Information about the geology, Ice Age Floods / Missoula Floods, lava plateaus and flood basalts is provided for Southeast Washington that includes Tri-Cities WA (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland).
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Tri-Cities Geology and Ice Age Floods
The geology of the Tri-Cities area is very unique in that it consists of a basalt and lava landscape carved by the great Ice Age Floods. During the largest floods the Tri-Cities lay under 900 feet of floodwater (i.e., Lake Lewis) that backed up behind the hydraulic constriction at Wallula Gap. During this time the tops of the local hills (e.g., Badger and Candy Mountains) were "islands" poking out above Lake Lewis. The floods also carved the basalt and lava landscape to create the Channeled Scablands in Eastern Washington.
You will find information about the Ice Age Floods on this page by two Tri-Citians, Bruce Bjornstad and Tom Foster, along with information about the Lake Lewis Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute, based in the Tri-Cities. Additional resources about the Ice Age Floods, Columbia River Basalt Group, and Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington are also provided.
Ice Age Floods Institute & Lake Lewis Chapter
About the Ice Age Floods Institute
The Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that is committed to the recognition and presentation of the Ice Age Floods as a significant part of the nation's, and the world's, natural heritage. You can find excellent resources (books, maps, videos, etc.) related to the Ice Age Floods.
IAFI is committed to working with Congress to support the National Park Service's effort to form the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail which would essentially be a network of marked touring routes extending across parts of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, with several special interpretive centers located across the region.
Lake Lewis Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute - Tri-Cities
The Lake Lewis Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute represents the Tri-Cities area and south-central and southeastern Washington and the adjacent areas in Idaho and Oregon.
The Lake Lewis Chapter offers lectures and field trips in the Tri-Cities region that are open to the public. In addition, this chapter has published the Lake Lewis Floodscape Brochure that includes a map of the region and several short articles about not-to-be-missed Ice Age floods features.
Ice Age Floods Glossary of Geologic Technical Terms
A Glossary of Geologic Technical Terms related to the Ice Age Floods was prepared by the Ice Age Floods Institute to help people of all backgrounds understand the geologic terms used to explain phenomena related to the Ice Age Floods.
Bruce Bjornstad - Geologist & Author
Bruce Bjornstad is a geologist who lives in the Tri-Cities and is author of the "On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods" guide books. He has produced several videos about the Ice Age Floodscapes and has led summer field trips for the The REACH Museum.
Tom Foster - HUGEfloods
Note: Tom Foster, creator of this HUGEfloods.com website, passed away unexpectedly on March 4, 2020, leaving behind a treasure trove of Ice Age Flood images and information in his website and his blogs...
Tom Foster (Tri-Cities) maintained HUGEfloods which is an excellent website with many photographs of geologic features he has taken. He produced several popular "I-90 Rocks" and "2 Minute Geology" videos with Nick Zentner (Central Washington University) and listed 25 features related to the Ice Age Floods region.
Washington Geological Survey
The Washington Geological Survey is a team of more than 40 people committed to providing geologic information to the people of Washington. They have created the website Washington 100 that provides viewers with a thorough guide to explore 100 geological places up close and personal. This website has graphics, videos, and maps for us to learn about well-known attractions including Mount Rainier and Palouse Falls.
There are 7 regions to choose from to learn more: Columbia Basin, North Cascades, Okanogan, Olympic Peninsula, Puget Lowland, South Cascades, and Willapa Hills.
Publications
Columbia River Basalt Group
The USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Washington has published information on the Columbia River Basalt Group.
Hiking Guide to Washington Geology (2009)
The Hiking Guide to Washington Geology, by Bob Carson & Scott Babcock, offers more than 50 superb hikes, from short day trips to overnight backpacking treks, to the best spots around Washington to see the Earth's most monumental forces at work.
Ice Age Flood Features Near Richland, Washington - Road Guide
Ice Age Flood Features Near Richland, Washington is a road guide that describes two routes for self-guided tours of Ice Age flood features and local wineries within 20 miles of Richland, Washington. Nine stops are identified where evidence of these cataclysmic floods can be observed first hand. The guide also provides background information on the origin and destructive power of the Ice Age floods as well as their impact on the terroir of Washington's primary wine producing regions.
Ice Age Floods in Washington: A Cybertour (2008)
Ice Age Floods in Washington: A Cybertour explores the impact of the Ice Age floods on Washington state and covers fourteen areas of interest.
Ice Age Floods Institute - Book Store
The Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) has an online store that has a good selection of books, DVDs, and videos available on the Ice Age Floods. Buying from the IAFI helps its mission to educate the public and increase appreciation for the floods story.
Ice Age Floodscapes of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Exploration (2021)
Ice Age Floodscapes of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Exploration is a heavily illustrated book by Bruce Bjornstad that contains descriptions and geologic interpretations of photographs (mostly aerial) illustrating the power and magnitude of repeated Ice Age flooding in the Pacific Northwest, as recently as 14,000 years ago. The scale of Ice Age floods was so huge that today it is often difficult to see and appreciate the power and magnitude of such megafloods from ground level. However, from the air, landforms created by the floods often come into clear focus. Aerial images, obtained via unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) as well as fixed-wing airplane, add a new perspective on evidence gathered by dozens of scientists since 1923.
Mystery of the Megaflood
NOVA Science Programming On Air And Online (PBS) provides information on the Mystery of the Megaflood with topics that include Fantastic Floods, Ice Age Lake, and Explore the Scablands.
On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods (2006)
On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A Geological Field Guide to the Mid-Columbia Basin (2012) by Bruce Bjornstad, a geologist from the Tri-Cities, shows the best places to hike, bike, drive and fly to see the unique and awesome geologic features in this region.
On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: The Northern Reaches is a following up on the book above. Geologist Bruce Bjornstad joined forces with Emeritus Professor Eugene Kiver to guide readers upstream - The Northern Reaches - in Volume 2. This book focuses on northern Idaho and the Channeled Scabland.
The Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington (1976)
The Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington summarizes the sequence of geologic events that culminated in the so-called "Spokane Flood," and was prepared in response to a general interest in geology and a particular interest in the origin of the Scablands often expressed by those crossing the State of Washington.
The Scablands: A scarred landscape as strange as fiction (2014)
The Scablands: A scarred landscape as strange as fiction was published by Scott K. Johnson. Scott is a hydrogeologist, educator, and a technical contributor to Ars Technica. In 2014, he made a trip to Eastern Washington to check out the Scablands first hand. At Frenchman Coulee, he met up with local geologist, Bruce Bjornstad.
Where the Great River Bends (2008)
Where the Great River Bends, edited by Robert J Carson, is a book about the natural and human history of the Columbia at Wallula. This book covers the geography, geology, biology and history of an area symbolized by a unique geologic feature, the Twin Sisters. Here the Ice Age floods rushed through, Native Americans lived, fur trappers traded and railroads thrived, making it an important historical and cultural landmark in the West's awesome landscape.
Wikipedia
Several authors have contributed information on Wikipedia about the Channeled Scablands, Columbia River Basalt Group, and Missoula Floods.