Oregon’s underground River Styx study uncovers three previously unknown springs and seeps

Representative Image of a vibrant underground river flowing through marble passages, with fluorescent dye tracing its path through the water (AI-generated image) At Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve in southwestern Oregon, a river flows beneath visitors’ feet through a network of marble passages, disappearing into parts of the cave that people cannot access. Known as the River Styx, it is the subterranean segment of Cave Creek designated for protection under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. In a study conducted between 2021 and 2024, scientists from the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service used fluorescent dyes to trace its hidden water pathways. The findings revealed connections between the underground river and several small streams in the upper Cave Creek watershed. Researchers also identified 3 previously undocumented places where water from the River Styx resurfaces as springs and seeps below the cave. The results help explain how groundwater moves through the area and provide information relevant to protecting the cave ecosystem and downstream water resources.River Styx dye-tracing study: how scientists tracked an underground river in...