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2020, THE YEAR-IN-REVIEW
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Like most organizations, this was a year of adjusting our activities to deal with Covid-19. We had a few activities in community social settings until Covid forced a shift to on-line activities, and we learned how to present programs in a very different way. Some of our chapters have made the transition more rapidly than others. We expect to offer more programs on-line until we’re able to return to in-person activities (lectures, field trips, hikes) when it is safe to do so. The safety of our presenters and members is our number one priority!
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PROGRAMS FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE FLOODS
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Outreach to inform and educate the public about the Ice Age Floods and their long-lasting impact on our area is a key part of our IAFI mission. Our local chapter programs are possibly the most effective way we meet this challenge. Two of the more important ways we help people learn about the Ice Age Floods are with lectures and field trips.
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In early 2020 we sponsored 11 lectures, one field trip and had one hike, but after March, our activities were limited to 16 on-line lectures as of mid-December, many of which are available on our YouTube channel. We have also significantly increased our online outreach, typically garnering thousands of views each week through interesting articles and features on our Facebook, website and newsletters.
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We appreciate and thank our members who provide most of our support and much of the reason for the various materials, activities and events we provide. We’ve grown from 11 members in 1996 to 667 members (471 memberships) from 19 states and 1 Canadian province at the end of 2020. Though this was a reduction of 56 members and 30 memberships compared to 2019 due to Covid-19, we hope they will rejoin soon.
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IAFI is a non-profit organization whose main sources of income are membership dues, donations, profit from field trips and Institute Store sales. For 2020, our income was $15,352 and our expenses were $11,383. Previously our main expenses had been twice a year board meetings, contract labor, field trip expenses and liability insurance, but during 2020, we shifted to on-line board meetings which saved a lot. Post-pandemic we plan to have one in-person board and membership meeting in the fall that will feature a very popular field trip. Our reserves of $29,247 are meant to cover unplanned expenses, printing informational brochures and to pursue new opportunities related to telling the floods story.
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The 11 new IAFI chapter brochures have been popular personal and gift items since they were added to the IAFI Store early in 2020, Each brochure highlights 5 or more unique floods- and/or glacial-related features within the areas of each chapter, with descriptions, pictures and a location map, as well as information about the chapter, some Interesting Flood Facts, and information about the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. The brochures are quite useful for learning about the floods and ice-age glacial features, and for planning and use when visiting the various floods and glacial areas.
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Unfortunately the $12 price for a package of the 11 brochures plus a new general IAFI brochure has not covered the cost for postage and reprinting, so effective Jan. 1, 2021, the price for the full set has increased to $20 (shipping included).
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There have also been many requests to purchase only certain individual brochures, so beginning Jan. 1, 2021, we're offering any number of individual chapter brochures for $3 each (shipping included) from the IAFI Store.
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The Lake Lewis Chapter has been supporting the Friends of Badger Mountain and the Benton County Parks Department with interpretation kiosks, panels, markers, and signage for the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve and Candy Mountain Preserve (both Benton County, Washington, Parks), since their inception in 2005.
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The latest efforts were to help fund, design and locate three Ice Age floods related interpretive signs along a 1.2-mile interpretive loop trail on Candy Mountain. These signs describe 1) the process and history of Ice Age flooding in this area, and 2) the main line of evidence (erratics) that can be seen along the trail.
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The placement of these signs was the culmination of a nearly two-year effort, that was completed in May 2020. Many thanks to Bruce Bjornstad, George Last and Chris Barnes for their efforts. New interpretive signage is also being prepared for installation along Badger Mountain’s Canyon Trail.
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Efforts are also under way to complete the Little Badger Mountain Preserve, the next stage for a vision of trails connecting four of the Lake Lewis Isles (Little Badger, Badger, Candy, and Red Mountains).
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Work has begun on the Ice Age Floods Museum in Lacrosse. The accompanying photo shows that the rock from the existing rock houses has been removed and new foundations have been poured. The rock will then be set back in place and the structures will be similar to the house seen in the back which is the temporary home of the museum today.
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We will have four of these bunk houses which will be available to travelers. Once these are done, the work will begin on the rock gas station next to these which will be the final home of the museum.
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Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter To Hear About Ice Age Sister Lakes in Montana
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Glacial Lake Missoula was not the only glacial lake that impacted the northern Montana landscape during the Ice Ages. There was Glacial Lake Great Falls and Glacial Lake M and others.
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Don Hyndman, professor emeritus of geology at the University of Montana, will give a public lecture by Zoom on “The Other Glacial Lakes in Northern Montana” on Wednesday, February 24th, at 7:00 pm. This is part of the annual “Cabin Fever” lecture series co-sponsored by the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute and the Montana Natural History Center.
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There is no charge for this lecture, but registration is required to obtain the link. Registration can be done after February 1st from a link on the chapter page of the IAFI site or the website for the Montana Natural History Center
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Dr. Hyndman coauthored the original Roadside Geology of Montana, first published in 1986. His second edition, with Dr. Rob Thomas of U of M Dillon, is completely rewritten with all new photos, geology maps and diagrams, everything in color. This is a great chance to learn about the glacial lakes discussed in this book and more.
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Do you have a geology question? We might have an answer!
Do you have a geologic fact to share? We have a way to do that!
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Members who want to do a short article, or describe a field trip location of interest, or describe some geologic problem or site, can use our online form to submit a question or write-up to our technical committee for an answer or review before we post it on our Geology Corner page.
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Q - Is there evidence elsewhere in the world of ice age floods? Intuitively, I would think glaciers dammed other rivers, created lakes and then eventually collapsed and releasing the waters of Lake Missoula
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Geologist Dr. Vic Baker has created an infographic comparing the scale of several terrestrial and Martian flood volumes, though not all are ice-age floods.
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A - Your instincts are correct. The rivers with big ice and big gorges pretty much all had outburst floods on them. The St. Lawrence Seaway is a flood path as is the Strait between Denmark and Norway and the English channel at the Dover Straits. The Altai Mountain Floods in Mongolia were very steep and fast much like Lake Missoula. The latitude where the ice was melting on its own appears to be more susceptible to very large floods. The Tibetan Plateau also had a series of large floods.
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Q - With all the homes being built on and around Badger mountain in the Tri-Cities, is there any danger of landslides, similar to what is happening at Rattlesnake Hills? I'm unfamiliar with the geology there, and I understand that building homes can affect stability, but are there other likely dangers in that area that potential homebuyers/builders should be wary of?
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A - There have been prehistoric landslides (now stabilized) on Badger Mountain along with the other ridges nearby. These may have occurred following one more of the Ice Age floods >15k years ago.
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Renewed landsliding is unlikely as long as there is no significant addition of water that could load the slope and/or lubricate weak zones within, or between, basalt flows - leading to instability. Badger Mountain itself is probably safe since there has been little new development on top or on the steeper sides of the mountain. Most of the mountain is now free from future development, thanks to the Friends of Badge Mountain, who have turned most of the mountain into a preserve. (One exception is the group of new Sterling homes built at the west end of the ridge).
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Other unprotected ridges may not be as lucky. The cluster of new homes built on top of and along the sides of Little (East) Badger Mountain could generate stability problems, especially if excess water used for landscaping is allowed to percolate underground. There are also a number of new roads dug into the steeper north side of the ridge that potentially could undermine and destabilize the slopes above. Adding irrigation water to these slopes will only increase the likelihood of slope failure in the future. - Bruce Bjornstad
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Upcoming Calendar Events
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Jan 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm - ZOOM LECTURE
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“Ice Age Bison in Your Backyard” - Jauhn Brasseur
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Feb 18 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm - ZOOM LECTURE
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“The Other Flood: Ice Age Bonneville Flood on the Snake River” - Jim O’Oconnor
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Feb 18 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm ZOOM LECTURE
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“How Science Discovered the Channeled Scabland” - Dr. Gene Kiver
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Feb 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm - ZOOM LECTURE
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“Glacial Lake Missoula’s Sister Lakes” - Don Hyndman - Registration opens 2/1
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Mar 1 @ 6:45 pm – 8:15 pm – ZOOM LECTURE
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“Geologic and Human History of the Palouse Falls Area” - Lloyd Stoess
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Mar 9 @ 6:45 pm – 8:15 pm – ZOOM LECTURE
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“The Other Flood–The late Pleistocene Bonneville Flood on the Snake River”
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Dr. Jim O’Connor - link available March 7-9
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Mar 18 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm - ZOOM LECTURE
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“Tualatin Mastodon” - Andrew Boehm
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THANK YOU IAFI MEMBER SUPPORTERS
January-December 2020
Every member at every membership level is vital to IAFI’s continued success. Your support helps us meet our mission of providing the Ice Age Floods story to the public and continuing our work on the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. Every gift counts, no matter the size. Thank you for making the IAFI what it is today and for helping shape it for the future.
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Benefactors
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Catherine & Daniel Speth Clemens
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Patrick & Catherine Eakin
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Chris & Carla Chiotti Murray
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Sustainers
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Richard Frith & Judy Hademan-Frith
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Jim & Ann Warrington Trivelpiece
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Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit educational organization (EIN 91-1658221), founded in 1995 and recognized as an official authority on the Ice Age Floods, providing accurate, scientific-based advice to members and the public. We were instrumental in 2009 Federal legislation authorizing National Park Service designation of the
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (IAFNGT).
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