topic being presented to us, having devoted his entire career to it. He is employed by USGS Volcanic Laboratory in Vancouver, WA.
His education is BS University of California at Davis cum laude in Geology. He received his Masters and Ph.D from Stanford University in Engineering Geology and Geomechanics respectively

Exploration of Geomorphic Features in Lake Chelan with an Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
2024-06-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission, Wenatchee, WA, United States
The Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will meet Tuesday, June 11 at 7:00 PM, at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission, Wenatchee. Or via Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84520197937
Our speaker will be Philip Long of the Lake Chelan Research Institute (LCRI). Phil will talk about “Exploration of Geomorphic Features in Lake Chelan with an Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)”
Swath bathymetry, chirp sub-bottom reflection profiles, and sediment cores…. These were techniques recently used by the U.S. Geological Survey (June 2023) to collect data from Lake Chelan, WA, The resulting information has provided insights into late- and post-glacial history of Lake Chelan. In addition, LCRI’s ROV dives have distinguished bedrock from till on lake bottom sediment profiles, and have directly observed landslide scarps, debris aprons, and other geomorphic features of interest to many of us here. Some of the features on the bottom of Lake Chelan resemble surface glacial features we are familiar with on the Waterville Plateau! Moraines, kames, drumlins, kettles, underwater landslides….
Find out what’s going on at the bottom Lake Chelan!

The program is free and open to the public.
Contact information:
Ken Lacy
1geospiracle2@gmail.com
(509) 787-9755
Susan Freiberg
Wenatchee Valley Erratics Publicity
wenvalerratics@yahoo.com

June Jamboree in Spokane, WA
2024-06-06 - 2024-06-08 | CenterPlace Regional Event Center, 2426 N Discovery Pl, Spokane Valley, WA, 99216, United States
The Cheney-Spokane Chapter invites you to the IAFI June Jamboree in beautiful Spokane, Washington! We will kick things off on June 6 (Thursday afternoon) with a short hike at Mirabeau Meadows Park from 4-5 PM with a lecture later in the evening. More short hikes are planned for Friday morning and early afternoon, an IAFI Board meeting at 5:30 PM, and an evening lecture by naturalist and writer Jack Nisbet. On Saturday there will be optional field trips by bus and caravan. In the evening there will be a barbeque for IAFI Members and a lecture presentation from 7-9 PM.
Mark this your calendar and plan to come! For more details, see the Jamboree event page.

Columbia Gorge Geology Field Trip, June 1
2024-06-01 08:30 - 15:30 | Original Wasco Co. Courthouse Museum, 410 W 2nd Pl., The Dalles, Oregon, 97058, United States
Lloyd DeKay, president of the Columbia River Gorge Chapter of IAFI, has volunteered to lead a day-long presentation and field trip 0n June 1, 2024, to explore the geology of the central-east portion of the Columbia River Gorge for participants from the Original Wasco County Courthouse Museum.
The day will begin at 8:30 AM with a slide presentation about the origins and geohistory of the Gorge. Then participants will board a bus for a 40+ mile roundtrip to see and discuss a number of uniquely interesting places and geologic features found in the Gorge between The Dalles and Hood River.
Basalt Pillows
We’ll see and discuss lahar deposits, kolk ponds, tree casts, differences between pillow basalts and Maar deposits, Ice Age Floods features, indigenous petroglyphs and even a brief trip through Africa USA.
Maar Deposits
This field trip is donated in support of the Original Wasco County Courthouse Museum, so if you wish to participate please contact the organizer, Karl Vercouteren, kjverc@gmail.com, 541 980-6558 for more details. Lunch will be no-host at a local restaurant along the way.

Dr. Jerome Lesemann Presents "Subglacial/proglacial mega floods from the Cordilleran Ice Sheet on the Channeled Scablands"
2024-05-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Bellevue College Building T Room 117, 3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, WA, 98007, United States
From Wikipedia
Glacial Lake Missoula is most commonly invoked as the sole source of water to form the Channeled Scabland. However, early work by Bretz (and others) suggested more direct contributions of meltwater from the Cordilleran Ice Sheet to explain formation of some Scabland flood tracts. In some cases, these contributions may have been subglacially routed.
This presentation will examine new research on Moses Coulee – one of the more enigmatic Scabland coulees – that suggests subglacial meltwater flows best explain the erosional patterns of the coulee and its perplexing lack of connectivity to other Scabland flood routes. Further, the presentation will examine new evidence for proglacial (Mega) floods during deglaciation of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet that may also contribute to formation of flood features such as giant bars along the Columbia River Valley. The presentation highlights the need for greater integration of Cordilleran Ice Sheet hydrology in the interpretive framework of the Channeled Scabland. As a workup to this presentation please familiarize yourself with the IAFI News article, “Moses Coulee: Unveiling the Mystery of a Colossal Ice Age Scar“, that gives an overview on this subject.

Dr. Jerome Lesemann obtained his PhD from Simon Fraser University. He currently teaches in the Earth Science Department at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC. His research interests are in Quaternary geology and sedimentology with a focus on glacier processes and ice sheet hydrology. He has had an interest in the Channeled Scabland for over two decades, with a particular focus on the dynamics of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet along the northern reaches of the Channeled Scabland.
Date: 20 May 2024 at 7:00pm
Location: Bellevue College, Bldg. R, Rm. 103
or click on Zoom link: https://us02web.Zoom.us/j/82985244730

Ellensburg Field Trip - Wildhorse Wind/Solar to Vantage - May 18
2024-05-18 11:00 - 17:00 | Wildhorse Wind and Solar Facility and Renewable Energy Center, 25901 Vantage Hwy 98926, Ellensburg, WA, 98926, United States
The Ellensburg Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will host a field trip that covers the Vantage Highway corridor between the Wild Horse Wind & Solar Facility & Renewable Energy Center (east of Ellensburg) and Vantage on Saturday 18 May 2024. We will meet at Wildhorse Wind and Solar Facility and Renewable Energy Center parking lot at 11:00am on the 18th. The trip will include stops at:

Ginkgo Petrified Forest

Renewable Energy Center for a big picture view of geology and physical geography of the area;
Pumphouse Road to see impacts of past and current erosion (including that from the 2022 Vantage Highway Fire);
Ginkgo State Park Trees of Stone Interpretive Trail for the upper limit of Ice Age flooding in the area; and
Ginkgo State Park Interpretive Center for discussion on the petrified forest plus impacts of Ice Age flooding along the present-day Columbia River channel.

Given that we will be field tripping on the 44th anniversary of the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, that story will also be woven into several field trip stops. And if the weather stays somewhat cool and wet into May, we should see plenty of wildflowers in the shrub steppe.
The weather prediction for Vantage on Saturday is sunny with a high of 75°F. We will have several short (<0.75 mile) hikes over uneven ground on this trip. Make sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots, dress for the weather, wear a shade hat, slather on sun screen, and bring plenty of drinks. You might want to bring hiking sticks if uneven ground poses problems for you. I will wear long pants as we will be walking through weedy areas (esp. cheat grass) at Stop 2 and Stop 3.
As on past Ellensburg IAFI trips, this is an automobile trip. No need to sign up—just show up! You will need a Discover Pass to park at three of the sites. I will bring a limited number of hardcopy field guides. You can also download or print out the field guide at https://www.cwu.edu/academics/geography/directory/_documents/east-of-ellensburg-field-trip.pdf.
If you have questions, feel free to contact Karl Lillquist at lillquis@cwu.edu. Hope you can join us!

Ellensburg Vantage Highway Corridor Field Trip
2024-05-18 11:00 - 17:00 | Wildhorse Wind and Solar Facility and Renewable Energy Center, 25901 Vantage Hwy 98926, Ellensburg, WA, 98926, United States
The Ellensburg Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will host a field trip that covers the Vantage Highway corridor between Ellensburg and Vantage on Saturday 18 May 2024.
We will meet at Wildhorse Wind and Solar Facility and Renewable Energy Center parking lot at 11:00am on the 18th.
The trip will include stops at:
1) Renewable Energy Center for a big picture view of geology and physical geography of the area;
2) Pumphouse Road to see impacts of past and current erosion (including that from the 2022 Vantage Highway Fire);
3) Ginkgo State Park Trees of Stone Interpretive Trail for ancient Ginkgo trees and the upper limit of Ice Age flooding in the area; and
4) Ginkgo State Park Interpretive Center for a more complete view of the petrified forest plus impacts of Ice Age flooding along the present-day Columbia River channel.
Given that we will be field tripping on the 44th anniversary of the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, that story will also be woven into several field trip stops. And if the weather stays somewhat cool and wet into May, we should see plenty of wildflowers in the shrub steppe.
We will have several short (<0.5 mile) hikes on this trip. Make sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots, dress for the weather, and bring plenty of drinks.
As on past Ellensburg IAFI trips, this is an automobile trip. We will provide a hardcopy field guide for the trip at Stop 1. I will also send out a pdf of the field guide several days before the trip. If you have questions, feel free to contact Karl Lillquist at lillquis@cwu.edu.
Hope you can join us!

David Ellingson - "Fossil Dig in Woodburn, OR"
2024-05-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR, 97062, United States
The Willamette Valley at the time of the Ice Age Floods, 18,000 – 15,000 years ago, was backwater for massive floodwaters coming through the Columbia River Gorge multiple times. It was known as temporary Lake Allison for the geologist who first studied it as a lake.

David Ellingson, a biologist and paleontologist, teaches paleontology at Woodburn High School in Woodburn Oregon. Here he has led his students in an ongoing dig for many years for fauna and megafauna fossil bones. The dig will continue in the same location starting in early July this summer.
David has spoken to our group several times, always bringing fossils for us to view. We look forward to welcoming David in-person & online for a very interesting evening.
When: Thursday, May 16, 2024 @ 7:00 PM PDT
Where: Simultaneous In-Person Live and ZOOM presentation from
Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR 97062
For more information contact: LowerColumbia@iafi.org
If you cannot attend the in-person meeting at THC, please join us online
Click here to join the Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 869 4651 3479 Passcode: [REDACTED]

MCBONES: The Coyote Canyon Mammoth Site
2024-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 | The Reach Museum, 1943 Columbia Park Trl , WA, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
Gary Kleinknecht will present MCBONES: The Coyote Canyon Mammoth Site
Learn about the activities going on at this local mammoth dig site, the impact of Ice Age floods revealed at the site and the ongoing paleoenvironmental study. Presented by our own Lake Lewis Chapter Program Director and ‘go-to’ mammoth dig volunteer: Gary Kleinknecht. Gary serves as the Education Director for MCBONES, the educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which oversees activities at the Coyote Canyon site.
Tuesday, May 14th @7PM at The REACH Museum
1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99352

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Saturday 5/11 at 12 PM – Waikiki Springs
2024-05-11 12:00 - 14:00 | Waikiki Springs Trailhead, Washington, 99218
Come join us for an easy hike just north of Spokane to explore Ice Age floods features, led by IAFICS board member geologist Michael Hamilton. This is one of the newest conservation areas in Spokane, and has well established trails. Waikiki Springs is an out-pouring of the Spokane Aquifer through the bottom of an ancient valley buried by sands and gravels of the great outburst floods of the last Ice Age. Hiking group size is limited to the first 20 people to sign up.

After confirming your registration we will send you the hike details and keep you up-to-date on any changes that happen before the day of the hike.
Resources: Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve
