Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Geologic Framework, Regional Aquifer Properties (1940s– 2009), and Spring, Creek, and Seep Properties (2009–10) of the Upper San Mateo Creek Basin near Mount Taylor, New Mexico Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5019 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Cibola San Mateo Creek Basin. Geologic Framework, Regional Aquifer Properties (1940s–2009), and Spring, Creek, and Seep Properties (2009–10) of the Upper San Mateo Creek Basin near Mount Taylor, New Mexico By Jeff B. Langman, Jesse E. Sprague, and Roger A. Durall Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5019 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012 This and other USGS information products are available at http://store.usgs.gov/ U.S. Geological Survey Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 To learn about the USGS and its information products visit http://www.usgs.gov/ 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Langman, J.B., Sprague, J.E., and Durall, R.A., 2012, Geologic framework, regional aquifer properties (1940s–2009), and spring, creek, and seep properties (2009–10) of the upper San Mateo Creek Basin near Mount Taylor, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5019, 96 p. The cooperation of many individuals and organizations was essential for completion of this study. The authors acknowledge the support and help of personnel from the USFS’s Cibola National Forest. In particular, Mary Dereske and Livia Crowley who helped guide this study and provided useful insight for completion of study goals. Additionally, the authors wish to thank Harry Lee for allowing access to the springs, creeks, and seeps on the Lee Ranch and his insight into the hydrologic resources of the target area. v Contents Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope .............................................................................................................................2 Description of the Study Area ...........................................................................................................2 Structural and Surface Geology ...............................................................................................3 Subsurface Geology ...................................................................................................................6 Climate and Surface Hydrology ................................................................................................6 Groundwater Hydrology and Primary Aquifers .....................................................................6 Valley Alluvium and Menefee Formation .......................................................................7 Point Lookout, Crevasse Canyon, Gallup, Dakota, and Morrison Formations .........8 Chinle Group .......................................................................................................................9 San Andres and Glorieta Formations .............................................................................9 Human Influence on Water Resources ...................................................................................9 Previous Studies ................................................................................................................................10 Study Methods ............................................................................................................................................10 Existing Data .......................................................................................................................................10 New Data .............................................................................................................................................11 Quality-Assurance .............................................................................................................................14 Geologic Framework and Regional Aquifer Properties ........................................................................15 San Mateo Creek Basin Geology ....................................................................................................15 Hydraulic Properties of Major Aquifers .........................................................................................15 Horizontal Flow ..........................................................................................................................15 Water-Level Elevations ............................................................................................................21 Hydraulic Conductivity .............................................................................................................22 Groundwater Composition of Major Aquifers ...............................................................................22 Major Elements .........................................................................................................................22 Trace Elements ..........................................................................................................................25 Contaminants of Concern ........................................................................................................25 Spring, Creek, and Seep Properties of the Upper San Mateo Creek Basin, New Mexico, 2009 and 2010 .................................................................................................................................26 Spring, Creek, and Seep Flow ..........................................................................................................26 Spring, Creek, and Seep Water Composition ................................................................................27 Water Isotopes and Evaporation ............................................................................................30 Major Elements .........................................................................................................................31 Saturation Indices ....................................................................................................................31 Creek Flow Paths and Geochemical Model of Transition from Creek to Seep ...............32 Summary .......................................................................................................................................................35 References ...................................................................................................................................................36 Appendixes 1. Historical Groundwater-Elevation Data .................................................................................41 2. Historical Groundwater Major-Element Data .......................................................................53 3. Historical Groundwater Trace-Element Data ........................................................................65 4. Historical Groundwater Contaminants-of-Concern Data ...................................................79 vi Figures 1. Map showing location of the upper San Mateo Creek Basin ..............................................2 2. Map showing regional geologic structural areas, study area, and target area ...............3 3. Map showing San Mateo Creek Basin in the regional landform ........................................4 4. Map showing regional surface geology ..................................................................................5 5. Generalized stratigraphic column of the subsurface geology below the valley forms in the southern San Juan Basin ................................................................................................7 6. Geologic cross section from west to east through the upper San Mateo Creek Basin ..............................................................................................................................................8 7. Map showing sampling sites and surface topography of the upper San Mateo Creek Basin .................................................................................................................................12 8. Map showing surface geology of the upper San Mateo Creek Basin .............................18 9. Map showing relative differences in water-level elevations for the distribution of water-level data compiled for wells with screens located in the Quaternary alluvium .......................................................................................................................................19 10. Map showing relative differences in water-level elevations for the distribution of water-level data compiled for wells with screens located in Cretaceous, Jurassic, Triassic, and Permian formations ...........................................................................................20