History: Bonneville Flood in Cassia County Idaho
The following story was printed in the South Idaho Press August 2006. I serve as the P.R. person for the Cassia County Museum and wrote this for the Burely, Idaho newspaper.
A huge amount of water in a very short time.
That’s how College of Southern Idaho (CSI) professor and Burley High School geology teacher Tim Gunderson describes the Bonneville Flood.
Gunderson spoke to a crowd of about 60 people during the Cassia County Historical Society’s first summer lecture held recently.
According to Gunderson, the flood was a result of glacial melting, and the ensuing waters covered much of Northern Utah and Southern Idaho. The floodwaters flowed at 15 to 19,000,000 cubic feet per second.
“That’s three times faster than the Amazon River,” Gunderson said.
During the flood, dormant volcanoes, known as shield volcanoes, acted as natural dams. The shield volcanoes were often 300-feet long and three to four miles wide.
Such was the case near the present day Milner Dam. A shield volcano served as a barricade during the flood. As the water headed westward, it was stopped at the natural embankment and immersed Mini-Cassia.
“The shield volcano controlled the flood waters,” Gunderson said.
Flood waters cut left to right next to the Snake River Canyon.
“You’re probably thinking ‘it looks like a canyon to me,’” he said.
How can geologists like Gunderson tell otherwise?
Oddly shaped large rocks tell of the flood’s activity, he said.
“When you see rounded boulders, that’s an indicator,” he said.
Other indications of flood activity are the dramatic and sudden changes in the landscape between Burley and Twin Falls. Travelers en route between the two communities will see fertile soil.
“It’s nice farm ground because it’s up on a little island. The flow never touched it,” Gunderson said.
That ground is suddenly replaced with barren earth the deluge destroyed for future crops.
“The flood stripped the top soil,” Gunderson said.
Marine life fossils regularly found throughout the region are another indicator of flood activity.
“We’ve found fossils in Sublet. They’re all over,” Gunderson said.
Today, all that remains of the Bonneville Flood is the Great Salt Lake.
“It never drained completely,” he said.
Gunderson has taught at both the high school and college for several years. This fall he will teach an introduction to geology class at the College of Southern Idaho. For more information call 678-1400
Also check out the following Famous American Battles" "Quilting in Idaho" The Bonneville Flood in Cassia County The History of Shorthand WWII Women's Auxiliary Volunteer Emergency
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That’s how College of Southern Idaho (CSI) professor and Burley High School geology teacher Tim Gunderson describes the Bonneville Flood.
Gunderson spoke to a crowd of about 60 people during the Cassia County Historical Society’s first summer lecture held recently.
According to Gunderson, the flood was a result of glacial melting, and the ensuing waters covered much of Northern Utah and Southern Idaho. The floodwaters flowed at 15 to 19,000,000 cubic feet per second.
“That’s three times faster than the Amazon River,” Gunderson said.
During the flood, dormant volcanoes, known as shield volcanoes, acted as natural dams. The shield volcanoes were often 300-feet long and three to four miles wide.
Such was the case near the present day Milner Dam. A shield volcano served as a barricade during the flood. As the water headed westward, it was stopped at the natural embankment and immersed Mini-Cassia.
“The shield volcano controlled the flood waters,” Gunderson said.
Flood waters cut left to right next to the Snake River Canyon.
“You’re probably thinking ‘it looks like a canyon to me,’” he said.
How can geologists like Gunderson tell otherwise?
Oddly shaped large rocks tell of the flood’s activity, he said.
“When you see rounded boulders, that’s an indicator,” he said.
Other indications of flood activity are the dramatic and sudden changes in the landscape between Burley and Twin Falls. Travelers en route between the two communities will see fertile soil.
“It’s nice farm ground because it’s up on a little island. The flow never touched it,” Gunderson said.
That ground is suddenly replaced with barren earth the deluge destroyed for future crops.
“The flood stripped the top soil,” Gunderson said.
Marine life fossils regularly found throughout the region are another indicator of flood activity.
“We’ve found fossils in Sublet. They’re all over,” Gunderson said.
Today, all that remains of the Bonneville Flood is the Great Salt Lake.
“It never drained completely,” he said.
Gunderson has taught at both the high school and college for several years. This fall he will teach an introduction to geology class at the College of Southern Idaho. For more information call 678-1400
Also check out the following Famous American Battles" "Quilting in Idaho" The Bonneville Flood in Cassia County The History of Shorthand WWII Women's Auxiliary Volunteer Emergency
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