GROUND-WATER RESOURCES of CATRON COUNTY, NEW MEXICO by George T Basabilvazo
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GROUND-WATER RESOURCES OF CATRON COUNTY, NEW MEXICO By George T Basabilvazo U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4258 Prepared in cooperation with the NEW MEXICO STATE ENGINEER OFFICE and the NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES Albuquerque, New Mexico 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director The use 9* firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Water Resources Division Box 25286 4501 Indian School Road NE, Suite 200 Denver, CO 80225-0286 Albuquerque, NM 87110-3929 CONTENTS Page Abstract............................................................. 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose and scope...................................................................................................................... 4 System of numbering wells and springs................................................................................. 4 Description of study area........................................................................................................... 5 Regional geology............................................................................................................... 7 Surface water..................................................................................................................... 10 Streamflow................................................................................................................ 12 Zuni Salt Lake area.................................................................................................. 13 Ground-water resources...................................................................................................................... 18 Quaternary deposits................................................................................................................... 21 Alluvium............................................................................................................................ 21 Bolsonfill ........................................................................................................................... 25 Quaternary to Tertiary Gila Conglomerate............................................................................. 29 Tertiary rocks............................................................................................................................... 29 Bearwallow Mountain Andesite..................................................................................... 32 Datil Group ........................................................................................................................ 33 Baca Formation.................................................................................................................. 35 Cretaceous rocks.......................................................................................................................... 36 Mesaverde Group.............................................................................................................. 38 Crevasse Canyon Formation ........................................................................................... 40 Gallup Sandstone.............................................................................................................. 40 Mancos Shale..................................................................................................................... 40 Dakota Sandstone.............................................................................................................. 42 Triassic rocks................................................................................................................................ 44 Permian rocks.............................................................................................................................. 44 Geothermal resources........................................................................................................................... 46 Water use................................................................................................................................................ 49 Summary................................................................^ 54 Selected references................................................................................................................................ 57 111 FIGURES Page Figure 1. Map showing location of the study area and declared and undeclared ground-water basins in Catron County, New Mexico.................................... 3 2. Diagram showing system of numbering wells and springs............................... 5 3. Map showing physiographic features in Catron County, New Mexico ........... 6 4. Map showing generalized geology of Catron County, New Mexico................ 8 5. Map showing surface-water basins, surface-water gaging stations, partial-record stations, and selected lakes in Catron County, New Mexico.......................................................................................................... 11 6. Hydrograph showing annual mean discharge for 1928-92 and 5-year moving average of annual mean discharge for the San Francisco River near Glenwood (09444000), Catron County, New Mexico............................. 14 7. Hydrograph showing mean monthly discharge for the San Francisco River near Reserve, near Alma, and near Glenwood, Catron County, New Mexico (locations shown in figure 5)...................................................... 15 8. Graphs showing flow-duration curve for daily mean flows at the (A) San Francisco River and (B) Tularosa River, a tributary of the San Francisco River, Catron County, New Mexico.......................................... 16 9. Map showing Zuni Salt Lake area in Catron County, New Mexico.................. 17 10. Diagram showing regression analysis results from a plot of specific conductance and dissolved solids from analyses of water from wells and springs in Catron County, New Mexico..................................................... 20 11. Map showing location of selected wells completed in Quaternary alluvium and altitude of water levels, 1952-85, Catron County, New Mexico............................................................................................. 22 12. Hydrographs showing water levels in wells completed in the alluvium north of the Plains of San Agustin, Catron County, New Mexico.................. 24 13. Map showing location of selected wells completed in the Quaternary bolson fill and altitude of water levels, 1950-80, Catron County, New Mexico........................................................................................................... 27 14. Hydrographs showing water levels in wells completed in the bolson-fill deposits in the San Agustin Basin, Catron County, New Mexico.................. 28 IV FIGURES-Concluded Page Figure 15. Map showing location of selected wells completed in the Quaternary to Tertiary Gila Conglomerate and altitude of water levels, 1942-80................. 30 16. Hydrograph showing water level in well 7S.20W. 13.410, interpreted to be completed in the Gila Conglomerate, Catron County, New Mexico............. 31 17. Map showing location of selected wells completed in the Tertiary Datil Group and altitude of water levels, 1952-85, Catron County, New Mexico........................................................................................................... 34 18. Map showing location of selected wells completed in the Tertiary Baca Formation and altitude of water levels, 1965-85............................................... 37 19. Map showing location of selected wells completed in the Cretaceous Mesaverde Group and altitude of water levels, 1978-85............. 39 20. Map showing location of selected wells completed in the Cretaceous Crevasse Canyon Formation and altitude of water levels, 1981 .................... 41 21. Map showing location of selected wells completed in the undifferentiated Cretaceous Mancos Shale and sandstone tongues or main body of the Dakota Sandstone and altitude of water levels, 1985....................................... 43 22. Map showing location of selected wells completed in the Triassic Chinle Formation and altitude of water levels, 1985.................................................... 45 23. Map showing approximate locations of potential geothermal areas in Catron County, New Mexico................................................................................ 47 24. Pie diagrams showing depletions of water by category of use, 1990, Catron County, New Mexico ............................................................................... 50 25. Bar graphs showing water use in Catron County in 1975,1980,1985, and 1990: (A) total withdrawals and depletions; (B) surface- and ground-water withdrawals; and (C) surface- and ground-water depletions ........................ 51 26. Pie diagram showing irrigated land by geographic area, 1990, Catron County, New Mexico............................................................................................. 52 TABLES Page Table 1. Minimum, maximum,