Geohydrology and simulation of ground-water flow in the Mesilla Basin, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, and El Paso County, Texas

Frenzel, Peter; Kaehler, Charles A.; Anderholm, Scott K.

doi:10.3133/ofr88305

Cited by 17 publications

(74 citation statements)

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“…Published numerical groundwater models generalize aquifer geometry and properties within three model layers above a basement rock layer (Frenzel, 1992;Hamilton, 1993;Lang and Maddock, 1995;Weeden and Maddock, 1999;Boyle Engineering and Parsons Engineering Science, 2000). Recent numerical models use additional layering and focus on specific aquifer horizons, such as the base of shallow unconsolidated alluvial deposits and the top of deep, fine-grained clay-rich deposits (S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., 2007;Hanson and others, 2013), but do not incorporate a fully threedimensional hydrogeologic framework model as the basis for numerical simulation.…”

Section: Big Bendmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model of the Rio Grande transboundary region of New Mexico and Texas, USA, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico

Sweetkind¹

2017

Scientific Investigations Report

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Cover. Example of LANDSAT 7 imagery draped on a digital elevation model and aligned with a corresponding three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework solid model, based on animation shown in appendix 1. For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS. Three-Dimensional HydrogeologicFor an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov/.Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. AbstractAs part of a U.S. Geological Survey study in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, a digital three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model was constructed for the Rio Grande transboundary region of New Mexico and Texas, USA, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico. This model was constructed to define the aquifer system geometry and subsurface lithologic characteristics and distribution for use in a regional numerical hydrologic model. The model includes five hydrostratigraphic units: river channel alluvium, three informal subdivisions of Santa Fe Group basin fill, and an undivided pre-Santa Fe Group bedrock unit. Model input data were compiled from published cross sections, well data, structure contour maps, selected geophysical data, and contiguous compilations of surficial geology and structural features in the study area. These data were used to construct faulted surfaces that represent the upper and lower subsurface hydrostratigraphic unit boundaries. The digital three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model is constructed through combining faults, the elevation of the tops of each hydrostratigraphic unit, and boundary lines depicting the subsurface extent of each hydrostratigraphic unit. The framework also compiles a digital representation of the distribution of sedimentary facies within each hydrostratigraphic unit. The digital three-dimensional hydrogeologic model reproduces with reasonable accuracy the previously published subsurface hydrogeologic conceptualization of the aquifer system and represents the large-scale geometry of the subsurface aquifers. The model is at a scale and resolution appropriate for use as the foundation for a numerical hydrologic model of the study area.

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Section: Big Bendmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model of the Rio Grande transboundary region of New Mexico and Texas, USA, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico

Sweetkind¹

2017

Scientific Investigations Report

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“…Data and GIS coverage have been exchanged through the IBWC/CILA. Interbasin exchange between adjacent aquifers, particularly at Fillmore Pass between the Hueco Bolson and the Mesilla Basin, are not well defined in previous groundwater-flow model studies (Frenzel and Kaehler, 1990;Hamilton and Maddock, 1993;Weeden and Maddock, 1999;CH2M-Hill, 2002;Heywood and Yager, 2003;S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, 2007).…”

Section: Objective: Expand Hydrogeologic Framework Modelmentioning

confidence: 92%

Five-year interim report of the United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program: 2007--2012

Alley¹

2013

Open-File Report

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For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTo order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. Executive SummaryTransboundary aquifers are an essential, and in many cases, singular source of water for United States -Mexico border communities, particularly in arid regions. Declining water levels, deteriorating water quality, and increasing use of groundwater resources by municipal, industrial, and agricultural water users on both sides of the international border have raised concerns about the long-term availability of this supply. Water quantity and quality are determining and limiting factors that ultimately control agriculture, future economic development, population growth, human health, and ecological conditions along the border. Knowledge about the extent, depletion rates, and quality of transboundary aquifers, however, is limited and, in some areas, completely absent. • Assess the extent, availability, and movement of water in transboundary aquifers and the interaction with surface water;• Develop and improve groundwater-flow information for binational aquifers to facilitate waterresource assessment and planning;• Analyze trends in groundwater quality, including salinity, nutrients, toxins, and pathogens; 2• Assess temporal and spatial variability of subsidence related to aquifer depletion;• Apply new data, models, and information to evaluate strategies to protect water quality and enhance supplies; and• Provide useful information to decision makers, including assessments of groundwater management institutions and policies.The Act states that not later than 5 years after the date of its enactment, and on completion of the program in fiscal year ( The Act specified the Hueco Bolson and Mesilla Basin as priority aquifers for New Mexico and Texas, and allowed for additional aquifers to be identified for these two States. Based on the increasing use of the aquifer, lack of information, and stakeholder input, activities have focused on the Mesilla Basin in the United States and its counterpart in Mexico-the Conejos-Médanos aquifer system. For Arizona, the Act limits study to the Santa Cruz and San Pedro aquifers in south-central Arizona and northern Sonora. Accomplishments of the program to date include • Binational research plans were developed in collaboration with State and local stakeholders to ensure the program meets user needs.• A U.S. -Mexico Joint Cooperative Agreement was developed to allow the sha...

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“…Water intercepted by the agricultural drains is returned to the main stem of the Rio Grande and is referred to as agricultural return flow. During periods of drought, there is increased reliance on ground water pumping, primarily for irrigation water supply, which can result in increased drawdown that disconnects the drains from the water table and significantly reduces agricultural return flow to the river (Frenzel et al 1992; Bexfield and Anderholm 1997).…”

Section: Description Of the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One particularly important aspect of the sampling plan was to obtain representative samples of each endmember in the study area. Although many previous investigators have concluded that natural sources of salinity, including geothermal and deep saline ground water, are important sources of salinity in the study area (Frenzel et al 1992; Anderholm 2002; Moore and Anderholm 2002; Mills 2003; Phillips et al 2003), only limited water quality data exist to characterize natural sources. In order to supplement existing data, several new monitoring wells (ISC4, ISC4a, and ISC5) had been installed during 2004 and screened over discrete horizons (Tetra Tech EM Inc. 2005); these wells were sampled as part of this investigation to characterize the local composition of deep sedimentary brine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical Tracers to Evaluate Hydrogeologic Controls on River Salinization

Moore¹,

Bassett

Liu³

et al. 2008

Groundwater

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The salinization of rivers, as indicated by salinity increases in the downstream direction, is characteristic of arid and semiarid regions throughout the world. Historically, salinity increases have been attributed to various mechanisms, including (1) evaporation and concentration during reservoir storage, irrigation, and subsequent reuse; (2) displacement of shallow saline ground water during irrigation; (3) erosion and dissolution of natural deposits; and/or (4) inflow of deep saline and/or geothermal ground water (ground water with elevated water temperature). In this study, investigation of salinity issues focused on identification of relative salinity contributions from anthropogenic and natural sources in the Lower Rio Grande in the New Mexico-Texas border region. Based on the conceptual model of the system, the various sources of water and, therefore, salinity to the Lower Rio Grande were identified, and a sampling plan was designed to characterize these sources. Analysis results for boron (delta(11)B), sulfur (delta(34)S), oxygen (delta(18)O), hydrogen (delta(2)H), and strontium ((87)Sr/(86)Sr) isotopes, as well as basic chemical data, confirmed the hypothesis that the dominant salinity contributions are from deep ground water inflow to the Rio Grande. The stable isotopic ratios identified the deep ground water inflow as distinctive, with characteristic isotopic signatures. These analyses indicate that it is not possible to reproduce the observed salinization by evapotranspiration and agricultural processes alone. This investigation further confirms that proper application of multiple isotopic and geochemical tracers can be used to identify and constrain multiple sources of solutes in complex river systems.

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Geohydrology and simulation of ground-water flow in the Mesilla Basin, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, and El Paso County, Texas

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

Three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model of the Rio Grande transboundary region of New Mexico and Texas, USA, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico

Three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model of the Rio Grande transboundary region of New Mexico and Texas, USA, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico

Five-year interim report of the United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program: 2007--2012

Geochemical Tracers to Evaluate Hydrogeologic Controls on River Salinization

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