Hydrogeologic controls on groundwater recharge and salinization: a geochemical analysis of the northern Hueco Bolson aquifer, Texas, USA

Isotopes as Tracers of Water Origin in and Near a Regional Carbonate Aquifer: The Southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico

“…In Chino Valley (Arizona) [26] and Tucson Basin (Arizona) [1], evidence indicates infiltration from stream beds downstream of the mountain fronts, at distances of 6 to 10 km in the case of Tucson Basin. Groundwater isotope data also indicate recharge of ponded surface water in the center of the Hueco Bolson (Texas) [31]. The present study concurs with the possibility of infiltration as far as 15 km downstream of the range front.…”

“…for the four large canyons that focus fresh water from the Sacramento Mountains into basin sediment near Alamogordo. H and O isotopes might therefore discriminate between the two sources, as discussed inconclusively in [31].…”

Impacts of groundwater pumping and climate variability on groundwater availability in the Rio Grande Basin

“…Strong correlation between chloride concentrations and lithologic formations and both Cl/Br and 36 Cl ratios suggested that the elevated chloride concentration in the Hueco Bolson are attributed to dissolution of Fort Hancock halite deposits. In contrast, sulfur isotopes support that that primary source of sulfate is Tularosa basin Permian gypsum (Druhan et al 2008). The results suggested that upconing of waters from the Fort Hancock formation is the cause for chloride salinization of wells.…”

“…TDS values are lower in the Mexican part of the floodplain aquifer due to mixing of dilute runoff waters with older, more enriched alluvial waters (Hibbs et al 1997). Druhan et al (2008) identified two regional recharge sources in northern Hueco Bolson on the basis of stable isotopes deuterium (dD) and 18 O (d 18 O) data, one originating from western mountain-fronts and another from through-flow of the adjacent Tularosa aquifer. Strong correlation between chloride concentrations and lithologic formations and both Cl/Br and 36 Cl ratios suggested that the elevated chloride concentration in the Hueco Bolson are attributed to dissolution of Fort Hancock halite deposits.…”

“…In the city artesian area (downtown of El Paso to Ysleta) at the northern end of El Paso lower valley, the water in the Rio Grande alluvium is of poorer quality than the water in the underlying bolson deposits, but at many locations down the valley, the water in the alluvium is of better quality than the water underlying the bolson deposits. Soluble material in the fine-grained, predominantly playa-lake bolson deposits, and the lack of groundwater circulation at depth probably accounts for the poor-quality water in the basin fill in the El Paso lower valley (Druhan et al 2008). Brackish water intrusion into the freshwater zone is due to leakage from mud interbeds and artesian-confining beds, cascading waters along well casings and screens, lateral brackish water encroachment, potential upconing of underlying brackish water, and movement of high salinity drain water in the lower valley (Druhan et al 2008).…”