Scientists at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, along with the US Forest Service, have made a major discovery beneath the Cascade Mountains – a massive water reservoir estimated to be three times the volume of Lake Mead. The researchers found the hidden aquifer while examining drill holes left behind by previous geothermal experiments.
The reservoir’s total water capacity is at least 81 cubic kilometers, tripling Lake Mead’s capacity. Earth scientist and study co-author Leif Karlstrom calls it a “continental-size lake stored in the rocks at the top of the mountains, like a big water tower.”
Located within Oregon, the high Cascades are home to smooth slopes and ongoing volcanic activity, dating back 8 million years. The Western Cascades, which date to 45 million years ago, are filled with canyons and valleys carved by flowing streams.
The researchers used the gradual shift between these two zones to study how volcanic processes have affected the region over time. However, they caution that the un tapped source of water is expected to decline significantly in the Cascades due to declining snow and snowpack in the coming decades.
Source: https://san.com/cc/scientists-discover-huge-reservoir-beneath-cascades-tripling-lake-mead