Understanding Groundwater

Groundwater Basics

What is groundwater? Where does it come from? Where does it go? What is an aquifer? How about an artesian well? How do streams interact with groundwater? Explore the following links to answer all these questions and more:

• Groundwater and Aquifers
• Groundwater Movement
• Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions
• Groundwater and Wells
• Natural Groundwater Characteristics (Minerals and Germs)

Oregon's Groundwater Geology

What makes your region unique? Read the Underground Story of Water in Oregon to learn about the following areas:

• The Cascade Mountains
• Basalt Flows
• The Coast Mountains
• Valleys (including Willamette, Rogue, Grand Ronde, Snake, etc.)
• Also, check out the many additional resources available to you.

Human Impacts on Oregon's Groundwater

How have our activities affected the quality and quantity of our groundwater? Do some parts of the state have greater concerns than others? Find out more from the research done by US Geological Survey (USGS), Oregon Water Resources Department (OWDR), and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).