OREGON'S MISSOULA LAKE ICE AGE FOREST
Corvallis firm, Northwest Geophysical Associates, has been hired to make underground radar surveys of a forest covered by mud. Scott Burns, a Portland State University geology professor, said the tree trunks found at those depths probably were covered with mud and ice 15000 years ago in the Ice Age Lake Missoula flood.Burns plans to have the ancient logs carbon-dated for its age.
Rowland French, of NGA says: "I'm not sure the wood was actually in the Missoula Flood deposits; they may in fact have been more recent Tualatin River deposits. I don't think Scott Burns was actually at the site, and Andy Vessley, the site geologist, thought they were more recent. If they do get samples carbon dated we will know for sure."
The wood is 20 to 30 feet below the surface and was found in the process of a joint project by the city of Forest Grove and the Tualitin Valley Water District. The forest is expected to increase costs. The project was budgeted at $215,000 but may now cost $1 million.