Several thousand water-level measurements spanning over 50 years, from over a thousand wells, were used to create aquifer lifetime projections for the High Plains aquifer in eastcentral New Mexico. Lifetime projections were made based on past water-level decline rates calculated over ten- and twenty-year intervals. Projected lifetimes were calculated for two scenarios. One scenario is the time until total dewatering of the full saturated thickness of the aquifer, and the other scenario is the time until a 30-ft saturated thickness threshold is reached, which is the minimum necessary to sustain high-capacity irrigation wells. Agricultural water use has largely determined water-level decline rates in the past. Assuming future decline rates match those of the past ten to twenty years, the two scenarios may be viewed as the usable aquifer lifetime for domestic and low-intensity municipal and industrial uses, and the usable lifetime for large-scale irrigated agriculture.
The southern Española Basin, in the Santa Fe region, was the focus of a multi-year, multi-disciplinary hydrogeologic study by the Aquifer Mapping Program, in collaboration with the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (NMOSE), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other agencies. The purpose of this study was to improve the understanding of the water resources within the basin, which serves as the primary source of drinking water for most of the area’s population.
The San Agustin Basin is a closed intermontane basin on the northern edge of the Mogollon Plateau, and within the Datil-Mogollon volcanic field of southwestern New Mexico, extending across ~2,400 square miles in Catron and westernmost Socorro Counties. Myers et al. (1994) conducted an investigation of the hydrogeology of the basin, which is summarized here. The San Agustin Basin is bounded to the west and south by the Continental Divide, to the north by the Datil and Gallinas Mountains, and to the east by the San Mateo Mountains. The most recent structural activity in the region was late Tertiary Basin and Range faulting, which formed the San Agustin and Cuchillo Negro grabens. The Plains of San Agustin, which occupy the northeast-trending San Agustin graben, were covered by several large lakes during late Pleistocene time. Playas now occupy these former lake beds. There is no perennial streamflow in the basin.
The gypsum dune deposits found at Cuatrociénegas and White Sands National Monument are two of only a handful of gypsum dune fields in the world. These surreal landscapes provide beautiful views and outdoor activities for tourists and serve as natural laboratories where researchers can study a variety of topics ranging from geology to evolutionary biology. Combined, both Cuatrociénegas and White Sands National Monument are home to more than 110 endemic species, specially adapted to the unique and fragile ecosystems of these gypsum rich environments.
The southern Taos Valley, located southwest of the town of Taos, has been experiencing high growth over the last few decades. In order to address growing water needs in this region, Peggy Johnson, Dr. Paul Bauer, and Brigitte Felix, completed a technical report summarizing the local geology and hydrogeology. Data gathered for this study include geologic maps, well records, new groundwater level measurements and water quality samples, which were compiled with historical data and records. This research describes the important hydrostratigraphic units and aquifers in the region along with geologic/structural controls on groundwater flow. Observations of groundwater flow directions, changes in groundwater levels, distinct water quality and groundwater ages reflect the complex network of faults in the study area and its effects on groundwater.
It is surprising that New Mexico does not have a detailed map of all of the productive and accessible aquifers across the state. In a state with as little as 0.24% of our land surface covered with water (the least in the country!), having detailed maps of our groundwater resources and aquifers, is essential. Some of our neighboring states, like Texas and Colorado, have these maps already available, and are successfully being used to administer and conserve water. We have started a new multi-year project to develop 3D maps of aquifers.
The Mesilla Basin is one of the southernmost basins of the Rio Grande Rift system, extending from south-central New Mexico across state and international boundaries into west Texas and northern Chihuahua, Mexico. The hydrology of the Mesilla Basin region has been subject to extensive investigations for over a century (e.g., Slichter, 1905; Theis, 1938; Sayre and Livingston, 1945; Conover, 1954; Leggat et al., 1962; Hawley et al., 1969; King et al., 1971; Wilson and White, 1984; Hawley and Lozinsky, 1992; Nickerson and Myers, 1993; Kennedy et al., 2000), as summarized by Hawley et al. (2001), who is paraphrased here. The eastern margin of the Mesilla Basin is defined by the Organ-Franklin-Juarez mountain chain, and the western margin by fault block and volcanic uplands of the East Potrillo Mountains and West Potrillo basalt field. The Robledo and Doña Ana Mountains define the northern end of the Mesilla Basin. The northeast end of the basin is transitional with the Jornada del Muerto Basin. The southern basin boundary with the Bolson de los Muertos in northern Chihuahua state is less well-defined. The entrenched Mesilla Valley of the Rio Grande crosses the eastern margin of the Mesilla Basin, where the cities of Las Cruces, NM, El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico exploit groundwater resources from the basin aquifers. Regional groundwater and surface water flow is to the southeast toward El Paso, through a gap separating the Franklin Mountains from Sierra Juarez to the south.
The objective of the study was to characterize and interpret the shallow (to a depth of approximately 5,000 ft) three-dimensional geology and preliminary hydrogeology of the Questa area. The focus of this report is to compile existing geologic and geophysical data, integrate new geophysical data, and interpret these data to construct three, detailed geologic cross sections across the Questa area. These cross sections can be used by the Village of Questa to make decisions about municipal water-well development, and can be used in the future to help in the development of a conceptual model of groundwater flow for the Questa area. Attached to this report are a location map, a preliminary geologic map and unit descriptions, tables of water wells and springs used in the study, and three detailed hydrogeologic cross sections shown at two different vertical scales. The locations of the cross sections are shown on the index map of the cross section sheet.
This study focused on the shallow aquifer that occurs in the dune field with depth-to-water ranging from 1 to 3 feet below interdunal surfaces. We used hydrologic and geochemical data to identify water sources that contribute to the shallow groundwater system in the dune field and to assess how this system responds to water level fluctuations in the adjacent regional basin-fill aquifer. Hydrologic modeling was used to assess the effects of projected additional groundwater pumping in Alamogordo on the shallow dune aquifer on the Monument.
This report describes the geology and hydrogeology of the southwestern Arroyo Seco quadrangle in Taos County, New Mexico. This area is approximately eight miles north of the Town of Taos and is undergoing extensive residential development. The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (NMOSE) Hydrology Bureau has identified a need for more detailed hydrogeologic information to improve the NMOSE groundwater simulation model. To this end, I compiled existing geologic, hydrologic, and geophysical data, performed new geologic mapping, and measured water levels in 43 domestic wells. The synthesis of these data leads to an improved understanding of the distribution and flow patterns of groundwater in the area and the relation of groundwater to surface water, in addition to clarifying the geologic controls on the groundwater system.
