Study Area
PROJECT CHIEF: David Morgan (dsmorgan@usgs.gov)
LOCATION: Deschutes County
PROJECT EXTENT: Newberry Volcano and vicinity
PROJECT COMPLETED: October 1995
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
From June 1991 through October 1995, a hydrologic and water-quality data-collection program was conducted at Newberry Volcano by the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and Bureau of Land Management. The purpose of the program was to characterize hydrologic and water-quality conditions at the volcano, principally within the caldera of the volcano, prior to development of geothermal resources. These data will be used to define baseline conditions for comparison with data collected as part of a long-term monitoring program. The collection of baseline data and the subsequent monitoring program were stipulated by the legislation that created the Newberry National Volcanic Monument in 1990 and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, which governs the development of geothermal resources on Federal lands. Monitoring of the hydrology and water quality of the area is also called for in the 1994 Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for the Newberry Geothermal Pilot Project and in the management plan for the Monument.
Centered about 20 miles southeast of Bend, Oregon, Newberry Volcano is one of the largest Quaternary volcanoes in the conterminous United States. The volcano covers an area in excess of 500 square miles and rises to an elevation of 7,984 feet at Paulina Peak. At the summit of Newberry Volcano is a 4 to 5 mile wide caldera that contains Paulina and East Lakes. Newberry Volcano is the product of thousands of eruptions over the past 0.6 million years, with at least 25 eruptions during the last 10,000 years. The most recent eruptions occurred only 1,300 years ago.
A broad range of hydrologic, water-quality, and climatic parameters were measured in order to characterize components of the hydrologic system that could potentially be affected by geothermal development in the vicinity of the caldera. Hydrologic parameters measured include lake stage, ground-water levels, and discharge of Paulina Creek. Water-quality parameters included concentrations of major ions, nutrients, stable isotopes, and trace elements, as well as water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen concentration, and pH. Climatic data included precipitation, air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation.
REPORTS
Two reports were produced during this study. The first report contains the hydrologic, water-quality, and meteorological data collected from June 1991 through September 1993 (Crumrine and Morgan, 1994). The second report, describes the baseline hydrologic and water-quality conditions at Newberry Volcano from June 1991 through October 1995.
OFR 94-122.Hydrologic, Water-Quality, and Meteorologic Data for Newberry Volcano and vicinity, Deschutes County, Oregon, 1991-93, by Milo D. Crumrine and David S. Morgan.
WRIR 97-4088. Hydrologic and Water-Quality Conditions at Newberry Volcano, Deschutes County, Oregon, 1991-95, by David S. Morgan, Dwight Q. Tanner, and Milo D. Crumrine. Abstract
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