The New Mexico Bureau of
Geology and Mineral Resources
A Division of New Mexico Tech
Aquifer
Mapping
Program
AMP completed projects
AMP current projects
Bureau of Geology
water related publications
Completed studies
• Albuquerque Basin—geologic map and subsurface geologic model
• Española Basin—hydrogeologic models and water quality study, Santa Fe
• Estancia Basin—water budget
• La Cienega and La Cieneguilla, Santa Fe County—spring and wetlands hydrogeology
• Lower Pecos Valley—geologic map and subsurface geologic model
• Magdalena—small scale hydrogeology assessment
• El Camino Real paleohydrogeology—hydrogeology, landform map, and assessment
of extinct and historic water sources
• Placitas area—geologic map and aquifer delineation
• Pueblo of Picuris—water resource assessment
• Roswell Artesian Basin—water-level monitoring
• Sacramento Mountains watershed study—hydrologic effects of tree thinning
• San Juan Basin—assessment of shallow and deep groundwater resources
• Southern Sacramento Mountains—mountain-block hydrogeology and recharge study
• Taos County—hydrogeology of Arroyo Seco, Arroyo Hondo, Taos Plateau and the
springs of the Rio Grande Gorge
• Truth or Consequences—geothermal resource assessment
• Tularosa Basin—mountain-front geologic map, water table, depth to water, recharge
• Union County—mapping deep bedrock aquifers underlying the Ogallala
• White Sands National Monument—hydrologic information for the sand-dune environment
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
geoinfo.nmt.edu/resources/water
We are a non-regulatory governmental agency (the state’s geological survey)
that conducts scientific investigations leading to responsible development
of the state’s mineral, water, and energy resources.
A very active
statewide
hydrogeology
program
collaborating
with state,
federal, local
and tribal entities
to better
characterize
the New Mexico’s
critical aquifers.
Aquifer mapping is the scientific process of characterizing the
groundwater quantity and quality within New Mexico’s aquifers. With
a combination of techniques based in geology, hydrology, geochemistry and geophysics, we create a variety of maps and interpretations
of our aquifers. We are the only non-regulatory state agency engaged
in this specialized, multidisciplinary water science and research.
We are building upon a wealth of existing information, adding new
and innovative techniques and data, and ultimately providing the state
with a better understanding of our water resources.
El Camino Real
paleohydrogeology.
A poster and two
reports were
completed in 2015.
Good resource
management requires
good science and
collaboration
• Geologic maps
•Hydrostratigraphic
characterization
•Water-level
measurements and
groundwater flow
conditions
•Geochemical
characterization
• Hydrologic and
well database
• Geophysical surveys
• Deep drill holes
and 3-D geologic
models
Groundwater storage
changes in New Mexico,
funded by NM WRRI,
with projects covering
the Mimbres and
Estancia basins in 2015.
Whether it relates to surface water
or groundwater, fresh water or saline water,
long-term or short-term efforts,
presently, our research topics include:
Water quality characterization
Utilizing our newly renovated state-of-the-art laboratory facilities
that serve the public and the research community, our water chemistry data provides a useful tool for understanding water resources.
As water flows in and over the diverse geology of our state, ions
and minerals are added to the water. Many of our hydrogeology
studies, such as our work in the Sacramento Mountains, Questa
or Curry-Roosevelt Counties, utilize the water chemistry to “fingerprint” the geologic sources of naturally occurring minerals and
contaminants in the water. Applications for these data include
characterization of groundwater–surface water interactions, as we
are utilizing along the Animas River, following the Gold King
Mine spill (working with the New Mexico Environment Department).
We also use water quality information to help us characterize the
relationship between our fresh and brackish water resources.
Water quantity estimation
Having an accurate understanding of the quantity of water available relies upon an understanding the saturated thickness of the
aquifer and the basin’s geologic structure. In some regions of New
Mexico, this basic geologic information is lacking. Our geologic
mapping program at the Bureau of Geology strives to map, in
detail, the distribution
of aquifer-bearing units
and the structures
that compartmentalize our aquifers. With
this information, we
can better estimate
the quantities of water
available. Funding
from the NM Water
Resources Research
Institute, as part of
a statewide water
assessment, supports
our work using historic groundwater levels to estimate
groundwater storage changes. Several newly acquired
geophysical instruments at New Mexico Tech and the
Bureau of Geology enable us to explore the dynamics of shallow or deep groundwater storage changes.
For example, we can examine infiltration rates along
a river or estimate annual or seasonal changes of the amount of
groundwater in storage. These tools can help us to answer some of
the state’s important water quantity questions.
Hydrologic connections
Evaluation of the subsurface groundwater connections between
regional basins requires a solid understanding of the geologic
framework. Utilizing our geologic mapping program and deep well
data (cuttings and core archived with our oil and gas program), we
can add new geophysical techniques, including gravity, resistivity,
and magnetics, to describe groundwater basins and their margins.
Monitoring efforts
Some of the most important information related to water in
New Mexico is the long-term monitoring data collected on groundwater levels, surface water flow, and water quality changes. As
the state’s geologic survey, part of our mission is to act as a
repository for earth science related data. New efforts underway at
the Bureau of Geology, such as the collaborative groundwater
level monitoring network, will compile historic data, facilitate
user-friendly crowd-sourced data collection, and help to promote
increased awareness of rural water issues around New Mexico.
We hope to prevent water outages such as the one that occurred
in Magdalena in 2013.
GKM
Cement Creek
Diversion dam
Riparian
vegetation
Tributary
atura
Satu
rate
Animas River
Durango
Alkali deposits
& wind blown dust
COLO
RADO
NEW
M E X IC
O
Reservoir
Uns
Upper
Cretaceous Paleocene
Aquifer Mapping
Program
Current Projects 2016
Silverton
ted
d zo
Statewide water assessments
Irrigated cropland
zon
e
Water table
ne
Well
Oil/ga
s
Aztec
Client and Study Area: WRRI in collaboration
with NM Tech, USGS, NMOSE, and NMSU
to address recharge and groundwater issues
statewide in New Mexico.
Well
An
alluvimas Riv
ial aq er
uifer
Natural gas
migration
Issues: Working with WRRI to develop datasets
to aid in analysis of statewide water assessments. These datasets will help address water
scarcity challenges and improve water planning needs for New Mexico.
Livestock
Crops
Wate
r
Satu
table
rated
Client and Study Area: With the New Mexico
Environment Department and many other
collaborators, we are looking along the Animas
River, from CO-NM state line to Farmington.
Issues: In response to the Gold King Mine spill
(August 2015), as part of a long term monitoring effort underway with several other state
agencies and universities, we will characterize
the groundwater-surface water interactions
with regard to the hydrologic interactions and
the water quality in the groundwater, using
private domestic wells.
Products: Maps showing how groundwater
moves in the alluvial aquifer near the Animas
River at different seasons and flow regimes;
reports and datasets describing the water
chemistry and possible geologic or mine
related influences on the groundwater along
the Animas.
Funding: New Mexico Environment Department, with collaborations at New Mexico Tech,
University of New Mexico, New Mexico State
University, New Mexico Office of the State
Engineer, and the US Geological Survey.
Water quality characterization
Client and Study Area: Looking at all of New
Mexico, we have started to compile and digitize
legacy water quality data, and make it publicly
available through a interactive web map.
Issues: Large quanties of water quality data,
for both fresh and brackish water resources,
exist only in paper form. We are working to
digitize and locate these records on maps,
providing information useful in source water
protection planning.
Products: Several reports discussing fresh
and brackish water resources for the state
and in the eastern Tularosa Basin, as well as
web map datasets of newly digitized water
quality data.
Funding: New Mexico Environment Department
and Bureau of Geology
Birds
gravel
bar
Hyporheic
zone
zone
Products: A publicly available database, technical reports and ArcGIS maps that are focused
on 1) potential recharge areas within NM and
2) regional groundwater level and storage
changes.
Wildlife
Silt, m
u
grave d,
sand l,
bar
Insects
Macroinvertebrates
Fish
Southern Taos Valley
Client and Study Area: Taos County groundwater systems in the southern Taos Valley
between the Picuris Mountains and the
Rio Grande.
Animas River
watershed
conceptual model
Products: A hydrogeologic conceptual model
of groundwater and surface water systems will
provide decision-making tools for Taos County
planning and zoning, and help the County,
historic communities, acequias, and neighborhoods, to better plan new development that
sustains and conserves water resources.
This hydrograph shows groundwater
level changes in La Cienega
(near Santa Fe) since the 1950s.
In 2016, this information will be released
in Bureau of Geology Bulletin 161.
San Agustin Plains and
Alamosa Creek watershed
Client and Study Area: Support for New Mexico
interests (NMOSE/ISC, NM EMNRD, NM
Department of Game and Fish) in the Plains of
San Agustin and Alamosa Creek watershed,
eastern Catron and western Socorro counties.
Products: Hydrogeologic information for state
agencies and the public about groundwater
in the central Plains of San Agustin and
Alamosa Creek watershed, and their interconnection with the Rio Grande Valley; public
outreach and education.
Funding: Aquifer Mapping Program, Bureau
of Geology, National Cooperative Geologic
Mapping Program, Healy Foundation, and
the NMOSE.
Hydrogeology of the Questa Area
Issues: A gap in regional scientific information
for deep and shallow, sediment-volcanic aquifers and surface waters in the Questa area;
diverse local issues, including sustainable
Funding: Taos County, Healy Foundation,
Aquifer Mapping Program and Bureau
of Geology.
Issues: Groundwater availability and sustainability in the Plains of San Agustin; groundwater
quality and source of water to springs at the
Monticello Box, Alamosa Creek watershed.
Funding: WRRI with support from the Aquifer
Mapping Program, Bureau of Geology, and
New Mexico Tech.
Client and Study Area: Support for New Mexico
and local interests (NMED, NM OSE/ISC,
Village of Questa, Taos County, NM EMNRD,
NM Department of Game and Fish) in the area
of Questa, New Mexico, from the base of the
Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the Rio Grande.
Issues: Water sustainability during rapid development; sources of recharge; age of groundwater; interconnection between aquifers, the
Rio Grande, and tributaries.
0
-0.19
R2 = 0.95
5
Groundwater level, normalized (feet)
Animas River
long-term monitoring
Irrigation
ditch
sources of drinking water, sources of water to
springs and streams that feed fisheries and
discharge to the Rio Grande, the character of
natural, background water quality, and possible impacts from mine-related waters.
Products: Regional hydrogeologic conceptual
model describing ground water and surface
water interactions; important understanding
of local effects of faults and geology on water
quality; a decision-making tool for local interests to use toward water development needs.
Funding: Healy Foundation, the Aquifer Mapping
Program, Bureau of Geology, National
Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program.
Curry - Roosevelt Counties
regional hydrogeology
Client and Study Area: New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and Eastern Plains
Council of Governments (EPCOG); Curry
County and northern Roosevelt County.
Issues: As part of a regional Source Water
Protection Plan being developed by EPCOG
for NMED, we are assessing the regional
hydrogeology of this region. Future water availability and water quality are major concerns in
the region.
Products: A technical report that will serve as
an appendix in the regional Source Water
Protection Plan. This will be a compilation of
existing geologic and hydrologic information, in
addition to several new water level measurements and water chemistry samples. This will
help decision making in the region about water
use and management issues.
Funding: New Mexico Environment Department,
Bureau of Geology, Aquifer Mapping Program.
-0.20
R2 = 0.82
-0.19
R2 = 0.94
missing data
10
-0.17
R2 = 0.97
15
EB-607 monitor well
EB-218 domestic well
EB-102 stock well
EB-220 monitor well
EB-019 domestic well
EB-387 monitor well
EB-223 domestic well
EB-338 monitor well
20
25
-0.15
R = 0.96
30
2
50
19
-0.15
R2 = 0.98
-0.12
R2 = 0.96
-0.13
R2 = 0.95
-0.23
R2 = 0.83
Regression Line with
rate of water-level
decline (feet/year)
60
19
70
19
80
19
90
19
00
20
10
20
Date