GEOLOGIC FOUNDATION AND SOILS
“The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.” - Henry David Thoreau
A Sense of Place in Geological Time
Studying the physical and biological processes that created the Flathead Watershed gives one a sense of place and of deep time...geologic time. This landscape was formed through the deposition of materials that develop rock layers, the uplifting of mountains, the displacement of huge slabs of rock, and weathering and erosion—the slow, steady wear caused by wind, water, and ice. This geologic legacy forms the foundation for the fascinating combination of climate, water, soils, flora, and fauna: the ecological connections that distinguish the Flathead Watershed. The rocks and deposits within the watershed are evidence that these forces—at work for over one billion years—remain active today shaping and changing the landscape. No geologic history of the Flathead Watershed would be complete without the words and wisdom of local geologist and educator, Dr. Lex Blood.
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| Figure 2.1: Glacier National Park - The Garden Wall. Source: National Park Service |
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| Figure 2.2: Rock wall along Hwy. 2. Source: Peter Winchell |
“Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” - Will Durant
