E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

100

200

300

400

200

300

200

300

300

200

200

300

200

300

200

100

200

100

200

200

300

200

200

300

300

200

300

200

200

300

200

300

200

200

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100

100

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100

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100

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100

100

100

200

100

NE 119TH ST

NE 76TH ST

NE 117TH AVE

STATE RTE 501

NE 78TH ST

NE 162ND AVE

NE 18TH ST

NE ST JOHNS RD

NE 88TH ST

NE PADDEN PKWY

NE 137TH AVE

NE 63RD ST

NE 58TH ST

NE 39TH ST

NE 112TH AVE

NE 28TH ST

NE 99TH ST

E 5TH ST

NE 144TH ST

NE 152ND AVE

NW 11TH AVE

SE EVERGREEN HWY

E 18TH ST

NE 72ND AVE

NE 159TH ST

E EVERGREEN BLVD

NE 139TH ST

NW 99TH ST

NE 49TH ST

F ST

SE 164TH AVE

NE 87TH AVE

E MILL PLAIN BLVD

NE ANDRESEN RD

S ST

NW 21ST AVE

H ST

SE COLUMBIA WAY

P ST

SE MILL PLAIN BLVD

NE 9TH ST

PACIFIC HWY

SE 1ST ST

U ST

NE 29TH AVE

NE FOURTH PLAIN RD

NE HAZEL DELL AVE

NE 50TH AVE

SE 7TH ST

N GRAND BLVD

E ST

NE WARD RD

NE 66TH AVE

NE 132ND AVE

NE 68TH ST

NE 60TH ST

M ST

W 39TH ST

NE 94TH AVE

MACARTHUR BLVD

NE 86TH ST

NW 41ST AVE

NW 119TH ST

NE 20TH AVE

NE 129TH ST

KAUFFMAN AVE

NW 149TH ST

NE 98TH AVE

NE 109TH ST

G ST

NW 78TH ST

NE 130TH AVE

NE 156TH ST

NE 92ND AVE

NE 25TH AVE

NE 134TH ST

SE 10TH ST

NE 51ST ST

N DEVINE RD

NW 169TH ST

E FOURTH PLAIN BLVD

NE 121ST AVE

NE 131ST AVE

NE 136TH AVE

NE 40TH ST

NE 34TH ST

N MARINE DR

NE 86TH AVE

NE 102ND AVE

NE 149TH ST

NE 138TH AVE

OLD STATE HWY 503

NE 54TH ST

SE MCGILLIVRAY BLVD

NW 36TH AVE

ST HELENS AVE

SE 136TH AVE

NE 151ST ST

NW 127TH ST

NE BURTON RD

NE 44TH ST

SE BRIARWOOD DR

NW 61ST AVE

NW 9TH AVE

NE 142ND AVE

NW LINCOLN AVE

E RESERVE ST

NICHOLSON RD

E MCLOUGHLIN BLVD

NW 139TH ST

NE 104TH AVE

NE 124TH AVE

NW 26TH AVE

NE COVINGTON RD

SE TALTON AVE

NW 151ST ST

NW MCCANN RD

X ST

NE 47TH ST

SE ELLSWORTH RD

N GARRISON RD

NE 40TH AVE

NE 17TH AVE

GRANT ST

W 29TH ST

NE PARKINEN RD

NW 94TH ST

NE 62ND AVE

W 36TH ST

BROADWAY ST

W 33RD ST

SE 98TH AVE

SE FRENCH RD

NW OLD LOWER RIVER RD

NE 82ND AVE

NE SALMON CREEK AVE

E 20TH ST

NE 56TH AVE

NE 155TH AVE

NW 122ND ST

HIGHLAND DR

W MILL PLAIN BLVD

SE RIVERSIDE DR

NE 131ST ST

NE 124TH ST

NE 47TH AVE

NW 164TH ST

NE 148TH AVE

ST JOHNS BLVD

CAROLINA LN

SILVER STAR AVE

NE 70TH ST

W 21ST ST

BUENA VISTA DR

NE 10TH AVE

NW 51ST AVE

NE 122ND AVE

DANIELS ST

NE 45TH ST

NW 58TH ST

NW LAKESHORE AVE

NE 105TH ST

SE BELLA VISTA RD

SE MIDDLE WAY

NE 71ST ST

NE 59TH ST

NE 93RD AVE

W 15TH ST

NE 6TH ST

NE 151ST AVE

NE 125TH AVE

S LIESER RD

W EVERGREEN BLVD

NE 143RD AVE

NE 127TH AVE

W 44TH ST

MISSISSIPPI DR

NE HEARTHWOOD BLVD

NE 124TH AVE

NE 9TH ST

NE 124TH AVE

SE EVERGREEN HWY

NE 72ND AVE

NE 159TH ST

E FOURTH PLAIN BLVD

NE 137TH AVE

NE 72ND AVE

NE 102ND AVE

NE 44TH ST

NW 11TH AVE

NE 92ND AVE

NE 117TH AVE

NE 39TH ST

NE 139TH ST

NE 87TH AVE

E MILL PLAIN BLVD

NE 132ND AVE

NE 152ND AVE

NE 54TH ST

NE 152ND AVE

NE PADDEN PKWY

NE 50TH AVE

NE 159TH ST

NE 49TH ST

NE 88TH ST

NE 99TH ST

NE 51ST ST

NE 142ND AVE

Burnt Bridge Creek

Whipple Creek

Mill Creek

Curtin Creek

Cougar Canyon Creek

Salmon Creek

Weaver Creek

Burnt Bridge Creek

Salmon Creek

Whipple Creek

Salmon Creek

Burnt Bridge Creek

SALMON CREEK COUNTY PARK

5

500

5

5

205

205

500

503

14

14

51

35

67

30

31

34

19

29 28

22

15

07

44

20 21

34

26

23

23

27

36

02

10

62

33

27

43

25

22 23 24

28

35

21 20

26

28 27

17 16 15 14

14

13 18 16

11

17 15

14

14

37

04

39

23

26

32

55

22

26

52

25

24

36

24

25

36

13

29

12

46

01

22

15

33

08

06

43

13

17

25

61

45

02

35

72

42

68

61

39

56

58

54

58

03

37

29

60

34

66

40

70

27

57

51

47

40

32

64

52

09

48

01

41

60

56

41

54

44

37

17

16

11

05

18

42

40

49

57

52

21

63

59

38

01

37

09

44

24

53

12

18

41

69

38

65

39

13

71

53

47

38

41

16

30

46

16

42

59

39

03

04

50

44

38

42

20

03

24

50

50

48

19

43

44

18

12

19

05

35

62

19

51

43

10

39

41

25

01

19

38 17

42

33

55

34

46

07

20

02

36

10

21

08

40

32

13

18

21

06

01

30

18

45

31

30

Round

Lake

LAKE RIVER

Bybee Lake

Biddle

Lake

Curtis

Lake

SHILLAPOO LAKE

V A N C O U V E R

L A K E 

C O L U M B I A 

 R I V E R

Post

Office

Lake

Green 

 Lake

BUCKMIRE SLOUGH

C O L U M B I A 

 R I V E R

OREGON

CLARK CO

CLARK CO

CLARK CO

WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON

MULTNOMAH CO

Rye

Union

Knapp

Fisher

Felida

Orchards

Ellsworth

Barberton

Minnehaha

McLoughlin

Hazel Dell

Walnut Grove

Salmon Creek

Brush Praire

McLoughlin Heights

Vancouver

Junction

MILE 5

MILE 0

MILE 8

MILE 15

MILE 10

MILE 10

MILE 105

Ryan Point

Lieser

Point

Kiggins

Bowl

Clark

College

Russell

Landing

Evergreen Field

Port of

Vancouver

County

Fairground

MILITARY

RESERVATION

NORTH PORTLAND HARBOR

Sewage Treatment

Plant

SHILLAPOO

WILDLIFE AREA

WHIPPLE CREEK

COUNTY PARK

Evergreen

Memorial Gardens

Port of Vancouver

Terminal

FORT VANCOUVER

NAT HIST SITE

Washington

School for the Deaf

Veterans Affairs

Medical Center

Washington

School for the Blind

Washington State University

Vancouver Campus

M I L L P L A I N

F O U R T H 

P L A I N S

H A Y D E N 

 I S L A N D

VANCOUVER

WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN

VANCOUVER LAKE

WILDLIFE AREA

TIDAL FLAT

TIDAL FLAT

VANCOUVER LAKE PARK

SHILLAPOO WILDLIFE AREA

RIDGEFIELD NATIONAL

WILDLIFE REFUGE

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6

5

4

3

2

1

5

14

205

500

503

500

5

VANCOUVER

PORTLAND

BATTLE GROUND

C O L U M B I A R I V E R

WILLAMETTE

RIVER

C O L U 

M 

B I A 

R I V E 

R

Salmon Creek

Whipple Creek

Mill Creek

Salmon Creek

Burnt Bridge Creek

Vancouver 

Lake

Lacamas Creek

WASHINGTON

OREGON

WASHINGTON

OREGON

CLARK CO

MULTNOMAH CO

CLARK CO

COLUMBIA CO

COL. CO

MULT. CO

RIDGEFIELD QUADRANGLE BATTLE GROUND QUADRANGLE

LACAMAS CREEK QUADRANGLE

SAUVIE ISLAND QUADRANGLE

VANCOUVER QUADRANGLE ORCHARDS QUADRANGLE

PORTLAND QUADRANGLE MOUNT TABOR QUADRANGLE

SAINT

HELENS

QUADRANGLE

YACOLT

QUADRANGLE CAMAS QUADRANGLE

LINNTON

QUADRANGLE

Clark County LiDAR

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers LiDAR

Area of map

122°45'00" 122°30'00"

45°45'00" 45°37'30"

122°37'30"

45°35'07"

INDEX MAP SHOWING GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL FEATURES OF MAPPING AREA (ORANGE OUTLINE) AND VICINITY ON HILLSHADE IMAGE DERIVED FROM LIDAR DATA. DASHED BLUE LINE SHOWS 

BOUNDARY BETWEEN U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND CLARK COUNTY LIDAR DATA USED TO 

CREATE BASE TOPOGRAPHY

Station Date Latitude Longitude Quadrangle Source Lithology Comments

1 3/1/2015 45°39'04" 122°30'17" Orchards Nathan Reynolds, 

electronic commun.

Granitic On field edge; also 'slaty rock' nearby

2 5/11/2012 45°43'57" 122°37'54" Vancouver O’Connor Granitic Three >3-ft- (1 m) diameter boulders, derived from single large erratic 

found during excavation of Washington State University Science 

building; original location: 45°43'57", 122°38'04"

3 5/11/2012 45°43'36" 122°38'23" Vancouver O’Connor Granitic

4 7/12/2012 45°35'60" 122°32'50" Mount Tabor O’Connor Granitic Millstone for Hudson Bay gristmill

5 7/11/2012 45°40'18" 122°32'07" Orchards O’Connor Granitic About 10 large blocks along sidewalk, as much as 3.9 ft (1.2 m) 

in diameter

6 7/11/2012 45°42'60" 122°33'48" Orchards O’Connor Granitic Two 1-m-diameter blocks stradling driveway

Table 1. Locations of observed Missoula flood ice-rafted erratics in map area. Locations are relative to North American Datum of 1927 and obtained using global positioning system 

(GPS) at time of observation. All documented erratics have been moved from their original location. 

520000mE 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530000mE 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538

5049

5050000mN

5051

5052

5053

5054

5055

5056

5057

5058

5059

5060000mN

5061

5062

5063

5064

5065

5066

5053

5054

5055

5056

5057

5058

5059

5060000mN

5061

5062

5063

5064

5065

5066

5052

5051

5050000mN

5049

520000mE 521 522 523 524

525

526

527

528 529 530000mE

531

532

533

534

535

536

537

538

122°30'

32'30"

32'30"

35'

35'

37'30"

37'30"

40'

40'

42'30"

42'30"

122°45'

122°45'

45°45'

45°45'

42'30"

42'30"

40'

40'

45°37'30"

37'30"

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only 

and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

When this map is printed on an electronic plotter directly from digital files, dimensional 

calibration may vary between electronic plotters and between X and Y directions on the 

same plotter, and paper may change size due to atmospheric conditions; therefore, scale and 

proportions may not be true on plots of this map.

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, 

CO 80225, 1–888–ASK–USGS

Digital files available at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3357.

Suggested Citation: O’Connor, J.E., Cannon, C.M., Mangano, J.F., and Evarts, R.C., 2016, 

Geologic map of the Vancouver and Orchards quadrangles and parts of the Portland and 

Mount Tabor quadrangles, Clark County, Washington, and Multnomah County, Oregon: U.S. 

Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3357, scale 1:24,000, 

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3357.

Geology mapped by J.E. O’Connor, 2008–2012; C.M. 

Cannon, 2010–2012; R.C. Evarts, 2004–2012; and J.F. 

Mangano, 2010–2012

Digital cartography by J.F. Mangano 

Edited by Katherine Jacques and Regan Austin

Manuscript approved for publication May 25, 2016

Base compiled from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Clark County 

(Washington), and Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries 

digital topography acquired in 2005 and 2009, and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture orthophotographs acquired in 2009. Roads from U.S. Census 

Bureau, 2011.

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, North American Datum of 1927

1,000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid lines, zone 10

Geologic Map of the Vancouver and Orchards Quadrangles and Parts of the Portland and Mount Tabor Quadrangles, Clark 

County, Washington, and Multnomah County, Oregon

By

Jim E. O’Connor, Charles M. Cannon, Joseph F. Mangano, and Russell C. Evarts

2016

OREGON

WASHINGTON

MAP LOCATION

MAGNETIC NORTH

TRUE NORTH

15.5°

APPROXIMATE MEAN

DECLINATION, 2016

ISSN 2329-132X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3357

CONTOUR INTERVAL 20 FEET

NATIONAL AMERICAN VERTICAL DATUM OF 1988

REFERENCES CITED

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Ore Bin, v. 40, p. 177–203.

Atwater, B.F., 1986, Pleistocene glacial-lake deposits of the Sanpoil River Valley, 

northeastern Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1661, 39 p.

Baker, D., Peterson, C., Hemphill-Haley, E., and Twichell, D., 2010, Latest Pleistocene 

and Holocene (2–16 ka) sedimentation in the Columbia River estuary, Oregon, 

USA: Marine Geology, v. 273, p. 83–95.

Benito, G., and O’Connor, J.E., 2003, Number and size of last-glacial Missoula floods in 

the Columbia River valley between the Pasco Basin, Washington and Portland, 

Oregon: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 115, p. 624–638.

Bretz, J H., 1925, The Spokane flood beyond the Channeled Scablands: Journal of 

Geology, v. 33, p. 97–115, 236–259.

Bretz, J H., 1959, Washington’s Channeled Scabland: Washington Division of Mines and 

Geology Bulletin 45, 55 p.

Burns, W.J., Mickelson, K.A., and Duplantis, S., 2012, Landslide inventory maps of the 

Vancouver quadrangle, Multnomah County, Oregon, and Clark County, Washington: 

Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Interpretive Map 45, scale 

1:8,000.

Clague, J.J., Barendregt, R., Enkin, R.J., and Foit, F.F., Jr., 2003, Paleomagnetic and 

tephra evidence for tens of Missoula floods in southern Washington: Geology, v. 31, 

p. 247–250.

Evarts, R.C., Conrey, R.M., Fleck, R.J., and Hagstrum, J.T., 2009b, The Boring Volcanic 

Field of the Portland-Vancouver area, Oregon and Washington—Tectonically 

anomalous forearc volcanism in an urban setting, in O'Connor, J.E., Dorsey, R.J., 

and Madin, I.P., eds., Volcanoes to Vineyards—Geologic Field Trips through the 

Dynamic Landscape of the Pacific Northwest: Geological Society of America Field 

Guide 15, p. 253–270, doi:10.1130/2009.fl d015(13).

Evarts, R.C., and O’Connor, J.E., 2008, Geologic Map of the Camas quadrangle, Clark 

County, Washington, and Multnomah County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Map 3017, scale 1:24,000, pamphlet 32 p. [Also available 

at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3017.]

Evarts, R.C., O’Connor, J.E., and Cannon, C.M., 2016, Geologic map of the Sauvie 

Island quadrangle, Multnomah and Columbia Counties, Oregon, and Clark County, 

Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3349, scale 

1:24,000, pamphlet 34 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3349.

Evarts, R.C., O’Connor, J.E., and Tolan, T.L., 2013, Geologic map of the Washougal 

quadrangle, Clark County, Washington, and Multnomah County, Oregon: U.S. 

Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3257, pamphlet 46 p., scale 

1:24,000. [Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3257.]

Evarts, R.C., O’Connor, J.E., Wells, R.E., and Madin, I.P., 2009a, The Portland Basin—A 

(big) river runs through it: GSA Today, v. 19, no. 9, p. 4–10, doi:10.1130/GSATG58A.1

Fleck, R.J., Hagstrum, J.T., Calvert, A.T., Evarts, R.C., and Conrey, R.M., 2014, 40Ar/39Ar 

geochronology, paleomagnetism, and evolution of the Boring volcanic field, Oregon 

and Washington, USA: Geosphere, v. 10, 32 p., doi:10.1130/GES00985.1

Gates, E.B., 1994, The Holocene sedimentary framework of the lower Columbia River 

basin: Portland, Oreg., Portland State University, M.S. thesis, 210 p.

Gradstein, F.M, Ogg, J.G., Schmitz, M.D., and Ogg, G.M., eds., 2012, The geologic time 

scale 2012: Boston, Mass., Elsevier, 1,176 p.

Hanson, M.A., Lian, O.B., and Clague, J.J., 2012, The sequence and timing of large late 

Pleistocene floods from glacial Lake Missoula: Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 31, 

p. 67–81.

Hartford, S.V., and McFarland, W.D., 1989, Lithology, thickness, and extent of hydrogeologic units underlying the east Portland area, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4110, 23 p.

Howard, K.A., 2002, Geologic map of the Battle Ground 7.5-minute quadrangle, Clark 

County, Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map 

MF-2395, scale 1:24,000, pamphlet 18 p.

Lite, K.E., Jr., 1992, Stratigraphy and structure of the southeast part of the Portland 

Basin, Oregon: Portland, Oreg., Portland State University, M.S. thesis, 82 p.

McGee, D.A., 1972, Soil survey of Clark County, Washington: United States Department 

of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, Washington D.C., U.S. Government 

Printing Office, 113 p.

Minervini, J.J., O’Connor, J.E., and Wells, R.E., 2003, Maps showing inundation depths, 

ice-rafted erratics, and sedimentary facies of late Pleistocene Missoula Floods in the 

Willamette Valley, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03–408, scale 

1:250,000.

Mundorff, M.J., 1964, Geology and ground-water conditions of Clark County, Washington, with a description of a major alluvial aquifer along the Columbia River: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1600, 268 p., scale 1:48,000.

O’Connor, J.E., and Benito, G., 2009, Late Pleistocene Missoula floods—15,000-20,000 

calendars years before present from radiocarbon dating: Geological Society of 

America Abstracts with Programs, v. 41, no. 7, p. 169, abs. 55–7.

Peterson, C.D., Gates, E.B., Minor, R., and Baker, D.L., 2013, Accommodation space 

controls on the latest Pleistocene and Holocene (16-0 ka) sediment size and bypassing in the lower Columbia River valley—A large fluvial-tidal system in Oregon and 

Washington: Journal of Coastal Research, v. 29, p. 1191–1211.

Peterson, C.D., Minor, R., Peterson, G.L., and Gates, E.B., 2011, Pre- and post-Missoula 

flood geomorphology of the Pre-Holocene ancestral Columbia River valley in the 

Portland forearc basin, Oregon and Washington, USA: Geomorphology, v. 129, p. 

276–293.

Punke, M.L., Ozbun, T.L., and Reese, Jo, 2011, Early to late Holocene occupation at the 

Gee Creek Archaeological sites in the uplands of the Portland basin: Journal of 

Northwest Anthropology, v. 45, p. 159–197.

Pratt, T.L., Odum, J., Stephenson, W., Williams, R., Dadisman, S., Holmes, M., and 

Haug, Brian, 2001, Late Pleistocene and Holocene tectonics of the Portland Basin, 

Oregon and Washington, from high-resolution seismic profiling: Bulletin of the 

Seismological Society of America, v. 91, p. 637–650.

Swanson, R.D., 1986, A stratigraphic-geochemical study of the Troutdale Formation and 

Sandy River Mudstone in the Portland basin and lower Columbia River Gorge: 

Portland, Oreg., Portland State University, M.S. thesis, 103 p.

Swanson, R.D., 1988, A stratigraphic-geochemical study of the Troutdale Formation and 

Sandy River Mudstone in the Portland basin and lower Columbia River Gorge 

[abs.]: Oregon Geology, v. 50, no. 5–6, p. 66.

Tolan, T.L., and Beeson, M.H., 1984, Intracanyon flows of the Columbia River Basalt 

group in the lower Columbia River Gorge and their relationship to the Troutdale 

Formation: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 95, p. 463–477.

Trimble, D.E., 1963, Geology of Portland, Oregon and adjacent areas: U.S. Geological 

Survey Bulletin 1119, 119 p., scale 1:62,500.

Waitt, R.B., 1980, About 40 last-glacial Lake Missoula jökulhlaups through southern 

Washington: Journal of Geology, v. 88, p. 653–679. 

Waitt, R.B., 1985, Case for periodic, colossal jökulhlaups from Pleistocene glacial Lake 

Missoula: Geological Society of America, v. 96, p. 1271–1286.

Waitt, R.B., 1994, Scores of gigantic, successively smaller Lake Missoula floods through 

channeled scabland and Columbia valley, in Swanson, D.A., and Haugerud, R.A., 

eds., Geologic field trips in the Pacific Northwest: Seattle, University of Washington 

Department of Geological Sciences, p. 1K1–1K88.

EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS

Contact—Solid where location is accurate; long-dashed where location is 

approximate; short-dashed where location is inferred

Fault—Fault locations projected into the map area from adjacent areas. 

Dotted where location is concealed; queried where existence or extent 

uncertain. Ball and bar on downthrown block. Arrows show relative 

horizontal motion

Folds—Dashed where location is inferred; dotted where location is 

concealed; queried where existence or extent is uncertain 

Anticline

Syncline

Ice-rafted erratic—Description in table 1

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

SURFICIAL DEPOSITS

Artificial fill (Holocene)—Unconsolidated soil, sand, and gravel that underlie 

industrialized floodplain areas of Vancouver and Hayden Island; includes 

mounds of sand and minor gravel from channel dredging, and earth and 

crushed rock used for levees, railroad beds, and highways, particularly 

Interstate Routes 5 and 205 (I-5, I-205)

Columbia River floodplain alluvium (Holocene)—Unconsolidated sediment 

of modern floodplain, islands and bars of the Columbia River at 

elevations mostly less than 30 ft (10 m) above sea level (altitudes 

referenced to National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1988); largely 

composed of quartz, feldspar, and conspicuous muscovite, indicating 

Columbia River provenance. Upper elevation limit of deposits approaches 

maximum extent of historical flooding before 20th-century river regulation and floodplain diking; the 1894 flood attained a maximum stage of 

39.4 ft (12 m) above sea level at Vancouver. Most deposits above typical 

low-water river level are younger than 2,000 years (Evarts and O’Connor, 

2008; Evarts and others, 2009a). Mostly corresponds to Sauvie Series 

soils (McGee, 1972), and Trimble’s (1963) alluvium (Qal). Well logs and 

seismic-reflection profiles show that fine-grained valley fill beneath 

historic floodplain locally reaches 210–250 ft (65–75 m) below sea level 

in and near the map area (Gates, 1994; Pratt and others, 2001; Peterson 

and others, 2011, 2013). Deposited from river aggradation since the last 

glacial sea-level low stand at about 16 ka (Baker and others, 2010); 

deposits at 210 ft (64 m) below sea level at the I-5 crossing are 

11.32–11.13 ka (Peterson and others, 2011); in the same core, the 7.7 ka 

Mazama tephra is at 122 ft (37.2 m) below sea level (Peterson and others, 

2013). Silt and clay facies mapped separately from predominantly sand 

facies

Silt and clay facies—Silt, clay, and minor sand deposited on low-lying 

areas of the Columbia River floodplain less than 10 ft (3 m) above sea 

level. Includes area of drained Shillapoo Lake. Bank exposures, auger 

holes, and trenches show silt, clay, and organic materials in horizontal 

laminae 0.04–0.8 in (1–20 mm) thick. Probably formed from thin 

overbank deposition during floods, and local deposition and in-situ 

accumulation of organic materials in marshes, ponds, and lakes 

Sand facies—Sand and silt commonly as much as 30 ft (9 m) above sea level 

forming crevasse splays and natural levees along floodplain channels. 

Exposed stratigraphy outside map area shows stratified fine to medium 

sand in layers as thick as 1 ft (30 cm), alternating with silty sand. Subhorizontal and inclined beds indicate deposition by both vertical and lateral 

accretion

Alluvium of small streams and creeks (Holocene and Pleistocene?)— 

Unconsolidated sand, gravel, and organic-rich mud of modern channels 

and floodplains, excluding the Columbia River floodplain. May include 

late Pleistocene terrace deposits, especially in upstream parts of Salmon 

Creek where valley-bottom morphology is poorly resolved from available 

topography. Most extensive along Salmon Creek and Burnt Bridge Creek

Fan deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene?)—Unconsolidated silt, sand, and 

gravel in small fan-shaped accumulations at mouths of small and steep 

drainages. Mostly Holocene, inferred from relation to 20–1 ka cataclysmic-flood deposits and Columbia River floodplain deposits. Not exposed, 

but likely composed of sand and gravel diamicts deposited by debris 

flows and stratified sediment deposited by streamflow. Includes areas of 

debris flow deposits shown in Burns and others (2012)

Lake deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene?)—Black to gray silt, mud, and 

organic material underlying valley of Burnt Bridge Creek east of I-205; 

contiguous to large area underlying Lacamas Creek valley east of map 

area. Distinguished from alluvium of small streams and creeks (Qa) and 

peat and organic-rich alluvium (Qp) by extent of Cove Series soils 

(McGee, 1972). Mostly Holocene, inferred from relation to 20–15 ka 

cataclysmic-flood deposits

Peat and organic-rich alluvium (Holocene and Pleistocene?)— Organic-rich fine alluvium and peat underlying poorly drained valley bottom 

along Burnt Bridge Creek east of I-205. Mostly Holocene, inferred from 

relation to 20–15 ka cataclysmic-flood deposits. Map extent similar to 

Trimble’s (1963) bog deposits (Qb), and the Semiahmoo and Tisch Series 

of organic and clayey soils composed of peat and diatomaceous earth that 

underlie depressions and former marsh and lake basins (McGee, 1972))

Landslide deposit (Holocene? or Pleistocene?)—Diamict of unsorted debris 

transported downslope en masse. Single occurrence in map area involved 

unnamed conglomerate (QTc) along Columbia valley slope east of I-205. 

Position and morphology indicate this landslide formed after the late 

Pleistocene cataclysmic floods of 20–15 ka

Terrace alluvium (Holocene and Pleistocene)—Unconsolidated silt, sand, 

and gravel that form benches along Burnt Bridge Creek. Not exposed at 

surface in map area. Likely formed of stratified alluvium as Burnt Bridge 

Creek incised through and reworked cataclysmic flood deposits during 

late Pleistocene and Holocene

Eolian deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)—Unconsolidated massive sand 

and silt broadly covering upland areas. Forms undulating, apparently 

wind-fluted topography, locally shaped into parabolic dunes. Mapped 

only where undulating surfaces imply thick accumulations, but most 

upland surfaces are covered by variable thicknesses of eolian silt and 

sand. Mostly quartzofeldspathic sand containing muscovite and minor 

lithic fragments; in places difficult to distinguish from sand and silt facies 

of the cataclysmic-flood deposits (Qfs). Uncertain extent south of 

Vancouver Lake where undulating topography and higher benches may 

also be partly underlain by cataclysmic-flood deposits. Commonly 

mapped as Hillsboro loam soils (McGee, 1972); shown mostly as sandy 

phase, lacustrine deposits (Qls) by Trimble (1963). Likely formed by 

easterly winds entraining cataclysmic-flood deposits and Columbia River 

beach and bar sand. Historically inactive but position atop cataclysmic-flood deposits requires late Pleistocene or Holocene age. Radiocarbon ages from eolian silt on uplands near Ridgefield, north of map area, 

show episodic deposition through the Holocene (Punke and others, 2011) 

Cataclysmic-flood deposits (Pleistocene)—Sediment deposited by colossal 

glacier-outburst floods caused by repeated breaching of ice dam that 

impounded Pleistocene Lake Missoula in western Montana (Bretz, 1925, 

1959; Allison, 1978; Waitt, 1980, 1985; Hanson and others, 2012). 

Largest floods achieved stages of 400 ft (120 m) above sea level as they 

spread over the eastern Portland Basin. Flow velocity slowed northwestward across map area, from a maximum of 115 ft/s (35 m/s) at peak 

discharge (Benito and O’Connor, 2003) in the western Columbia River 

Gorge. Slackening currents deposited coarse bedload in huge bars and 

plains in eastern part of map area, and finer suspended sediment to the 

west and north (Trimble, 1963; Mundorff, 1964). Radiocarbon and 

tephrochronologic data outside the map area indicate depositional ages 

between about 20 and 15 ka (Waitt, 1985, 1994; Atwater, 1986; Benito 

and O’Connor, 2003; Clague and others, 2003; O’Connor and Benito, 

2009). Coarse bedload deposits and fine slack-water deposits mapped 

separately

Sand and silt facies—Unconsolidated light-brown to light-gray silt, clay, 

and fine to medium sand. May be 200 ft (60 m) thick near Felida, south of 

the Salmon Creek valley; thins toward upper mappable extent at 310 ft 

(95 m) above sea level in map area. Upper elevation limit only approximately placed on basis of topography owing to difficulty in distinguishing 

from loess and clayey soils that cover most upland surfaces. Most 

exposures obscure, but rare fresh exposures show multiple, 0.82–4.9 ft 

(0.25–1.5 m) thick, fining-up sequences of ripple cross-stratified very fine 

sand grading up to massive, bioturbated clayey silt. Sand composed of 

quartz, feldspar, and conspicuous muscovite, indicating Columbia River 

provenance. Coarser sand beds contain abundant dark volcanic rock 

fragments. Map extent similar to the “sandy” and the “silty and clayey” 

phases of Trimble’s (1963) lacustrine deposits (Qls and Qlc). Interpreted 

as slack-water sediment settled from slowing floodwater. May locally 

include compositionally similar loess

Gravel facies—Unconsolidated, gray, stratified, bouldery to cobbly gravel 

and sand, deposited in thick sheets over older basin-fill deposits on 

upland areas flanking the Columbia River; organized into prominent, 

large bar-and-channel complexes on Mill Plain and Fourth Plains (Bretz, 

1925; Allison, 1978; Minervini and others, 2003; Evarts and others, 

2009a; Peterson and others, 2011). On uplands of Mill Plain and Fourth 

Plains in the eastern map area, several quarries show more than 49 ft (15 

m) of crudely stratified and poorly sorted coarse gravel and sand, 

commonly deposited in tall (locally > 16 ft [5 m]), steeply dipping (as 

much as 35o) foresets; former exposures to west showed similar features 

(Mundorff, 1964). In east part of map area, many rounded boulders 

exceed 3 ft (1 m) diameter. Many active and historic quarry exposures in 

upland areas reveal fining westward, and away, from the Columbia 

River. On Mill Plain, north-dipping foresets indicate transport by 

northward flow out of the Columbia valley. Sweeping unconformities 

visible in large, fresh exposures likely separate deposits of individual 

floods (Benito and O’Connor, 2003). Texturally and compositionally 

variable; most clasts derived from Columbia River Basalt Group but 

includes blocks of Troutdale Formation and Pliocene to Quaternary 

volcanic rocks, all probably entrained in the western Columbia River 

Gorge. On uplands, deposits overlie older basin-fill deposits, but 

cataclysmic-flood gravel bars step down into the Columbia River valley 

and locally thicken to the south and west, perhaps to as much as 200 ft 

(60 m) thick along I-5 through Vancouver (Peterson and others, 2011). 

West of Vancouver, a possibly inset bench may have been deposited by 

later, smaller floods. Beneath Holocene Columbia River floodplain 

deposits, cataclysmic-flood gravel coats and partly fills the late-glacial 

valley, a valley bottom incised at least 230 ft (70 m) below sea level 

(Hartford and McFarland, 1989; Pratt and others, 2001; Peterson and 

others, 2011). Mostly corresponds to Trimble’s (1963) gravelly phase 

lacustrine deposits (Qlg), and Lauren Series gravelly loam soils (McGee, 

1972)

BASIN-FILL DEPOSITS

Unnamed conglomerate (Pleistocene and Pliocene?)—Unconsolidated to 

semi-consolidated, round-cobble conglomerate. Underlies Fourth Plains 

and Mill Plain beneath 30–70 ft (10–20 m) of cataclysmic-flood gravel, 

where it is commonly exposed near bottom of gravel pits. Also locally 

exposed along Columbia valley edge east of I-205 and along Salmon 

Creek valley, where it forms straths resulting from Holocene-age creek 

incision of overlying cataclysmic-flood deposits. A distinctly higher, and 

possibly older, component underlies hills 330–390 ft (100–120 m) high 

in northwest part of map area. Exploratory borings along the I-5 corridor 

indicate this gravel extends 84 m below sea level beneath the Columbia 

River, where it is inferred to overlie Troutdale Formation (Peterson and 

others, 2011). Isolated exposures at construction sites and along Salmon 

Creek show round-cobble gravel in a matrix of micaceous quartzofeldspathic sand. Maximum clast diameter about 1 ft (30 cm). Deposited in 

subhorizontal layers 0.7–6.6 ft (0.2–2 m) thick, locally separated by 

discontinuous sand lenses as much as 8 in (20 cm) thick. Exposures 

along Salmon and Mill Creeks locally capped by as much as 10 ft (3 m) 

of compact, laminated sandy silt containing abundant mica. Cobble clast 

lithologies are diverse and include basaltic rocks of the Columbia River 

Basalt Group, granitic rocks and quartzite from the interior Columbia 

River basin, and olivine-bearing volcanic rocks probably derived from 

Pliocene to Quaternary flows of the Cascade Range. Many fine-grained 

volcanic clasts in the surficial oxidized zone have weathering rinds 

0.1–0.2 in (2–4 mm) thick; more weathered clasts are found on higher 

elevation surfaces in northwest part of map area. No age information in 

map area, but radiocarbon dates to the east show uppermost deposits are 

older than 40 ka (Peterson and others, 2011). Optical luminescence ages 

from quarries near Scappoose indicate a late Quaternary age of 80–15 ka 

for the upper 26 ft (8 m) of this gravel (Evarts and others, 2016); deeper 

gravel may be much older. Equivalent gravel is locally overlain east of 

the map area by 653±3 ka basalt andesite of Prune Hill (Evarts and 

O’Connor, 2008; Fleck and others, 2014). Previously grouped with 

Troutdale Formation (Trimble, 1963; Mundorff, 1964) but is generally 

coarser, more poorly sorted, and contains clasts derived from of late 

Pliocene and Pleistocene olivine basalt from the Cascade Range. 

Aggradation of coarse sediment possibly resulted from episodes of 

Columbia basin glaciation and downstream valley aggradation from 

Lewis River glacial outwash (Evarts and others, 2009a) 

Troutdale Formation (Pliocene and Miocene)—Semi-consolidated to well 

consolidated conglomerate and sandstone. Few exposures in map area, 

but regionally divided into two informal members locally separated by 

an unconformity

Hyaloclastic sandstone member (Pliocene)—Indurated, coarse fluvial 

sandstone composed of abundant grains of basaltic glass containing 

crystals of olivine and plagioclase. Exposed only near confluence of 

Cougar Canyon and Salmon Creek 1 km east of Felida, where it 

apparently underlies the unnamed Conglomerate (QTc). Equivalent to 

vitric sandstone of Troutdale Formation of Trimble (1963) and Tolan and 

Beeson (1984). Possibly correlates to vitric sandstone identified at 

240–260 ft (75–80 m) below sea level in borings along the I-5, and at 

200 ft (60 m) below sea level in City of Vancouver water wells (Peterson 

and others, 2011). More extensively exposed east of map area (Evarts 

and O’Connor, 2008; Evarts and others, 2013), but no known exposures 

to the west and north. Hyaloclastic sandstone largely consists of angular 

to subrounded fragments, as much as 0.24 in (6 mm) across, of black 

basalt containing sparse phenocrysts of olivine (0.02–0.08 in; 0.5–2 mm) 

and plagioclase (0.04–0.12 in; 1–3 mm) in a glassy (sideromelane) to 

intergranular groundmass; sideromelane partly to completely altered to 

palagonite, which cements sandstone and imparts a distinctive yellowish-brown color to the originally dark-green rock. Sandstone ranges from 

poorly sorted to well sorted; typically thick-bedded in lenticular 

crossbeds containing dispersed pebbles and cobbles of olivine-bearing 

basalt. Angular, dense, and glassy basalt fragments in hyaloclastic 

sandstone beds interpreted as debris generated by basalt-water interaction in the Columbia River Gorge and rapidly transported downstream 

and deposited in Portland Basin (Trimble, 1963; Swanson, 1986, 1988; 

Evarts and others, 2009a,b). Vitric clasts and associated basalt cobbles 

have a low-potassium-tholeiite composition (Swanson, 1986, 1988; Lite, 

1992; A.W. Sarna-Wojcicki, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 

2005), rocks likely derived from compositionally similar late Pliocene 

(3.5–3.0 Ma) basalt flows east of map area (Tolan and Beeson, 1984; 

Swanson, 1986, 1988; Evarts and others, 2009b; Fleck and others, 2014)

Conglomerate member (Pliocene? and Miocene)—Indurated, well-sorted, clast-supported, pebble and cobble conglomerate exposed along 

railroad grade on edge of the Columbia valley north of Salmon Creek. 

Mostly composed of well-rounded clasts of Columbia River Basalt 

Group, but contains granitic rocks, quartzite, and felsic metamorphic 

rocks. Sparse interbeds of micaceous quartzofeldspathic sandstone. 

Extensive correlative deposits likely at depth, mostly more than 200 ft 

(60 m) below sea level along the Columbia River, where it is separated 

from overlying unnamed conglomerate (QTc) by arkosic and hyaloclastic sandstone (Evarts and others, 2009a; Peterson and others, 2011). 

Equivalent in part to upper member of Troutdale Formation of Mundorff 

(1964); correlative to lower member of Troutdale Formation of Tolan 

and Beeson (1984) and quartzite-clast member of Troutdale Formation 

(QTtq) of Howard (2002). Late Miocene to early Pliocene age inferred 

from stratigraphic relations east of quadrangle (Tolan and Beeson, 1984)

af

QTc

Ttfc

Ttfh

Qcf

Qcc

Qa

Qtf

Ql

Qls

Qe

Qfs

Qp

Qtd

Qfg

af

Qfs Qfg

Qe

Qcf Qcc

Qa Qtf Ql Qp

QTc

Qls Qtd

Ttfc

Ttfh

QUATERNARY

TERTIARY

BASIN-FILL DEPOSITS

0

0.015

0.020

0.0002

CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS

Pliocene?

and Miocene

SURFICIAL DEPOSITS

Holocene

Pleistocene

Unconformity

Troutdale

Formation

Pleistocene

and Pliocene? QUATERNARY

AND TERTIARY?

Pliocene

Approximate

age, in Ma

[Age of epoch boundaries from GTS2012 (Gradstein and others, 2012)]

Cataclysmicflood deposits

?

?

? ? ? ?

? Columbia

River

floodplain

alluvium

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Map 3357