SF Gate-

While studying the volcanic landscape of the Cascade Range north of the California border, Oregon scientists recently discovered something they did not expect: an aquifer containing much more water than previously thought. They estimate its volume of water to be nearly three times the maximum capacity of Lake Mead, the crucial reservoir that provides water for drinking, irrigation and hydropower to much of the American West.

The aquifer’s existence beneath volcanic rocks in Oregon has been known for some time. What’s new is that scientists have recalculated just how much water is there — some 21 trillion gallons — as part of a study published last week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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