Field Trips

Some Field Trips may become space limited (first come, first served), and some may be cancelled if minimum pre-registration targets are not met or if access to field trip areas is closed due to road, safety, or security conditions. Registrants will be notified by e-mail of Field Trip details. Fees will be refunded if cancellations occur. Unless indicated otherwise, all Field Trips will start and end at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center.

1. Hydrogeology of Beer and Wine in the Yakima Valley

Cancelled

Washington State ranks first in the United States in the production of hops and second in the production of wine grapes. Nearly all of Washington’s hop and wine-grape production is located in the lower Yakima River Basin, where the climate and geology are ideally suited. The lower Yakima River Basin is one of the most intensively irrigated areas in the United States. Most of this irrigation water has been supplied by surface-water reservoirs and canal systems. However, increasing demands for water for agricultural, municipal, fisheries, industrial, and recreational uses have strained these surface–water resources, and spurred the increased use of groundwater resources.

This field trip will explore the many aspects of the geology and hydrogeology in the lower Yakima River Basin, particularly as they relate to water resources that support the local beer and wine industries. During this 2-day trip, we will make several stops for a hands-on look at the geology of these two sedimentary basins, including ancestral Columbia and Yakima River sediments and Ice Age flood deposits. We will make other stops where we can overlook portions of the basin and discuss proposed projects designed to enhance water resources, and we will stop at a local brewery and winery to taste, first hand, the fruits of this unique hydrogeologic system.  The trip includes a catered dinner featuring local wines.

Time: Sunday April 26, 8 AM to Monday April 27, 6 PM.
Leaders: George Last, Pacific Northwest National Lab, george.last@pnl.gov, (509) 371-7080; Matt Bachmann, U.S. Geological Survey, mbachmann@usgs.gov, (253) 552-1672; Alan Busacca, VINITAS Vineyard Consultants LLC, alan@vinitas.net; Bruce Bjornstad, Pacific Northwest National Lab, bruce.bjornstad@pnl.gov, (509) 371-7223.
Contact: Chris Curran, U.S. Geological Survey, ccurran@usgs.gov, (253) 552-1614.
Cost: $190 (double occupancy), $240 (single occupancy), $135 (no lodging) - includes transportation by van, overnight stay in Richland, WA, box lunches (2), morning and afternoon refreshments, guide book, and a catered dinner on Sunday night featuring local wines.
Maximum Size: 20 participants; minimum: 8.
Special Considerations: Be prepared for the chill and/or warmth of spring in Eastern Washington.  Hiking shoes, water, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket or sweater, raingear, and overnight accessories are recommended.
 

2. Hydrogeologic Implications of Removing the Elwha River Dams

The Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act of 1992 authorized the Secretary of the Interior to acquire and remove the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams on the Elwha River to fully restore the ecosystem and native anadramous fisheries. Commencing in 2012, the 108-foot-tall Elwha Dam and the 210-foot-tall Glines Canyon Dam are scheduled to be dismantled in stages, reopening 70 miles of prime salmon and steelhead spawning habitat.

The Elwha project offers a unique opportunity to fully restore a river since nearly all the river’s watershed is preserved within the relatively undeveloped environment of Olympic National Park. Removing the two dams is expected to temporarily increase the amount of silt in the river since some 18 million cubic yards of sediment have been trapped behind the dams over the last 93 years. The resulting flooding and increased silt will impact multiple water users downstream including the City of Port Angeles, the WDFW fish hatchery, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and many other water users. A new water- treatment plant is currently under construction to treat the highly turbid water diverted from the Elwha River. This field trip will visit the Glines Canyon Dam, the Elwha Dam, the City of Port Angeles Ranney groundwater collector, the WDFW State hatchery and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe salmon recovery project site near the Elwha estuary.

Time: Monday, April 27, 7:30 AM to 6 PM.
Leaders: John Pearch, Washington Department of Ecology, jope461@ecy.wa.gov, (360) 407-0297; Brian Winter, Olympic National Park; Steve Sperr, City of Port Angeles; Jeff Duda, Western Fish Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey; Mike McHenry and Matt Bierne, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
Contact: Chris Curran, U.S. Geological Survey, ccurran@usgs.gov, (253) 552-1614.
Cost: $45, includes transportation by van, box lunch, and field trip handouts.
Maximum Size: 20 participants; minimum: 8.
Special Considerations: Be prepared for the chill of spring in the Olympics.  Sturdy hiking shoes, water, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket or sweater, and raingear are recommended.
 

3. Coastal Cliff Geology Dinner Cruise

Back by popular demand for the third time, this field trip features a unique opportunity to enjoy great geology from a different perspective as well as an opportunity to network with colleagues in the delightful surrounding of an evening buffet dinner cruise. Kathy Troost, Brian Sherrod and friends will lead an evening boat cruise departing from Thea Foss Waterway and traveling along the bluffs of Point Defiance and the Tacoma Narrows to the site of the new bridge. Along the way, trip leaders will describe the geology, the Tacoma fault zone, coastlines and shoreline processes, landslides, the foundation for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, culture and history, the Port of Tacoma fill and Puyallup River delta, habitats and environmental conditions, and Puget Sound.

Exposures of well-dated Quaternary sediments will be visible, including at measured sections where Olympia, Whidbey, Possession, and Double Bluff-aged deposits have been identified with absolute age dating techniques. And for the modelers amongst us, the vertical and lateral heterogeneity typical of our region’s deposits will also be visible from the vessel. Participants will receive a guidebook with color maps, images, and a fold out geologic strip map with measured sections.  This trip will include a buffet dinner and choice of beverage.

Time: Wednesday evening, April 29, 5:30 to 9 PM.
Leader: Kathy Troost, University of Washington, Department of Geological Sciences, ktroost@u.washington.edu, (206) 616-9769.
Contact: Chris Curran, U.S. Geological Survey, ccurran@usgs.gov, (253) 552-1614.
Cost: $85. Transportation is by charter vessel and includes beverage, buffet dinner, and guide book.
Where: The boat is docked within walking distance of the Convention Center. http://www.mygirltheboat.com/directions.htm
The Boat: “My Girl” is a 69 ft long U.S. Coast Guard certified vessel with a professional, licensed crew. The boat has inside seating for 75, a sun deck, enclosed aft deck, rest rooms, and more. We will have sunlight until about 8 PM.  Learn more at  http://www.mygirltheboat.com/
Maximum Size: 65 participants; minimum: 50.
Special Considerations: Although the cabin is enclosed, be prepared for the chill of a spring evening on the water in Western Washington.  Sunglasses, jacket or sweater, raingear, and flat shoes are recommended.

4. Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing

Cancelled

Hydrologists from the USGS will demonstrate the use of Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing for measuring stream temperatures and evaluating ground-water discharge to a local Pierce County stream. This new technology allows for high-resolution, real-time monitoring of temperature along the entire length of an optical fiber at a spatial resolution of less than 1 meter and thermal resolution of less than 0.1 degree Celsius, at sub-minute measurement intervals. We will demonstrate how a fiber is deployed in a stream and the collection of real-time temperature data. We will describe data interpretation and instrumentation options with a focus on applying the technology to streams and rivers in the Pacific Northwest as well as to the Puget Sound near-shore environment.

Time: Thursday afternoon, April 30, 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
Leaders and Contacts: Rick Dinicola, U.S. Geological Survey, dinicola@usgs.gov (253) 552-1603; Chris Curran, U.S. Geological Survey, ccurran@usgs.gov, (253) 552-1614.
Cost: $25
Maximum Size: 20 participants; minimum: 10.
Special Considerations: Be prepared for the chill of spring in Western Washington.  Sturdy shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket or sweater, and raingear are recommended.

5. Hydrogeology of the San Juan Islands

The geology on the San Juan Islands makes it hard to naturally store water, since the Islands are composed primarily of bedrock and thin soils. Such terrain has little capability to absorb rainfall to replenish groundwater aquifers. Because of the geology, a large percentage of rainwater runs off into the Puget Sound unless it can be captured for beneficial use.

Groundwater and surface water are limited on the San Juan Islands. Groundwater can be difficult to find and extract from bedrock. Existing wells can go dry or become contaminated with salt water. Thus, many Island residents have to find alternative water sources to meet their water needs. Larger water-system operations use primarily surface-water reservoirs for their water supply. Some Island residents also use rooftop rainwater collection systems for their water supply. For some areas, rainwater may be the only water resource available. Other water systems use desalination plants (reverse osmosis), that remove excess salt and minerals from diverted sea water. Other residents resort to having water trucked or shipped in.

The local Watershed Planning Unit (San Juan County Water Resource Management Committee) requested that Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) develop a rainwater collection permit under the local Watershed Planning process. In response, Ecology is working with the community to develop a faster and simpler rooftop rainwater collection permitting process for domestic use on an island-by-island basis.

Desalination plants and other salt water diversions or withdrawals do not require a water right permit from Ecology. However, Ecology’s Water Resource Program Policy (1015) requires all diversions or withdrawals of salt water be constructed to protect against the induction of salt water into fresh water aquifers. In contrast, larger surface water reservoirs (such as Cascade Lake and Mountain Lake) on Orcas Island supply plentiful water to many communities throughout eastern Orcas Island, which have surface water rights that date back to the early 1900’s.

This field trip will visit various water-system facilities on Orcas Island including surface-water reservoirs, wells, a rainwater catchment, and a desalination plant. Local experts on the geology and water system operators have been invited to participate during the field trip. Short lectures also will be presented on the geology of the San Juan Islands and sea water intrusion.

Time: Thursday April 30, 1 PM to Friday May 1, 9 PM
Leaders: John Pearch, Washington Department of Ecology, jope461@ecy.wa.gov, (360) 407-0297; Vicki Heater, San Juan Island Health Dept., vickih@co.san-juan.wa.us, (360) 378-4474; Paul Kamin, East Sound Water Users Association, (360) 376-2127; and Jerry Liszak, Washington Department of Ecology, jlis461@ecy.wa.gov, (425) 649-7013. Additional trip leaders have been invited to participate.
Contact: Chris Curran, U.S. Geological Survey, ccurran@usgs.gov, (253) 552-1614.
Cost: $160, includes transportation by van and ferry, overnight stay on Orcas Island at Camp Orkila cabins, a catered dinner Thursday night, breakfast Friday morning, box lunches for Friday lunch, and a guide book.
Maximum Size: 20 participants; minimum: 10.
Special Considerations: Be prepared for the chill of spring in the San Juans.  Sturdy hiking shoes, water, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket or sweater, and raingear are recommended.