Need: Erosion and Sedimentation Study in the San Juan Basin
Issue: Massive gas development currently underway in the San Juan Basin has the potential to add significantly to soil erosion in the region and could have significant impacts on sedimentation to the San Juan and Colorado River systems..
Application: We need to clearly understand impacts and develop appropriate mitigation techniques.
-Determine the average rate of geologic or natural erosion (baseline) generally associated with the San Juan Basin in tons per acre per year.
-Determine the average rate of geologic and accelerated (man induced) soil erosion contributed by or associated with roads in tons per acre per year.
-Determine the average rate of geologic and accelerated soil erosion related to the predominate soils types associated with a chosen study area.
-Determine the rate of sedimentation in area river systems in tons per acre foot per square mile per year, and the impacts on the water quality of area perennial river systems.
-Determine measures for mitigating impacts to accelerated soil erosion and sedimentation .
Category: Research - watersheds, sedimentology.
Scope: Regional.
Potential partners: USGS.
Estimated cost: Unknown.
Status: Underway with USGS, 3 year project. The first year field data collection sites are deployed and operating. Field data will be collected for 2 years and the 3 rd year will consist of 1) data analysis, 2) interpretation, 3) recommendations for mitigation techniques, 4) USGS Water resources Investigations Report in 2003, and 5) possible journal articles.
May be faced with a possible funding shortfall for year 2 data collection.
Contact: Dale Wirth - (505) 599-6320
1235 LaPlata Highway, Suite A, Farmington, New Mexico 87401-8731

Need: Data Acquisition for Rosa Critical Deer and Elk Habitat, San Juan Basin
Issue: Impacts to wildlife from oil and gas development.
Application: The intent of this data collection effort is to quantify the various vegetation types being used by wildlife and these type s location, and condition, relative to various densities of natural gas development (wells/miles of road per square mile).
Information gained from this effort will be used in the planning of future gas development.
The proposal would involve:
-Satellite imagery for delineating and quantifying the vegetation types and disturbances such as wells, roads, pipelines and compressor sites.
-Vegetation studies that characterize the condition and relative abundance of the key browse species within each vegetative type.
-Pellet group transects within each vegetation type to determine the use period and relative degree of use.
-Vegetative cover at each of the study sites.
-Big game survey data collected during the winter plotted on vegetation type maps along with the pellet group use data.
Category: Data acquisition and field inventory - wildlife, vegetation, mineral development.
Scope: Primarily local, with regional application to other areas where similar development is occurring.
Potential partners: NMDWR.
Estimated cost: $25,000 - 50,000.
Status: Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact: John Hansen - (505) 599-6325
1235 LaPlata Highway, Suite A, Farmington, New Mexico 87401-8731
Need: Compressor Noise Analysis, Establishment of Background Noise Levels and
Development of Noise Level Guidelines for Rural Areas in the San Juan Basin
Issue: Impacts from oil and gas development.

Application: With the number of compressors being installed and the increase of residents moving into rural areas, BLM is receiving increasing complaints from the noise associated with the compressors. Presently, BLM has no guidelines regarding decibel levels for compressor units at established distances. Establishing guidelines will give BLM a more uniform approach to mitigating impacts from compressors.
Category: Research - mineral development.
Scope: Regional.
Potential partners: Internal.
Estimated cost: N/A.
Status: Completed. FFO has developed standards for allowable noise levels in or near sensitive areas. A draft Notice to Lessees will go out for review and comment, with final implementation later this year.
Contact: Ruben A. Sanchez - (505) 599-6319
1235 LaPlata Highway, Suite A, Farmington, New Mexico 87401-8731
Need: Assessment of Spatial Relationships of Roads, Wells, Compressors, Reliable Waters and Varying Degrees of Forage Quality, Cover, and General Vegetation Types on the
Distribution of Deer and Elk within the Rattlesnake Canyon Habitat Management Plan
(HMP) Area
Issue: Mineral development impacts - wildlife.
Application: This type of study will provide information for decision-making and resource allocation for management of the deer and elk habitat and appropriate level of oil and gas development. The following questions require answers:
-To what degree does the quality of forage, type or amount of cover, and distance to water over-ride a deer or elk s fear of human disturbance such as roads, wells or compressors?
-What measures (if any) can be used to mitigate the impacts of the proposed Mesa
Verde in-field drilling program, with respect to deer and elk habitat?
-Is there a threshold of development beyond which deer and elk numbers (relative to the potential of the habitat) will decline? Can this threshold be accurately defined? Can the decline in deer or elk numbers due to natural gas development be accurately predicted?
Category: Research - wildlife, mineral development.

Scope: Local, with potential regional application.
Potential partners: NMDRW, USGS.
Estimated cost: $10,000 - 25,000.
Status: Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact: John Hansen - (505) 599-6325
1235 LaPlata Highway, Suite A, Farmington, New Mexico 87401-8731
Need: Potential Use of Produced Water from Oil and Gas Development for Use in Road
Building and Maintenance
Issue: Currently, water produced from oil and gas field development is re-injected into underground aquifers. This water often contains high levels of salts, making it unsuitable for culinary or agricultural uses. The cost of disposal for underground injection is also relatively high. There is also a significant need for water for road construction and maintenance associated with the development activity. Research is needed to determine if this produced water could be used in the maintenance of existing roads and the building of new roads without violating existing laws and regulations and causing environmental harm.
Application: The use of produced water could promote more frequent road maintenance, improve road conditions and reduce sedimentation. The reduction in truck traffic to haul produced water to injections wells would improve road conditions, especially during inclement weather conditions. Significance of this proposal would be beneficial on a regional scale.
Category: Oil and gas development - disposal of waste water.
Scope: Regional.
Potential partners: NMOGC, USGS, Oil and Gas Companies.
Estimated cost: $10,000 - 25,000.
Status: New proposal (2001).
Contact: Dale Wirth, Soil, Air, and Water Program, (505)599-6320
Terry Johnson, Civil Engineer (Roads), (505)599-8933
1235 La Plata Hwy., Suite A, Farmington, New Mexico 87401