Simulation of the regional geohydrology of the Tesuque aquifer system near Santa Fe, New Mexico

Abstract

TO*. * Distribution of hydraulic conductivity in -*'* » ' layer 1 of the model, in feet per day .......... '* IT. Distribution of hydraulic conductivity in layer 2 of the model, in feet per day .......... 12. Distribution of specific yield in layer 1 of the model .

Hydrogeologic framework and groundwater characterization in selected alluvial basins in the upper Rio Grande basin, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, United States, and Chihuahua, Mexico, 1980 to 2015

“…The primary geologic units in the Española alluvial basin are the Tesuque, Puye, and Ancha Formations of the Santa Fe Group. The primary aquifer in the alluvial basin is composed of the Tesuque Formation (McAda and Wasiolek, 1988). The Española alluvial basin is approximately 2,350 mi 2 and has the second highest topographic relief of the 13 alluvial basins in this study where land-surface altitudes in the Española alluvial basin range from about 5,330 to 11,570 ft above NAVD 88 and has the third highest median land-surface altitude, at about 6,870 ft above NAVD 88.…”

“…In New Mexico, the San Luis alluvial basin contains a shallow basin fill aquifer consisting of Quaternary alluvium and the Servilleta Basalt and a deeper basin fill aquifer consisting of the Chamita Formation and the Tesuque Formation of the Santa Fe Group (Johnson and Bauer, 2012). The Tesuque Formation composes the primary aquifer in the basin that has two distinct parts: an upper part, which is unconfined and as much as 800 ft thick, and a confined part, which is as much as 1,200 ft thick (McAda and Wasiolek, 1988).…”

“…The Buckman well field historically was suspected of causing streamflow depletion in the Rio Grande and in selected tributaries to the Rio Grande, namely the Pojoaque River and Rio Tesuque (McAda and Wasiolek, 1988). Beginning in the mid-1980s, researchers began studying the link between groundwater withdrawals from the Buckman well field and reduced streamflow in the Rio Grande.…”

“…Beginning in the mid-1980s, researchers began studying the link between groundwater withdrawals from the Buckman well field and reduced streamflow in the Rio Grande. According to McAda and Wasiolek (1988) (Glaser, 2011). Within the basin, a coordinated water conservation strategy has also reduced per capita water use in Santa Fe by approximately 30 percent since 1995 (Chavez, 2020).…”

“…Storage changes for the Española alluvial basin were estimated for an area of approximately 386 mi 2 (16 percent of the basin). Changes in storage were based on specific yield estimates of 0.1 to 0.2 (Hearne, 1985;McAda and Wasiolek, 1988;Frenzel, 1995). Smaller specific yield values contributed to more subdued changes, and larger specific yield values contributed to larger changes in storage.…”