Interview: Bruce Bjornstad

A former Eastern Washington graduate student who studied under geology professor Gene Kiver (a charter member of the Ice Age Floods Institute), Mr. Bjornstad works at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on weekdays – and spends many weekends working on Ice Age Floods outreach. As a Research Scientist at the Hanford Site, Bruce is part of a scientific team that models groundwater flow through the Ringold Formation (pre-Missoula Floods sediments) and the Touchet Beds (Missoula Floods sediments).

Later in the interview, Bruce discusses finding a publisher for his book, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A geological field guide to the Mid Columbia Basin. Keokee Books – based in Sandpoint, Idaho – published Bruce’s work in 2006. The book explores the origins, timing and frequency of the Ice Age Floods and describes each of 19 geologic features that were left behind. Illustrated with more than 200 maps, schematics, photos and illustrations, including 16 pages of color plates, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods provides a clear, concise and easily useable guide to the remarkable geologic record of the great Ice Age floods.

Late in the interview, Bruce outlines his involvement with the Ice Age Floods Institute - a nonprofit, grassroots organization that focuses on outreach to the citizens of the Pacific Northwest, and comments on a proposed National Geologic Trail. Bruce regularly gives lectures and leads field trips to signature Ice Age Floods landmarks such as Palouse Falls, Dry Falls, Wallula Gap, and Frenchman Coulee.

Bruce has placed geocaches near many significant Ice Age Flood features in the mid-Columbia.