Field Trips

More detailed information can be obtained from the field trip leaders.

1. Hydrogeology of the Walla Walla Basin

Cancelled

The Walla Walla Basin of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon is a structural and topographic basin. The Walla Walla River, flowing out of the adjacent Blue Mountains, and shallow aquifer-fed spring creeks historically provided a reliable source of water for seasonal salmonid migrations, the native American inhabitants of the Basin, later settlers who came to farm and ranch, and more recently the burgeoning wine grape industry. To the Native American inhabitants of the Basin, Walla Walla meant Many Waters. However, as is common throughout the arid to semi-arid American west, the abundant water which drew people in is now under stress.

This field trip will explore the many aspects of water in the Walla Walla Basin, from its historic extent to current conditions. During this two-day trip we will feature: (1) hands on stops where we will look at Columbia River basalt, alluvial sediments, and geologic structural features which influence groundwater occurrence and movement, (2) overview stops where we can discuss current and past conditions in the Basin as a whole, and (3) several of the ongoing projects designed to test ways to reverse declining groundwater water levels, rejuvenate spring creeks, and enhance baseflow to the Walla Walla River during hot summer months.

Time: Saturday April 28, 7 AM to Sunday April 29, 7 PM.
Leaders: Kevin Lindsey, Groundwater Solutions Inc., KLindsey@groundwatersolutions.com, (509) 735-7135; Bob Derkey, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Earth Resources,  robert.derkey@wadnr.gov, (509) 339-7857; Terry Tolan, Groundwater Solutions, Inc., ttolan@groundwatersolutions.com, (509) 735-7135; and Bob Bower, Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council, bob. bower@wwbwc.org, (541) 938-2170.
Cost: $170 (double occupancy), $220 (single occupancy), includes transportation by van, overnight stay with continental breakfast in Walla Walla, WA, box lunches (2), morning and afternoon refreshments, and guide book. Participants will be on their own for dinner Saturday night.
Where: On Saturday, the trip will depart from the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center in Tacoma and will rendezvous with field-trip leaders at about 11:00 am in Kennewick at the offices of Groundwater Solutions. Eastern Washington attendees are welcome to join the trip at the Kennewick location at 11:00 am. On Sunday, the trip will end at about 3:00 pm in Kennewick to allow for a 7:00 pm return to Tacoma.
Maximum Size: 20 participants; minimum: 8.
Special Considerations: Be prepared for the chill and/or warmth of spring in Eastern Washington and Oregon.  Hiking shoes, water, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket or sweater, raingear, and overnight accessories are recommended.
 

2. Hydrogeology of Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier, the highest peak (14,410 ft) in the Cascade Range, is a dormant volcano whose load of glacier ice exceeds that of any other mountain in the conterminous United States. This tremendous load of ice, in combination with great topographic relief, poses a variety of geologic hazards, both during inevitable future eruptions and during intervening periods of repose.

This trip to scenic Mount Rainier will offer a host of topics including the geologic origins of this northwest volcanic beauty, on-going monitoring at the mountain, the geologic hazards faced by the multitudes that live downstream from the volcano and the recent geomorphic changes to the mountain resulting from recent record-setting rainfall. On November 6 and 7, 2006, Mount Rainier National Park received 18 inches of rain in 36 hours. Extensive flood damage resulted from this event that offers many examples of the erosive power of water on both natural and man-made features.  For more information on the flooding, go to: http://www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/images-of-the-flood-of-2006.htm. For information on Mt. Rainier hazards, please see: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Rainier/Hazards/OFR98-428/framework.html.

This trip will be coordinated closely with National Park Service personnel on duty at Mount Rainier National Park and the final itinerary will depend on road reconstruction and access issues.

Time: Sunday April 29, 8 AM to 6 PM.
Leaders: Carolyn Driedger, U.S. Geological Survey, Cascades Volcano Observatory, driedger@usgs.gov, (360) 993-8907 and Paul Kennard, Mt. Rainier National Park, Paul_Kennard@nps.gov, (360) 569-2211 Ext. 3394.
Cost: $65, includes transportation by van, lunch refreshments and guide book.
Where: Details coming soon.
Maximum Size: 20 participants; minimum: 8.
Special Considerations: Be prepared for the chill of spring in the Cascades.  Sturdy hiking shoes, water, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket or sweater, and raingear are recommended.
 

3. Low Dissolved Oxygen Problem in
Washington’s Hood Canal

This trip will feature the spectacular scenery and geology of Washington’s Hood Canal and the complex problems that threaten marine wildlife. The field trip begins Monday morning in Tacoma, traveling by van to Twanoh State Park on the Lynch Cove arm of Hood Canal.

Participants will have the opportunity to participate in two half-day demonstrations. In one demonstration, 11 participants will be taken out onto Lynch Cove in a boat to conduct a continuous-temperature-depth (CTD) sounding of the water column, collect water quality samples, and to measure currents across Lynch Cove with an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). In the afternoon, a second demonstration will be conducted at the shoreline to show participants how ground-water discharge is measured using piezometers, seepage meters, and electrical resistivity surveys and how various citizen groups monitor Hood Canal to protect against further degradation. Each demonstration will be repeated in the morning and afternoon to double the capacity of the trip, if necessary.

Time: Monday April 30, 8 AM to 5 PM (including transit time).
Leaders: Tony Paulson, U.S. Geological Survey, apaulson@usgs.gov, (253) 552-1681 and Bill Simonds, U.S. Geological Survey, wsimonds@usgs.gov, (503) 251-3262.
Cost: $105, includes transportation by van, morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch at Twanoh State Park.
Where: Details coming soon.
Maximum Size: 22 participants; minimum: 8.
Special Considerations: Be prepared for the chill of spring on Hood Canal.  Sturdy hiking shoes, water, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket or sweater, and raingear are recommended.

4. Coastal Cliff Geology Dinner Cruise

Sold out!

Back by popular demand, 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.

Time: Wednesday evening, May 2, 5:30 to 9 PM.
Leader: Kathy Troost, University of Washington, Dept. of Geological Sciences, ktroost@u.washington.edu, (206) 616-9769.
Cost: $65. Transportation is by charter vessel and includes beer, 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 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: 70 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.

5. Characterizing Submarine
Groundwater Discharge

Scientists from the Water-Resources and Geologic Disciplines of USGS will demonstrate and discuss recent techniques for characterizing submarine ground-water discharge. The demonstration will take place along Ruston Way in Tacoma and will include geochemical (radon and radium isotopes), geophysical (2-d resistivity), seepage meter (barrell and electromagnetic), and subsurface-sampling methods. Many of these techniques were originally developed for East Coast application, but have recently been applied with success in Hood Canal and Puget Sound.

Time: Thursday May 3, 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
Leaders: Rick Dinicola, U.S. Geological Survey, dinicola@usgs.gov (253) 552-1603; Peter Swarzenski, pswarzen@usgs.gov, (727) 803-8747 ext 3072; and Bill Simonds, wsimonds@usgs.gov, (360) 993-8985.
Cost: $15, includes transportation and afternoon refreshments.
Where: Details coming soon.
Maximum Size: 20 participants; minimum: 8.
Special Considerations: Be prepared for the chill of spring in Western Washington.  Sturdy shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket or sweater, and raingear are recommended.