|
NMT Community Archive >
Earth and Environmental Science >
Independent Studies >
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10136/493
|
| Title: | Hydrogeology of the Upper Rio Penasco Drainage Basin between James and Cox Canyons, Otero County, New Mexico. |
| Authors: | Wasiolek, Maryann |
| Keywords: | Groundwater -- New Mexico -- Otero County |
| Issue Date: | 26-Aug-2009 |
| Abstract: | We report on the hydrogeologic characteristics of a 120 square mile area between James and Cox canyons, located on the mountainous western edge of the Roswell artesian basin in southeastern New Mexico. Water level measurements, driller's logs, chemical and tritium analyses of the water, and precipitation records, have been used to describe the groundwater system of the area. Three major ground water sources have been differentiated: the regional artesian system in the Yeso Formation, which is hydraulically connected with the Roswell Basin; a regional 'semi-perched' water body encircling the crest of the mountains and extending as far east as the R 12/ R 13 dividing line; and spring systems which occur under three conditions: numerous small spring issue near the San Andres/Yeso contact; other springs issue from a 100 feet thick zone of the 'semi-perched' aquifer system; larger but fewer springs issue where the piezometric surface intersects the stream channel in Cox Canyon.
The colder, wetter conditions at the crest of the mountains appear to be the major cause of the semi-perched water zone.
Well logs reveal that the most highly permeable zones in the area are underlain by a sand and gravel layer (presumably consolidated) in the Yeso. Permeability is smaller west of the line dividing townships 12 and 13, where water occurs in shales and noncavernous limestones. Transmissivity for the more western area average about 3400 gpd/ft. Although underlying strata are variable vertically, they are quite continuous laterally. Underflow from the area was estimated at 3050 acre-feet per year as a minimum, which represent a recharge contribution of the Roswell Basin. Its diversion could have a negative effect on the Basin's water budget. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10136/493 |
| Appears in Collections: | Independent Studies
|
Files in This Item:
| File |
Description |
Size | Format |
|---|
| Wasiolek, Maryann.pdf | | 5231Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
|
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
|
