Hidden Aquifer Discovery: Untapped Water Reserves Unearthed Beneath Oregon’s Cascades

The presence of water beneath the Cascades in Central Oregon has long been as evident as the McKenzie River, which originates in a spring-fed lake within the mountains and ultimately becomes a source of drinking water for numerous residents in the Willamette Valley.

However, the question of how much water exists beneath the Cascades has remained somewhat ambiguous. This issue has been elucidated by a recent research, titled “State shifts in the deep Critical Zone drive landscape evolution in volcanic terrains,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers aimed to enhance their comprehension of a volcanic transitional zone where two sections of the Cascade Range converge near the Santiam Pass. Their findings revealed a vast aquifer situated beneath the central Oregon Cascades, containing over 80 cubic kilometers of water, a volume threefold that of Lake Mead in Nevada.

“It is akin to a continental-size lake stored within the rocks atop the mountains, similar to a massive water tower,” stated University of Oregon earth scientist Leif Karlstrom in a press release from UO.

Karlstrom spearheaded the research alongside collaborators from six additional institutions, which include Oregon State University, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey, as well as three other colleges.

Co-author and Forest Service geologist Gordon Grant expressed that the team sought to “gain deeper insight” into the Cascade landscape and ultimately uncovered “the astonishing volume of water in active storage in the Cascades.”

The group determined the extent of water availability by utilizing deep drilling holes in the area, established 30 or 40 years ago to investigate potential geothermal energy sources. By gauging the temperature at various depths within those holes, the researchers were able to delineate where underground water was present. Nevertheless, as these drill holes were originally intended for energy exploration rather than water resource mapping, scientists indicate that it’s possible the holes may not present a comprehensive representation. They suggest that the true volume of water underneath the Cascades could possibly exceed three Lake Meads.

The scientists urge caution against perceiving this discovery as an instantaneous water surplus that can alleviate the state’s problems during droughts and rising water demands in the region. The aquifers depend on precipitation and melting snowpack for replenishment. Climate change poses a risk of reducing the snowpack in the region, leading to increased strain on water resources in the Northwest. This provides a valid reason for careful consideration, according to the scientists.

“If we experience an absence of snow, or endure a series of harsh winters with no rain, what consequences will that entail?,” Grant questioned.