Open-file Report - 602
La Cienega Groundwater Level Monitoring, Santa Fe County, New Mexico: 2018 Summary of Findings

As a follow up to hydrogeologic research performed by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources in recent years (summarized in Johnson, et al., 2016), a groundwater monitoring network was implemented around La Cienega, Santa Fe County, New Mexico in the fall of 2015.

Previous hydrogeologic research by Johnson, et al. (2016) indicates that the groundwater in this region is highly susceptible to regional influences such as pumping, drought, and land use changes. The groundwater levels in many wells in the primary aquifer around La Cienega have steadily dropped since the 1970s.

Groundwater level monitoring provides an essential tool in groundwater management. The data are used in development of more accurate ground- water models, and can help with protection of groundwater resources. Measurements of changing groundwater levels also directly reflect changes in groundwater storage.

From 2015–2017, the monitoring network was measured six times, twice annually. The network was adjusted in the spring of 2018 and, moving forward, we are restructuring our long-term monitoring plan to more efficiently monitor the groundwater network, while still collecting valuable, usable data. We plan to measure the monitoring network of wells once every year in late spring, and will provide updated reports annually.

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