Water resources of the Rincon and Mesilla Valleys and adjacent areas, New Mexico

Wilson, Clyde A.; White, Rob; Orr, Brennon R.; Roybal, R.G.

doi:10.3133/ofr81487

Cited by 14 publications

(56 citation statements)

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“…The Rio Grande is the ultimate point of discharge for the regional flow system (Bexfield and Anderholm 1997; Wilson et al 1981; Hibbs et al 1998), which includes both the shallow alluvial aquifer of Rincon and Mesilla valleys and the deeper regional system (Palomas, Mesilla, and Jornada del Muerto basins and the Las Cruces East Mesa Geothermal System). This fundamental concept of topographic lowlands acting as the major discharge point for the regional flow system is supported by many previous investigators (Meinzer 1917; Mifflin 1968; Eakin et al 1976; Feth 1964).…”

Section: Description Of the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Rio Grande is generally a gaining stream (due to ground water inflow) throughout the Rincon and Mesilla valleys. Under certain hydrogeologic conditions, however, some areas may become losing reaches (Anderholm 2002;Nickerson 1995Nickerson , 2005Wilson et al 1981), especially during times of drought, when increased ground water pumping causes drawdown and reversed gradients (Conover 1954;Frenzel et al 1992). Additionally, there are many anthropogenic factors that influence streamflow in the Rio Grande.…”

Section: Hydrogeologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Description Of the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hydrogeologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical Tracers to Evaluate Hydrogeologic Controls on River Salinization

Moore¹,

Bassett

Liu³

et al. 2008

Groundwater

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“…Portions of the river, however, are gaining. Gains have been reported between Leasburg Dam and Las Cruces (Wilson et al 1981) and immediately upstream from the El Paso Narrows in the southern end of the Mesilla Valley. Groundwater is the primary source of irrigation water for about 2025 ha in the Mesilla Valley, and is a supplemental source of supply for about 28,350 ha that receive surface water supplies from Elephant Butte Irrigation District, and, presumably, for some irrigated lands in Texas (S.S. Papadopulos and Associates 2007).…”

Section: Mesilla Basin Aquifer Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The discharge from the Mesilla Basin includes: flow to agricultural drains; discharge to the Rio Grande in the gaining reaches of the stream; well pumpage; evapotranspiration; and discharge as interbasin groundwater outflow (Wilson et al 1981). When the water table in the floodplain alluvium aquifer intersects a drain channel, discharge to the channel occurs.…”

Section: Mesilla Basin Aquifer Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A small amount of underflow probably recharges the alluvium at Selden Canyon adjacent to the northern end of Mesilla Basin (Frenzel 1992, Hibbs et al 1997. Recharges from precipitation and interbasin groundwater inflow are considered minor (Wilson et al 1981). Mountain front recharge from Franklin Mountains and West Mesa was estimated at 3.1 million m 3 per year by assuming that most mountain-front and slope recharge occurs as infiltration from ephemeral stream beds in response to local rain storms (S.S. Papadopulos and Associates 2007).…”

Section: Mesilla Basin Aquifer Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of groundwater pumping and climate variability on groundwater availability in the Rio Grande Basin

Sheng

2013

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Groundwater is a critical resource for sustainable economic growth in an arid and semi-arid region such as the Rio Grande Basin because it provides water for municipal, industrial, and domestic, and agricultural users. The water is also important for the health of riparian ecosystems in the Rio Grande basin. Historic groundwater pumping has resulted in large groundwater level drawdown, water quality deterioration, depletion of surface water and subsidence in El Paso/Ciudad Juarez area, which in turn will limit groundwater availability in the future. Therefore, securing future groundwater availability involves a multi-spectrum of efforts, including minimizing net losses from the underground reservoir, managing groundwater as an integrated part of the hydrologic cycle, developing infrastructure based on an understanding of the natural hydrologic system, using water wisely and efficiently, and allocating and monitoring water fairly for human as well as environmental and ecological needs. This paper focuses on the current status of groundwater quantity and geochemistry-groundwater hydrology, key aquifers, water quantity and chemistry, impacts of groundwater pumping and climate variability on groundwater availability within the Rio Grande Basin along river reaches between Elephant Butte Dam and Amistad Dam. This paper is part of a larger effort to summarize the state of the science relative to water sustainability in the region. This information can be used to plan research and education agendas aimed at water sustainability under climate and social changes. Current water uses and estimates of groundwater availability are summarized for the selected regional aquifers that underlie or are located adjacent to the Rio Grande. Several research topics are identified and recommended in terms of gaining better understanding of groundwater availability and impacts of future groundwater pumping and climate variability on the regional aquifer systems.

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