Bureau of Geology News

A recent article by KRWG highlighted the work the bureau has done to update issues on the hydrogeology of the Magdalena area. Using data from the Bureau's work, and with support of a WRRI grant to address recharge issues bureau hydrogeologist Talon Newton, E&ES Professor Fred Phillips, and NMT student David Ketchum have developed a groundwater recharge model that maybe a useful tool to indicate regions of NM that may be heading toward extreme groundwater level declines. The idea is to develop a sort of warning system to help prevent water outages, like what occurred in Magdalena in the summer of 2013. The bureau also continues groundwater level monitoring efforts in the Magdalena region.

On March 28^th The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources along with the New Mexico Geological Society and New Mexico Tech’s Earth and Environmental Department presented two Excellence in Geoscience awards at the 2014 New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair on the campus of New Mexico Tech.

On January 8, 2015, Peggy Johnson, principal hydrogeologist for the Bureau of Geology, participated in a presentation by the NM Universities Working Group on Drought at the New Mexico Water Dialogue's 21st annual conference. In addition to Peggy, the group includes Janie Chermak (UNM), David Gutzler (UNM), J. Phillip King (NMSU) and Lee Reynis (UNM). This Working Group was funded by the 2014 State Legislature to: (1) assess the current status of water supply and demand after years of severe drought in New Mexico; (2) put the current drought into long-term context with reduced surface water, groundwater depletions and economic activity; and (3) develop a list of hydrologic and economic vulnerabilities and promote policy strategies to mitigate them. The group’s initial focus is on the Lower Rio Grande, but with future funding they will cover other regions of New Mexico.

Ethan Mamer, hydrogeologist with the Aquifer Mapping program had an article published in the Ruidoso News on November 6^th about groundwater in the northeastern Tularosa Basin.

Dave Love will talk about the Tularosa Basin at the Natural History Museum on November 20th

In early October, Dave Love and Dan Koning led a field trip of 3^rd graders from San Antonio Elementary school along the Canyon Trail of the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Stacy Timmons and Talon Newton have each received awards from WRRI to contribute to a statewide water assessment. Stacy is leading a project to address water level changes in several basins across the state using data from the U.S. Geological Survey, NM Office of the State Engineer, and the Aquifer Mapping Program at NMBGMR. Water level changes will be contoured over regions with sufficient data over multiple time periods, and then calculations of changes in storage can be attempted. Talon is leading a project to identify areas of potential recharge for the state. Using ArcGIS models, we will combine multiple datasets, including results of recharge estimates from previous work, estimates of precipitation, land surface elevation, potential evapotranspiration, geology, vegetation, and stream locations to identify areas of recharge. These two projects contribute as part of a multi-agency, multi-institution collaborative effort of a statewide water assessment funded by NM State legislative funds through New Mexico's WRRI.

At the 2014 New Mexico Geological Society Fall Field Conference, Dr. Nelia Dunbar was made an Honorary Member in recognition of her scientific contribution to the geology of New Mexico, her support of both graduate and undergraduate student research in New Mexico, and her service on the Executive Board of the New Mexico Geological Society.