Topography
Figure 1: Topographic map of Echo Basin, Quincy, WA. ‘Echo Basin, Quincy, WA’ Topographic Map. USGS Store. United States Geological Survey, 2017. Web. 24 October 2017.
The highest elevation point at Echo Basin is about 1,313 feet. The lowest point of elevation is 835 feet.(1) The area does not vary greatly in elevation, so everything is relatively similar in height. The total relief of Echo Basin is 478 feet. The steepest slope is located on the southern outer part of the basin near the highest elevation point. Echo Basin has many cliffs, and is a destination for hikers. The basin itself is in a U shape, therefore having a U shaped valley. There are synclines in the same shape. It has a table-like top and steep sides, making it resemble a mesa. Echo Basin is located near Wanapum Lake on the Columbia River.
Rock Types and Ages
Figure 2: Geologic map of Echo Basin, WA showing rock types.(2)
Table 1. List of rock types with rock types and ages. (2)
Formation Name
(symbol) Rock type
(be as specific as you can) and brief description
Ages: Oldest to youngest
(Ma = million years ago)
Miocene Volcanic Rocks (MV) Dense aphanitic basalt flows 21-14 ma
Miocene Nonmarine Rocks (Mc) Clay and shale with minor sand and gravel 14 ma
Miocene-Pliocene Nonmarine Rocks (MPLc) Andesitic sandstone and siltstone; includes basalt flows 5.3-2.6 ma
Quaternary Nonmarine Deposits (Qce) Silt 2.6 ma
Younger Glacial Drift (Qglo) Silt and gravel with some clay 2.6ma-11,700ya
Geologic Structures
Figure 3: ‘Geologic Map of Echo Basin, Quincy, WA’. Washington Geologic Information Portal. Department of Natural Resources. Web. 18 October 2017.
Near Echo Basin, there is a syncline fold, which is displayed by the pink dotted line and arrows pointing towards each other on the line. The deformation is plastic/ductile, meaning the rocks changed their shape without breaking.(4) Because the deformation of the rocks near Echo Basin are plastic/ductile, this explains that there was at one time volcanic activity in the area which created the heat and led to this type of deformation.
Sequence of Geologic Events
The first rock type to form in this area was the Miocene volcanic rocks. These rocks formed during the middle Miocene period sometime between 21 and 14 million years ago. They are volcanic, meaning that during that time period, there would have been volcanic activity of some kind. Some of the volcanic rocks are much thicker than in other spots, so the lava flow may have been stronger and lasted longer than it did in other places. The next rocks formed closely behind the first. These are the Miocene Nonmarine rocks that formed in the late Miocene period about 14 million years ago. Sandstone, conglomerate, siltstone, and claystone make up these rocks. Third were the Miocene-Pliocene Nonmarine rocks. They were formed during the Miocene-Pliocene period 5.3-2.6 million years ago. They are made up of andesitic sandstone and siltstone. There are also basalt flows included. Then the Quaternary Nonmarine deposits were formed during the early Pleistocene period. These are made up of glacial deposits. Lastly, the younger glacial drift rocks formed during the Pleistocene period, 2.6ma to 11,700 years ago.(2)
Surface Processes in Echo Basin, Quincy, WA
Water Resources
Streams
The river that is closest to Echo Basin in Quincy is the Columbia River. The river has a meandering channel type, meaning it curves regularly along its course. It drains in a trellis pattern, and flows perennially. This means that the river flows all year long, and does not dry up due to the weather. Because of the dams that are along the Columbia, the river does not change much from season to season. The dams help to control the levels of the water in the river so that it does not flood (5). During the winter, though, the water levels can rise a bit due to rainwater, and ice and snow melting. In the summer, the water levels can drop from lack of rain, and hot temperatures. Folded rock along the river affects how the river drains (6).
Groundwater
In the area surrounding Echo Basin, there is a groundwater reservoir. It is called the Columbia Plateau aquifer system. It is an unconfined aquifer, meaning that it is closer to the surface than a confined aquifer is. The groundwater levels in the area change from irrigation use and rainwater. The aquifer is made of unconsolidated deposits, and basalt (7).
Water Use
The city that is closest to Echo Basin is Quincy, Washington. There are five wells that are located within the city (8). This is where the residents of the city get their drinking water. The water is stored in four reservoirs, one of which holds 100,000 gallons, and the other three which hold 1 million gallons each (8). The water in Quincy is used mainly for the peoples’ consumption, but is also sometimes used for irrigation in agriculture. There were concerns made about the water quality within in the city of Quincy about there possibly being lead in the pipes. This would pose a health risk to young children, elderly people, and women who are pregnant.
Glaciers, Shorelines, and Climate Change
Glaciers and Shorelines: Features and Processes
Echo Basin is in the central region of Washington, and therefore away from any coastal region. There is evidence of past glaciers in the surrounding areas. A large mass of ice that once was in Canada, melted and flooded down into parts of the United States, like the Echo Basin area. The melting of this large patch of ice is the reason that the soil in the area is so fertile (9).
Climate and Global Climate Change
In Quincy, the nearest town to Echo Basin, the average annual precipitation is 7.78 inches. The highest average temperature was 87.7 degrees Fahrenheit in July. The lowest average temperature was 19.1 degrees Fahrenheit in January. The annual total snowfall was 12.8 inches, with the most snowfall being 5.0 inches in December. On average, the snow was deepest in January with 2 inches. (10)
Due to warming temperatures, the water sources in the area pose the risk of possibly drying up. Although this would not happen for a long time, in recent years the Columbia River has experienced drought during the summer months, causing lengths of the river to decrease. If the water supply drastically dropped, this would cause problems for wildlife in the area, as they need water to survive.
Conclusion
The most interesting thing that I learned while researching this project was in regards to the large sheet of ice that began to melt and then migrated down from Canada, carving out the land. I did not know that that incident had occurred. It was also interesting to learn about the different types of rocks that exist in the Echo Basin area.
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