SELECTED HYDROLOGIC DATA FOR THE MESILLA GROUND-WATER BASIN, 1987 THROUGH 1992 WATER YEARS, DONA ANA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO, AND EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS By Edward L. Nickerson U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 95-111 Prepared in cooperation with the NEW MEXICO STATE ENGINEER OFFICE, ELEPHANT BUTTE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, CITY OF LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY, EL PASO WATER UTILITIES, JORNADA RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, and INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION-U.S. SECTION Albuquerque, New Mexico 1995 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director For additional information Copies of this report can write to: be purchased from: U.S. Geological Survey District Chief Earth Science Information Center U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Reports Section Water Resources Division Box 25286, MS 517 4501 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 200 Denver Federal Center Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110 Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract.................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and scope...................................................................................................................... 2 Description of the study area.................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................... 2 Well-numbering systems........................................................................................................... 2 New Mexico system.......................................................................................................... 4 Texas system...................................................................................................................... 4 Geohydrologic setting.......................................................................................................................... 6 Mesilla ground-water basin monitoring program........................................................................... 6 Mesilla ground-water basin observation-well network........................................................ 7 Mesilla Valley hydrologic sections........................................................................................... 7 Las Cruces hydrologic section......................................................................................... 7 River-stage station................................................................................................... 7 Well group LC-1....................................................................................................... 12 Well group LC-2....................................................................................................... 12 Well group LC-3....................................................................................................... 12 Rio Grande low-flow station.................................................................................. 12 Mesquite hydrologic section............................................................................................ 13 River-stage station .................................................................................................. 13 Well group M-l........................................................................................................ 13 Well group M-2........................................................................................................ 13 Well group M-3........................................................................................................ 13 Well group M-4........................................................................................................ 14 Canutillo well-field hydrologic section.......................................................................... 14 River-stage station................................................................................................... 14 Well group CWF-1................................................................................................... 14 Well group CWF-2................................................................................................... 14 Well group CWF-3................................................................................................... 15 Well group CWF-4................................................................................................... 15 Rio Grande seepage investigations.......................................................................................... 15 1987 water year..................................................................................................................................... 18 1988 water year..................................................................................................................................... 26 1989 water year..................................................................................................................................... 34 1990 water year..................................................................................................................................... 42 1991 water year..................................................................................................................................... 50 1992 water year..................................................................................................................................... 58 Selected references ............................................................................................................................... 66 iii FIGURES Page 1. Map showing location of the study area.............................................................................. 3 2. Diagram showing system of numbering wells in New Mexico........................................ 5 3. Diagram showing system of numbering wells in Texas.................................................... 5 4. Map showing location of observation wells and hydrologic sections in the Mesilla ground-water basin, New Mexico and Texas................................................................. 8 5. Diagram showing Las Cruces hydrologic section............................................................... 9 6. Diagram showing Mesquite hydrologic section.................................................................. 10 7. Diagram showing Caftutillo well-field hydrologic section................................................ 11 8. Map showing location of discharge measurement sites, water-quality sites, and selected observation wells during seepage investigations of the Rio Grande from Radium Springs, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, 1988 through 1992 water years... 16 9-21. Hydrographs showing: 9. Indicated gain or loss of streamflow during seepage investigations of the Rio Grande from Radium Springs, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, 1988 through 1992 water years............................................................ 17 10. Mean daily river stage of the Rio Grande below Picacho Bridge, 1987 water year............................................................................................................ 19 11. Mean daily water levels in well group LC-1,1987 water year................................. 19 12. Mean daily water levels in well group LC-2,1987 water year................................. 20 13. Mean daily water levels in well group LC-3,1987 water year................................. 20 14. Mean daily river stage of the Rio Grande below Mesilla Dam, 1987 water year............................................................................................................ 21 15. Mean daily water levels in well group M-l, 1987 water year................................... 21 16. Mean daily water levels in well group M-2,1987 water year................................... 22 17. Mean daily water levels in well group M-4,1987 water year................................... 22 18. Mean daily river stage of the Rio Grande below Vinton Bridge, 1987 water year............................................................................................................ 23 19. Mean daily water levels in well group CWF-1,1987 water year.............................. 23 20. Mean daily water levels in well group CWF-2,1987 water year.............................. 24 21. Mean daily water levels in well group CWF-3,1987 water year.............................. 24 IV FIGURES-Continued Page 22-43. Hydrographs showing: 22. Mean daily water levels in well group CWF-4,1987 water year.............................. 25 23. Mean daily river stage of the Rio Grande below Picacho Bridge, 1988 water year........................................................................................................... 27 24. Mean daily water levels in well group LC-1,1988 water year................................. 27 25. Mean daily water levels in well group LC-2,1988 water year................................. 28 26. Mean daily water levels in well group LC-3,1988 water year................................. 28 27. Mean daily river stage of the Rio Grande below Mesilla Dam, 1988 water year...........................................................................................................