The abundant cold-water springs of the Shasta Region are vital to California's water supply, but they remain poorly understood and unprotected.
As snow and rain fall on the slopes of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen, and the other peaks of the southern Cascades, this precipitation eventually seeps through the surface and enters a vast network of aquifers that represents one of the most important sources of freshwater in California. This abundant source of cold water rises continuously and insistently to the surface in numerous springs throughout the area, contributing large volumes of water to the rivers that flow into the Shasta and Almanor reservoirs. California's volcanic aquifers provide constant flows of cold water throughout the year. In times of recurring droughts and rising temperatures, these aquifers are becoming even more essential to our state's water future. Unfortunately, scientists know very little about the region's volcanic aquifers, and there are no comprehensive regulations protecting them from various development threats. The race is on to better understand and sustainably manage one of California's most resilient cold water resources.
The Abundant Aquifers
The southern reach of the Cascade Range is located in one of the most remote and sparsely populated areas of northern California, in a region shaped over the last several million years by volcanic eruptions that created a vast layer of permeable volcanic rock. The water stored in the network of aquifers beneath the volcanic rock emerges as springs and feeds the headwaters of the Upper Sacramento, McCloud, Fall, Pit, and Shasta Rivers, providing a significant source of year-round flows of cold water that nurtures aquatic species and fills reservoirs for human uses such as irrigation and hydropower.
FEATURE CONTRIBUTOR
Frank Eldredge
27-year CalTrout Member
Frank joined in 1989 and is a freelance writer covering conservation and fly fishing topics.
Photo by Mike Wier