Geologic origins of salinization in a semi-arid river: The role of sedimentary basin brines

Hogan, James; Phillips, Fred M.; Mills, S. K.; Hendrickx, Jan M. H.; Ruiz, J. M.; Chesley, John T.; Asmerom, Yemane

doi:10.1130/g23976a.1

Cited by 53 publications

(44 citation statements)

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“…Not only the solute concentration, but also the solute burden (i.e., total mass flux of solutes) increases downstream, from about 100,000 tons/yr at Lobatos, Colorado to about 600,000 tons/yr above Elephant Butte Reservoir (Phillips et al 2003). The concentrations of dissolved solids vary seasonally, and during the winter when base flow is not diluted by releases of irrigation water from dams, can greatly exceed the average values given above (see figures in Hogan et al 2007). Water quality in the vicinity of El Paso approaches the limits advised for both irrigation and drinking-water use.…”

Section: Rio Grande Salinity Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, Cl/Br ratios increase from ;100 to .1000 in a stepwise fashion mirroring the increasing Cl concentration. Comparing Cl/Br and Cl concentration changes (see figures Hogan et al 2007) demonstrated the combined effect of evapotranspirative concentration and solute addition in explaining downstream salinization. If evapotranspirative concentration were the only factor, the Cl/Br ratio would not change as Cl concentration increased.…”

Section: Rio Grande Salinity Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Water quantity and quality challenges from Elephant Butte to Amistad

Hogan¹

2013

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Management of the Rio Grande between Elephant Butte and Amistad Reservoirs involves a number of distinct water quantity and quality challenges. These challenges arise from both ''natural'' stressors, such as climate variability and geologic sources of salinization, and ''human'' stressors, such as bacterial and nutrient contamination from urban storm water, agricultural return flows, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), altered hydrology, and increasing/changing water demands. The discussion does not argue for a single approach to surface water ''sustainability'' as these decisions are properly made by elected officials and decisions makers. Rather it provides an overview of the surface water system contrasting the pre-development system with the present day to help inform how the stressors mentioned above impact this resource. Current efforts to address these issues are also discussed.

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Section: Rio Grande Salinity Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rio Grande Salinity Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water quantity and quality challenges from Elephant Butte to Amistad

Hogan¹

2013

Ecosphere

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“…The majority of intensive hydrological and geochemical work on the Rio Grande has focused on the sections north of El Paso and north of Elephant Butte Dam (Phillips et al 2003, Hogan et al 2007. Our analysis is different in that we focus on the section of the Rio Grande stretching from Elephant Butte Dam (in southern NM) to Amistad Dam in Western Texas and Coahuila.…”

Section: Social-ecological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The negative economic impact of excessive salt v www.esajournals.org concentrations in the Rio Grande was recently estimated by the Rio Grande Project Salinity Management Coalition (RGPSMC, a group that brings together the Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas Rio Grande compact commissioners with interested federal, state, local, and university partners) at ; $11,000,000/year, with municipalities like El Paso, TX, shouldering the largest fractions of these costs (Michelsen et al 2009). In addition to the possible impact from agricultural sources, previous investigations have demonstrated that salt loads in the Rio Grande increase in part because of (1) the increasing annual temperatures southward which leads to higher evaporation and evapotranspiration rates in the irrigated fields, (2) the high geothermal gradient of the Rio Grande Rift, which may enhance upwelling of highly mineralized groundwater from deeper parts of basins, and (3) the dissolution of salt-rich sedimentary rocks in the central and southern parts of the Rio Grande Valley (Eastoe et al 2008, Phillips et al 2003, Hibbs and Merino 2006, Hogan et al 2007, Witcher et al 2004, Moore et al 2008. These complexities are highlighted in Fig.…”

Section: Social-ecological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, salinization of surface water and shallow groundwater in desert river basins like the Middle Rio Grande represents a significant global environmental problem. The problem has intensified as population growth in desert areas has increased and more water is needed to support agriculture and municipalities (Phillips et al 2003, Farber et al 2004, Oren et al 2004, Hogan et al 2007, Szynkiewicz et al 2008. The highest water use in the Rio Grande Valley is for irrigation to support agriculture (Ellis et al 1993).…”

Section: Social-ecological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Water, climate, and social change in a fragile landscape

et al. 2013

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Abstract. We present here and in the companion papers an analysis of sustainability in the Middle Rio Grande region of the U.S.-Mexico border and propose an interdisciplinary research agenda focused on the coupled human and natural dimensions of water resources sustainability in the face of climate and social change in an international border region. Key threats to water sustainability in the Middle Rio Grande River region include: (1) increasing salinization of surface and ground water, (2) increasing water demand from a growing population in the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez area on top of an already high base demand from irrigated agriculture, (3) water quality impacts from agricultural, municipal, and industrial discharges to the river, (4) changing regional climate that portends increased frequency and intensity of droughts interspersed with more intensive rainfall and flooding events, and (5) disparate water planning and management systems between different states in the U.S. and between the U.S. and Mexico. In addition to these challenges, there is an increasing demand from a significant regional population who is (and has been historically) underserved in terms of access to affordable potable water. To address these challenges to water resources sustainability, we have focused on: (1) the determinants of resilience and transformability in an ecological/social setting on an international border and how they can be measured and predicted; and (2) the drivers of change . . . what are they (climate, social, etc.) and how are they impacting the coupled human and natural dimensions of water sustainability on the border? To tackle these challenges, we propose a research agenda based on a complex systems approach that focuses on the linkages and feedbacks of the natural, built/managed, and social dimensions of the surface and groundwater budget of the region. The approach that we propose incorporates elements of systems analysis, complexity science, and the use of modeling tools such as scenario planning and back-casting to link the quantitative with the qualitative. This approach is unique for our region, as are our bi-national focus and our conceptualization of ''water capital''. In particular, the concept of water capital provides the basis for a new interdisciplinary paradigm that integrates social, economic, and natural sectors within a systems framework in order to understand and characterize water resources sustainability. This proposed approach would not only provide a framework for water sustainability decision making for our bi-national region at the local, state, and federal levels, but could serve as a model for similar border regions and/or international rivers in arid and semi-arid regions in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

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Formation waters discharge to rivers near oil sands projects

Ellis

Jasechko

2018

Hydrological Processes

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Groundwater discharges in the western Canadian oil sands region impact river water quality. Mapping groundwater discharges to rivers in the oil sands region is important to target water quality monitoring efforts and to ensure injected wastewater and steam remain sequestered rather than eventually resurfacing. Saline springs composed of Pleistocene‐aged glacial meltwater exist in the region, but their spatial distribution has not been mapped comprehensively. Here we show that formation waters discharge into 3 major rivers as they flow through the Athabasca Oil Sands Region adjacent to many active oil sands projects. These discharges increase river chloride concentrations from river headwaters to downstream reaches by factors of ~23 in the Christina River, ~4 in the Clearwater River, and ~5 in the Athabasca River. Our survey provides further evidence for the substantial impact of formation water discharges on river water quality, even though they comprise less than ~2% of total streamflow. Geochemical evidence supporting formation water discharges as the leading control on river salinity include increases in river chloride concentrations, Na/(Na + Ca) ratios, Cl/(Cl + SO4) ratios and decreases in 87Sr/86Sr ratios; each mixing trend is consistent with saline groundwater discharges sourced from Cretaceous or Devonian aquifers. These regional subsurface‐to‐surface connections signify that injected wastewater or steam may potentially resurface in the future, emphasizing the critical importance of mapping groundwater flow paths to understand present‐day streamflow quality and to predict the potential for injected fluids to resurface.

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Geologic origins of salinization in a semi-arid river: The role of sedimentary basin brines

Cited by 53 publications

References 11 publications

Water quantity and quality challenges from Elephant Butte to Amistad

Water quantity and quality challenges from Elephant Butte to Amistad

Water, climate, and social change in a fragile landscape

Formation waters discharge to rivers near oil sands projects

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