The Spectacular Yet Somewhat Forgotten Bonneville Flood

Presented by Shawn Willsey
Distinguished Geology Professor
College of Southern Idaho
Largely overshadowed and understudied compared to the more popular Missoula Floods of the Pacific Northwest, the Bonneville Flood boldly inscribed record of its dramatic passage on the stark landscapes of southern and western Idaho. The flood’s story begins with immense Lake Bonneville during the cooler and wetter climatic regime of the Pleistocene. The combination of climatic factors as well as integration of a major river into the lake set the stage for the subsequent flood. Once released, the sheer power and energy of the flood created a host of erosional and depositional features from southeastern Idaho all the way to its confluence with the Columbia River. Join geology professor and author Shawn Willsey as he explores ancient Lake Bonneville and the path of its namesake flood.

[@dianespears6057]

A great channel. Good to see Shawn Willsey on here again. The Bonneville flood does not seem to get much attention. The speakers for this group are all always good. Thank you to Jackson Hole for sharing.

[@lisat9707]

You need to link Shawn Willsey's RUclips channel In the credits. It's the modern equivalent of a bibliography which we all know is important.🥰.

[@OkeanosRedux]

Great talk, too bad the top portion of the slides got cut off.

[@ExoticTerrain]

I watch his RUclips channel!

[@randallgd]

Professor you teach me new things every time you speak on the Bonneville flood. Thank you so much!! And side note we explored Government Cave near Springfield ID today and was better able to understand the layer of silt dirt on parts of the floor. Am I correct in thinking it probably came frome either the Bonneville flood and/or American Lake? Your talks, your RUclips channel and your books have changed the way I lookat our area. Thank you very much its so interesting!

[@TheAnarchitek]

I'm pretty certain the "Bonneville flood" neither started from, nor was caused by Lake Bonneville, a puddle left by the "flood" you see signs of, that came from the east, not the south or the west.