Scientists find vast hidden water reserves beneath Oregon’s volcanic Cascades
Scientists have discovered a massive underground water reservoir beneath Oregon's Cascade Range by re-analyzing historical geothermal drilling data. The reservoir contains at least 81 cubic kilometers of water, significantly impacting regional water management and volcanic hazard assessments.
Why it matters
This discovery provides a new understanding of subsurface water storage in volcanic regions, which is critical for climate resilience and environmental planning.
Beneath the forested slopes of Oregon’s Cascade Range, scientists have uncovered a vast, hidden reservoir of water locked inside volcanic rock. By analysing temperature data from geothermal drill holes, a University of Oregon-led team estimated that at least 81 cubic kilometres of water are stored in the region’s subsurface, nearly three times the capacity of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. The discovery, announced by the university, reshapes how researchers think about water storage in volcanic mountains and could have implications for everything from regional water budgets to volcanic hazard assessment.A surprise hidden in old drill dataThe finding did not come from new drilling or expensive field campaigns, but from a fresh look at existing data.
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