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The purpose of the Sacramento Mountains Hydrogeology Study is to identify the geologic controls on groundwater recharge, occurrence, and movement, and to identify hydrostratigraphic units (“aquifers”) contributing groundwater to springs, streams, and wells in the Southern Sacramento Mountains. Specific goals of the study are to delineate areas of ground-water recharge, determine rates of groundwater movement, and elucidate the interconnectedness, if any, between various aquifers and between groundwater and surface water. The end result will be an improved understanding of the regional hydrogeology of the southern Sacramento Mountains and a database of geologic and hydrologic information. This work will be the foundation of more detailed and/or localized studies in the future.

The components of the study include the following:

1. Geologic mapping at 1:24000 quadrangle scale (wherein 1 inch on a map equals 2000 feet on the ground)
2. Regional and outcrop-scale studies of fractures and other geologic structures that may affect groundwater flow and recharge
3. Bimonthly measurements of water levels in wells in a monitoring network
4. Continuous water level monitoring in select wells
5. Chemical and isotopic analysis of spring and well waters.

Funding for this work came from the Otero Soil and Water Conservation District through legislative appropriation administered by the New Mexico State Department of Agriculture at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Additional funding for geologic mapping in the study area has been awarded through the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (STATEMAP). Supplemental funding for the watershed study was provided by the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.

The NMBGMR thanks the many residents of the Sacramento Mountains who have granted access to their property and wells. This project would not be possible without their kind cooperation.

For more information, please contact:

Geoffrey C. Rawling
Field Geologist
New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
2808 Central Avenue SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106-2245
geoff@gis.nmt.edu

Selected References:

• Abercrombie, D., 2003, Waters of the Sacramento Mountains, in: Water resources of the Lower Pecos Region, New Mexico: Science, policy, and a look to the future, New Mexico Bureau Geology Mineral Resources, Decision-Makers Field Conference — 2003, pp 88-92.
• Frechette, J. D.; and Meyer, G. A., 2007, Holocene fan sedimentation and fire activity in southern New Mexico (abs.), New Mexico Geological Society, 2007 Annual Spring Meeting, New Mexico Geology Journal, Vol. 29, 59 p.
• Kennedy, J. F.; Hawley, J. W.; Keller, G. R.; and Langford, R. P., 2006, Estimating a runoff coefficient based on adjacent watersheds, New Mexico Geological Society, Annual Spring Meeting, New Mexico Geology Journal, Vol.28, 61 p.
• Koning, D. J., 1998, Alluvial fan stratigraphy along the southern Sacramento Mountains and paleoseismic interpretations for the Alamogordo fault, New Mexico Geological Society, 1998 Annual Spring Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, New Mexico Institute Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, New Mexico Geology Journal, Vol. 20, 55-56 p.
• Koning, D. J.; and Pazzaglia, F. J., 1999, Late Quaternary paleoseismicity of the Alamogordo fault adjacent to the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society, 1999 Annual Spring Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, New Mexico Institute Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, New Mexico Geology Journal, Vol. 21, 39 p.
• Koning, D. J., 2001, Fault segmentation and paleoseismicity of the southern Alamogordo Fault, southern Rio Grande rift, New Mexico, New Mexico Geology Journal, Vol. 23, 96 p.
• New, Jennifer, 2007, Holocene charcoal-based alluvial fire chronology and geomorphic implications in Caballero Canyon, Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico (abs.), M.S. thesis, University New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, New Mexico Geology Journal, Vol.29, 105 p.
• Otte, Carel, Jr., 1959, Late Pennsylvanian and Early Permian stratigraphy of the northern Sacramento Mountains, Otero County, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau Mines Mineral Resources, Bulletin Vol. 50, 111 p.
• Pray, Lloyd C., 1961, Geology of the Sacramento Mountains escarpment, Otero County, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau Mines Mineral Resources, Bulletin Vol. 35, 144 p.
• Rawling, G.; Timmons, S.; Newton, T.; Walsh, P.; Land, L.; Kludt, T.; Timmons, M.; Johnson, P.; and Felix, B., 2008, Sacramento Mountains hydrogeology study, New Mexico Bureau Geology Mineral Resources, Open-file Report 512, CD ROM
• Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, 2003, Chemical and microbial composition of subsurface-, surface-, and atmospheric water samples in the southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society, 2003 Annual Spring, New Mexico Geology Journal, Vol. 25, 46 p.
• Timmons, S.; Rawling, G. C.; Johnson, P. S.; Land, L.; and Morse, J., 2007, Water level responses and preliminary spring chemistry results: Progress report on the hydrogeologic study in the southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico (abs.), New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society, 2007 Annual Spring, New Mexico Geology Journal, Vol. 29, 65 p.

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Revised: 3 July, 2012

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Copyright © 2007 - 2008 New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources unless otherwise specified.