Research Areas

1. Fault Zones and Basins in the Urban Corridor
2. Lowland Surface Processes and History
3. Geology of Lowland Aquifers
4. Cascadia Framework and Geospatial Databases
5. Tyee Basin
6. North Cascades
7. Geology of the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park

Geology of Lowland aquifers

The lowland basins commonly contain important groundwater resources. In the Willamette basin of NW Oregon, the Miocene Columbia River Basalt (CRB) is a significant ground water aquifer. In this area, ground water development has gone beyond the alluvial basins and into the CRB around the basin margins. However, water flow, recharge and water quality in the basalts is controlled by complex internal stratigraphy and structure.

Click to enlarge.

Although monotonous at first glance, the CRB can be mapped on a flow by flow basis using subtle variations in appearance, chemical composition, and paleomagnetic direction. We are combining field mapping, subsurface data, aeromagnetic surveys, paleomagnetic, and geochemical studies to document flow by flow stratigraphy, crustal faulting, and their role in controlling ground water resources. Our objective is to provide a modern, three dimensional model of basalt structure and stratigraphy needed to manage sustainable ground water supplies in the CRB.

Regional physiography

• Willamette Valley shaded relief map

Geology of the Columbia River Basalt Group

• Introduction
• Well logs with flow-by-flow stratigraphy

Geologic Mapping

• Geologic Map of Quaternary Units in the Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Mt Angel and vicinity
• Salem East and Turner
• Salem West and Sidney
• Chehalem Mountain
• Dundee

Regional overview

• Origin, Extent, and Thickness of Quaternary Geologic Units in the Wilamette Valley, Oregon
• Geology, soils and viticulture
• Regional aeromagnetic surveys (some images are available here)