[Geysers] Geyser Preservation and Scholarly Literature

[Jeff Cross]

I suggest that any public statements on the destruction of geysers
by geothermal energy developments should cite relevant sources
from the scholarly literature.

I have several papers in my files that could be used to support the
argument that geothermal energy developments destroy geysers.

I would be happy to help include this information in any public statements
we make.

Here's an interesting question: if geothermal fluids are withdrawn from
point A, what is the greatest distance (point B) at which the effects of
geothermal fluid extraction have been noted?  Is it 1 mile?  3 miles?  10 miles?

The Park boundary is:

12.9 miles from Old Faithful (Upper Geyser Basin)
10.4 miles from Imperial Geyser (Lower Geyser Basin)
14.7 miles from Shoshone Geyser Basin
8.6 miles from Three River Junction
1.8 miles from Boundary Creek
11 miles from Heart Lake Geyser Basin
3.9 miles from Mammoth Hot Springs

All of these areas (excepting Mammoth) contain geysers.  Of course,
loss of geothermal fluids at any location would be unacceptable to us and
contrary to the original purpose of the Park.

Jeff Cross
jeff.cross at wallawalla.edu