Katherine McCarville, professor of Geology at Upper Iowa University emphasized that the geology and geomorphology of an area influence the culture or cultures that inhabit that area, through features of the landscape and the availability and quality of earth resources.  These resources include stone, clay, mineral and fuel resources, and soils. 

Many cultures have legends and stories that have been inspired by actual events that can be confirmed through the geologic record.  For example, in the Pacific Northwest, indigenous stories incorporate aspects of the draining of Lake Missoula and catastrophic flooding of the Channeled Scablands. 

Katherine noted that similar flooding events associated with the most recent episode of continental glaciation in North America have been documented in Minnesota and Wisconsin and are now suspected to have affected northeast Iowa as well.