In 2005, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources initiated a hydrogeology study in the southern Sacramento Mountains with funding from legislative appropriations through the Otero Soil and Water Conservation district. The project was initiated and research funding was continued because of concerns about future water resources for local communities in the southern Sacramento Mountains. Over the past decade, water managers and residents have observed decreasing spring discharge and streamflow in the area, and significant declines of water-levels in wells. Land and resource managers have expressed interest in the potential to increase water availability by thinning woodlands in the mountain watersheds. The focus of this investigation has been to characterize the hydrogeologic framework of the southern Sacramento Mountains and surrounding areas. The results of this study also provide a foundation to assess the impact of tree thinning on groundwater-levels, spring discharge and streamflow in an ongoing study of a small mountain watershed.
OwnerNew Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources - view all
Update frequencyunknown
Last updatedabout 1 year ago
OverviewHurricane DollyOtero Soil and Water Conservation DistrictPecos SlopeRio PeñascoRoswell Artesian BasinSacramento RiverSalt BasinSan Andres FormationTularosa BasinYeso Formationaquifer mappingaquifer rechargeartesian aquiferdedolomitizationgeochemistrygroundwater age datinggroundwater availabilitygroundwater chemistrygroundwater flowgroundwater levelsgroundwater rechargehydrogeologic conceptual modelhydrogeologic frameworkisotopic compositionkarstlongterm response wellsperched aquifersshort term response wellssnowmeltspring dischargespring flowspringsstable isotopesstreamflowsurface watertree thinningwater availability
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harvest_source_titleNew Mexico Water Data