Ice Age Institute has new secretary

RITZVILLE — The Palouse Chapter of the Ice Age Flood Institute has a new secretary.

Cecilia Cochran of Pomeroy was appointed to fill the vacancy, replacing LeeAnn Blankenship.

The organization which promotes education on the geology of the Palouse and Eastern Washington also has an opening for memberhship chairman, officials said.

Institute officers for 2023 include President Lloyd Stoess, Vice President Jacqui Hair, Treasurer Kara Harder, Secretary Cochran, Program Chairman Chad Pritchard, Publicity Chairwoman Michelle Plumb and Scrapbook Chairwoman Karin Clinesmith.

Upcoming activities include a March 28 symposium on “Ice Age Impacts on Groundwater Flow in a Basalt Dominated Region.”

Led by Chad Pritchard, Eastern Washington University geosciences chairman, the program will take place in the Ritzville Library, 302 W. Main Ave., at 6 :30 p.m.

The program will focus on how geologic properties influence groundwater flow as well as a discussion of buried channels — or paleochannels — filled with sand and gravel.

Topics include contamination, mining, stormwater, aquifer storage and well recovery.

The organization is also planning an April 8 hike in Staley Coulee near Washtucna.

Hikers will meet at the north end of town at 1 p.m. and then travel to the coulee, where Prichard will lead a discussion and hike, pointing out foreset bedding in the Staircase Rapids bar, alluvial fans and more.