technical report 39 new mex/~o j'qnhl h, n,w merit:o...15. three rivers area (1957) 16....

01.41: 9 .2

TECHNICAL REPORT 39

New Mex/~o Stat.. Envin",J'qnhl h, N,w Merit:o

Pr'l""red i/l ~0o/"nffIM with TAe tlnitqd States Ge%giC<1/ Surr,y

SA UAN RIO

c

.~;,

~o A T~« o

ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN

I. CAPULIN AR£A (19571

2. NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS (19GS)

SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

:3. HOUSE AREA (194!)

4, AREAS IN CURRY COUNTY (l9S4)

5 PORTALES AREA (1931)

6. CAUSEY-LINGO AREA (19S6)

7. TATUM-LOViNGTON-HOSes AREA(l939)

PECOS RIVER BASIN

e, ROSWELL-ARTESIA AREA (1925)

9, CARLSBAD AREA (1948)

10. RIO HONDO VALLEY (1956)

I \ \

EXPLANATION

II. RIO PENASCO VALLEY (1954)

12, FORT SUMNER AREA (1968)

CENTRAL CLOSED eASINS

13. ESTANCIA BASIN (1941)

14. CARRIZOZO AREA (1957)

15. THREE RIVERS AREA (1957)

16. TULAROSA-Ai.AMOGOROO AREAfI9S2)

17. SALT BASIN (1956)

RIO GRANDE BASIN

18, SUNSHINE VALLEY (1955)

! 9. SANTA FE AREA (1961) 20, ALBUQUERQUE- BELEN AREA (I9SS)

21 • HOT SPRINGS AREA (1939)

DE B A.

22. RINCON AND ME.SILLA VALLEYS (ISSE)

23. NORIA-STRAUSS AREA (1962)

24. GRANTS-BLUEWATER AREA (19461

LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN

25. GILA RIVER VALLEY (1939)

28. SAN SIMON CREEK VALLEY 09571

SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

27, ANIMAS VALLEY (19491

28. LORDSBURG VALLEY (1958) 29. SPALDING-DEMING-COLUMBUS AREA (19391

30. NUTT- HOCKETT AF:iEA (lSBI) 31. MIMBRES BASIN IN GRANT COUNTY (1943)

32, PLAYAS BASIN (1948)

YE;ARS IN PARENTHESES DATE SEG1NN1NG OF PROGRAM

-~-~ ..... ~ ..... ~ SOUNDARY, SURFACE- DRA1NAGE AREA

AREAS OF GROUND-WATER-LEVEL MONITORING IN NEW MEXICO, 1970

TECIINICAL IIEPfJRT 39

iVew MnlM $f<1I'" Enqihf"

J'a/1fd h. #tlJV Merir.~()

~un&-~r- £;Pels fn~w ~xfcoj #/iJ,

aad ~hCitUjM In wartH' ~ /966 -197(1

By u. p . .,t/udson - U. S. (je%f'{lcO'/ Survey

I

C I

R. L. /3o"fon - Sidfe Lnff,i?eer OFfice

lfJl.h o Beef/a,., on

~ah<l~~~Jlextcg, ;P7tJ .8y

LO'I'/ r Sorensen Siale £11j'ine"'r Office

/974

BISHOP PRINTING a. LITHO CO., PORTALES, NEW MEXICO

1974

v

CONTENTS

Page

Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Scope of the Federal-State cooperative observation-well program.. .. . ..... ... . .. ... .. . .. .. ... ............. . .. ..... 2

Significance and presentation of data..... ... ..... .... ..... 5 Annual measurements.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Irrigated acreage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Climate. . . . .. . ... . . .. . .... . .. . .. . ... . ... . .. ... . .. ......... . 6 Well-numbering system.. .... ... .... .......... ...... ... ...... 6

Arkansas River Basin

Northern High Plains............................................ 10 Clayton area, Union County. .......... ... ....... ........ .... 11 Capulin area, Colfax and Union Counties. ... ......... ....... 11

Southern High Plains

House area, Quay County......................................... 12 Areas in Curry County........................................... 14 Portales area, Roosevelt County... ......... ... ......... ......... 18 Causey-Lingo area, Roosevelt County............................. 22 Tatum-Lovington-Hobbs area, Lea County....... ................... 25

Pecos River Basin

Fort Sumner area, De Baca County................................ 30 Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves and Eddy Counties.... ....... ....... 31 Rio Hondo valley, Lincoln County... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 57 Rio Penasco valley, Otero County................................ 58 Carlsbad area, Eddy County... ...... ..... ................ ........ 59

vi CONTENTS

Page

Central Closed Basins

Estancia basin, Santa Fe and Torrance Counties.e ....... o ••••••• e. 64 Tularosa basin, Lincoln and Otero Counties .................... "0 65

Carrizozo area.............................................. 65 Three Rivers area........................................... 66 Tularosa-Alamogordo area...... ............. ......... ........ 69

Sal t basin, Otero County......................................... 70

Rio Grande Basin

Sunshine valley, Taos County..................................... 74 Santa Fe area, Santa Fe County................................... 76 Albuquerque-Belen area, Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia

Counties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Hot Springs area, Sierra County.. ... ....... ... ..... .............. 84 Rincon and Mesilla valleys, Sierra and Dona Ana Counties......... 84 Grants-Bluewater area, Valencia County........................... 88 Noria-Strauss area, Dona Ana County.............................. 91

Lower Colorado River Basin

Gila River valley, Grant and Hidalgo Counties.... ................ 92 Sail Simon Creek valley, Hidalgo County........................... 93

Southwestern Closed Basins

Animas basin, Hidalgo and Grant Counties......................... 95 Animas valley....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Lordsburg valley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Playas basin, Hidalgo and Grant Counties. ........ ........ .... .... 96 Mimbres basin, Dona Ana, Grant, Luna, and Sierra Counties... ..... 105

Mimbres basin in Grant County............................... 105 Nutt-Hockett area........... .... .... . ........ ............... 105 Spa1ding-Deming-Co1umbus area............................... 106

Irrigated cropland acreage in New Mexico, 1970.............. ..... 113

Bibliography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 122

CONTENTS vii

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure Introduction Page

1. Surface-water drainage basins in New Mexico ............... . 3 2. Underground-water basins in New Mexico declared by the

State Engineer as of December 31, 1970 .................. . 4 3. National Weather Service weather stations and climatic

subdivisions in New Mexico....... ........................ 7 4. System of numbering wells in New Mexico.. ...... ............ 9


5. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and from January 1966 to January 1971 in the House area, Quay County, N. Mex................................ 13

6. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Clovis area, Curry County, N. Mex............ 16

7. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Clovis area, Curry County, N. Mex............ 17

8. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Portales area, Roosevelt County, N. Mex. ..... 20

9. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Portales area, Roosevelt County, N. Mex...... 21

10. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and depth to ground water in January 1971 in the Causey-Lingo area, Roosevelt County, N. Mex.............. 23

11. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Causey-Lingo area, Roosevelt County, N. Mex.. 24

12. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Tatum-Lovington-Hobbs area, Lea County, N. Mex................................................... 28

13. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Tatum-Lovington-Hobbs area, Lea County, N. Mex................................................... 29

Pecos River Basin

14. Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Salt Creek-Macho Draw part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex................................................... 41

15. Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1970 to January 1971 in northern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex... ........... 42

16. Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1970 to January 1971 in southern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex................ 43

17. Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Salt Creek-Macho Draw part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex................................................... 44

viii CONTENTS

Figure Pecos River Basin (continued)

18. Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1966 to January 1971 in northern part of the

Page

Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.............. 45 19. Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from

January 1966 to January 1971 in southern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex................ 46

20. Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Salt Creek-Macho Draw part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex................................................... 47

21. Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1970 to January 1971 in northern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.............. 48

22. Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1970 to January 1971 in southern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex................ 49

23. Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Salt Creek-Macho Draw part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex................................................... 50

24. Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1966 to January 1971 in northern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.............. 51

25. Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1966 to January 1971 in southern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex................ 52

26. Mean monthly artesian water level in well 10S.24E.21.2l2 in Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex........... 53

27. Mean monthly artesian water level in well l2S.25E.23.344 in Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex........... 54

28. Mean monthly artesian water level in well 13S.25E.27.211 in Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex........... 55

29. Mean monthly artesian water level in well l8S.26E.5.333 and replacement well 18S .26E. 6. 442a in Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex................................ 56

30. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Carlsbad area, Eddy County, N. Mex........... 62

31. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Carlsbad area, Eddy County, N. Mex........... 63


32. Change of ground-water level from February 1970 to January 1971 in the Estancia basin, Torrance and Santa Fe Counties, N. Mex................................................... 67

33. Change of ground-water level from February 1966 to January 1971 in the Estancia basin, Torrance and Santa Fe Counties, N. Mex................................................... 68

34. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Tularosa-Alamogordo area, Otero County, N. Mex........... 71

CONTENTS

Figure

Rio Grande Basin

35. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to February 1971 and from February 1966 to February 1971 in Sunshine

ix

Page

valley, Taos County, N. Mex., and Costilla County, Colo.. 75 36. Change of ground-water level from February 1970 to February

1971 and depth to ground water in February 1971 in the Santa Fe area, Santa Fe County, N. Mex................... 77

37. Change of ground-water level from February 1966 to February 1971 in the Santa Fe area, Santa Fe County, N. Mex....... 78

38. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Albuquerque-Belen area, Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties, N. Mex............................ 82

39. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Albuquerque-Belen area, Sandoval Bernalillo, Valencia Counties, N. Mex................................ 83

40. Change of ground-water level from February 1970 to January 1971 and deptb to ground water in January 1971 in the Grants-Bluewater area, Valencia County, N. Mex........... 89

41. Change of ground-water level from February 1966 to January 1971 in the Grants-Bluewater area, Valencia County, N. Mex................................................... 90

Southwestern Closed Basins

42. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Animas valley, Hidalgo County, N. Mex........ 98

43. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Animas valley, Hidalgo County, N. Mex........ 99

44. Glange of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and depth to ground water in January 1971 in the Lordsburg valley, Grant and Hidalgo Counties, N. Mex..... 100

45. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Lordsburg valley, Grant and Hidalgo Counties, N. Mex................................................... 101

46. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and depth to ground water in January 1971 in the Playas basin, Hidalgo County, N. Mex..................... 103

47. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Playas basin, Hidalgo County, N. Mex......... 104

48. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Deming area of Mimbres basin, Luna County, N. Mex................................................... 109

49. Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Deming area of Mimbres basin, Luna County, N. Mex................................................... 110

50. Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Columbus area of Mimbres basin, Luna County, N. Mex................................................... III

51. Glange of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Columbus area of Mimbres basin, Luna County, N. Mex................................................... 112

x CONTENTS

Figure Page Irrigated Cropland Acreage in New Mexico, 1970

52. Major river basins in New Mexico........................... 114 53. Lands in N~v Mexico irrigated with ground water, surface

water, and ground and surface waters combined, 1970...... 121

TABLES

Table Introduction Page

1. Annual average precipitation and departure, in inches, from normal for climatic subdivisions in New Mexico, 1966-70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Arkansas River Basin

2. Water levels in the Clayton and Capulin areas, Colfax and Union Counties, N. Mex., in February 1971................ 12


3. Water levels in the House area, Quay County, N. Mex., in January 1971............................................. 14

4. Water levels in Curry County, N. Mex., in January 1971..... 15 5. Water levels in the Portales area, Roosevelt County,

N. Mex., in January 1971................................. 19 6. Water levels in the Causey-Lingo area, Roosevelt County,

N. Mex., in January 1971................................. 22 7. Water levels in the Tatum-Lovington-Hobbs area, Lea and

Chaves Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971...... .......... 26

Pecos River Basin

8. Water levels in the Fort Sumner area, De Baca County, N. Mex., in January 1971. ................. ".............. 31

9. Water levels in shallow aquifer in the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves and Eddy Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971. 33

10. Water levels in principal artesian aquifer wells in the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves and Eddy Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971................................. . . . . . . . . . 34

11. Mean monthly and mean annual artesian heads in artesian wells in the Roswell-Artesia area in 1970................ 35

12. Departure in 1970 from average and change from 1969 to 1970 of mean monthly and mean annual heads in artesian wells in the Roswell-Artesia area.............................. 35

13. Daily water levels in well lOS.24E.21.212, Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.............................. 36

CONTENTS xi

Table Page Pecos River Basin (continued)

14. Daily water levels in well 12S.25E.23.344, Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex............................... 37

15. Daily water levels in well 13S.25E.27.211, Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex ........ ~ .................... . ' 38

16. Daily water levels in well 15S.24E.25.433, Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex............................... 39

17. Daily water levels in well 18S.26E.6.442a, Roswell-Artesia Eddy County, N. Mex....................................... 40

18. Water levels in the Rio Hondo valley, Lincoln County, N. Mex., in January 1971.................................. 58

19. Water levels in the Rio Penasco valley, Chaves and Otero Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971......................... 58

20. Water levels in the Carlsbad area, Eddy County, N. Mex., in January 1971........................................... 61


21. Water levels in the Estancia basin, Torrance and Santa Fe Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971........................ 66

22. Water levels in the Tularosa basin, Torrance, Lincoln, and Otero Counties, N. Mex., in January or February 1971...... 70

23. Water levels in the Salt basin, Otero County, N. Mex., in January 1971.............................................. 72

Rio Grande Basin

24. Water levels in Sunshine valley, Taos County, N. Mex., and Costilla County, Colo., in February 1971.................. 76

25. Water levels in the Santa Fe area, Santa Fe County, N. Mex., in February 1971.......................................... 79

26. Water levels in the Albuquerque-Belen area, Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

27. Depth to water in U.S. Bureau of Reclamation test wells, Rincon valley, Sierra and Dona Ana Counties, N. Mex., 1970 86

28. Depth to water in U.S. Bureau of Reclamation test wells, Mesilla valley, Dona Ana County, N. Mex., in 1970......... 87

29. Water levels in the Rincon and Mesilla valleys, Sierra and Dona Ana Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971............... 87

30. Water levels in the Grants-Bluewater area, Valencia County, N. Mex., in January 1971.................................. 91

31. Water levels in the Noria-Strauss area, Dona Ana County, N. Mex., in January 1971.................................. 92

Lower Colorado River Basin

32. Water levels in the Gila River valley, Grant and Hidalgo Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971........................ 94

33. Water levels in the San Simon Creek valley, Hidalgo County, N. Mex., in January 1971.................................. 95

xii CONTENTS

Table Page Southwestern Closed Basin

34. Water levels in the Animas valley, Hidalgo County N. Mex., in January 1971............................... 97

35. Water levels in the Lordsburg valley, Grant and Hidalgo Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971..................... 97

36. Water levels in the Playas basin, Hidalgo County, N. Mex., in January 1971............................... 102

37. Water levels in the Mimbres basin, Dona Ana, Grant, Luna, and Sierra Counties, N. Mex., in January 1971.......... 107

Irrigated Cropland Acreage in New Mexico, 1970

38. Acres of irrigated cropland including idle, fallow, and diverted acreage in New Mexico, by county, 1940-70..... 116

39. Irrigated cropland acreage and source of water in New Mexico counties, 1970.............................. llS

40. Estimated cropland acreage of irrigated areas in major drainage basins in New Mexico, 1970.................... 118

41. Estimated cropland acreage of irrigated areas utilizing ground water in major drainage basins in New Mexico, 1970. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ll9

2 INTRODUCTION

Scope of the Federal-State Cooperative Observation-Well Program

The development of New Mexico continues to be governed, in part, by the availability of ground-water supplies. The population in areas where large supplies of ground water are available continues to expand; in areas of limited supply the population stabilizes, or sometimes declines. As New Mexico is a semiarid region where preCipitation is rarely sufficient or is too variable for successful farming, ground water is at a premium. Even in areaS where ground water is relatively plentiful the demand often exceeds recharge, which causes a decline in water levels.

An important phase of investigation in areaS where ground water is used, or where development is lilcely, is the establishment of a network of observation wells. Periodic measurement of these wells provides an index to the status of the ground-water reservoir, facilitates prediction of trends in water level which in tUrn indicate change in ground-water storage, and provides information to which other hydrologic data may be related. A decline in water levels during an interval represents a decrease in ground-water storage. The decrease may be related to discharge from natural avenues of escape, such as springs, or more commonly to discharge from wells in excess of the recharge to the waterbearing bed. Rises in water level are brought about by cessation of pumping, by precipitation which recharges the ground-water reservoir, by water lost from surface streams that flow over the recharge area of the reservoir, and by return of irrigation water to the ground-water body. Because of the frictional resistance by the aquifer to movement of ground water the water-air interface, or water table, is not level as in surface-water reservoirs, and an adequate portrayal of variations in underground storage necessitates measurement of water levels at many locations. Thus, a network of water-level-observation wells that are measured periodically provides fa record of the change in storage in the ground-water reservoir and provides information as to the permanance of the supply and the characteristics of the aquifer.

A systematic program of water-level measurements in New Mexico was started in 1925 when a study of the ground-water resources in the Roswell area was begun by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the State Engineer of New Mexico. Since that time, the observation-well program has been expanded as needed, to keep pace with increasing use of ground water, primarily in areas where large amounts are pumped for irrigation. The frontispiece shows the location and approximate extent of the areas of ground-water-Ievel monitoring in New Mexico as of December 1970.

Figure I delineates the nine major surface-water drainage basins in the State. Figure 2 shows areas wherein the State Engineer has assumed jurisdiction over the appropriation, development, and use of ground water under authority vested in him by law. As of December 31, 1970, appropriation and use of ground water in 23 areas embracing 34,752 square miles (roughly a one-fourth of the State's total area) had been brought under State control.

In addition to the Statewide program of monitoring ground-water levels described herein, the State Engineer and Geological Survey are presently conducting, on a cooperative basis, field investigations of


1_ I. CANADIAN RIVE"l

r _ 2, PURGATOIRE: AIVER

!3,056

90

! _ 3, CRY CIMARRON RIVER 7 1 0

1_ 4, CARRIZOZO CRE.EK 220

1-'5, NORTH CMNAOIAN R'YEA 1,040

1.6, CARRIZO CRE£K 1,9'50

X2..."-.A,-_" "_t7.0e~

SOUTHeRN HIGH PL ... INS

651$

72'

2_1, RED AIVER

2-2, BAAZOS AIVER

:2·3. LEA PLATEAU 4,766

~_t.~_,.,."'=·~' PECOS RIVEA SASIN

3_ !, '"'ECOS AIYER 25,922

INTRODUCTION

CENTRAL CLOSED BASINS

4_1. ESTANCIA BASIN

4_2, JORNAO,o, eEL ~ERTO

.... _3. TULAROSA BASIN

4_4, SALT BASIN

RIO ORANDE a/.S!N

6 _ I. RIO GRANDE

'5-2, COSTILLA CREEK

5 _3, qlO SAN ANTONIO

2,220

3,475

6.540

2,370

"!O"'AL _li.t-.880

WESTERN CLOSED BASINS

6-1, NORTH "'LAINS

6_2, S"N AQUSTIN PLAINS

1,000

1,965

2,965

SAN JUAN A!VER BASIN

7 _ I. SAN JUAN RIVER

7 _ 2, NAVAJO RlYER

9,495

LOWER COl.ORADO RIVER BASIN

a _ I, LITTLE COLORADO RIVER 5, 3 ! 0

e _ 2, SAN FRANCISCO RIVER 1,905

8_3. O'LA R'VER 3,4-90

6_4, SAN SIMON CREEK 220

10.925

SOUTHWESTISRN CLOSED I3ASINS

9_1, ANIMAS BASIN 2,430

9 _ 2, MIMBRES BASIN

9 _3, PLAYAS BASIN

9_4, WAMEL BASIN

'1"0.,.. ... 1-

4,410

1,410

no 8,420

121,6156

FIGURE 1.-- Surface-water drainage basins in New Mexico.

3

4 INTRODUCTION

SA .JUAN RIO

M C K N L.. "

..... ! .. " ..

o T

1. MIMSRES VALLEY 2. ROSWELL ARTESIAN 3. LEA COUNTY 4. HOT SPRINGS 5. VIRDEN VALLEY G. CARLSBAD 7. ANIMAS VALLEY S. ESTANCIA 9. PORTALES

10. HONDO 11. PENASCO

eOLN

12. PLA¥AS VALLEY 13. BLUEWATER 14. RIO GRANDE 15. GILA· SAN FRANCISCO 16. SAN SIMON 17 _ LORDSBURG VALLEY 18. NUTT- HOCKETT 19. JAL 20. FORT SUMNER 21. CAPITAN 22. SANOtA 23. LAS ANIMAS CREEK

v e:

~ , . , .

FIGURE 2. -- Underground-water basins in New Mexico declared by the state Engineer as of December 31, 1970.

INTRODUCTION

ground-water conditions and the water resources of Santa Fe and Harding Counties, the Roswell basin, the Mimbres basin, and the Taos-Cerro area. Field investigations have been completed in Grant County, the San Juan

5

River valley, the Sandia Mountains area, the Northern High Plains area of Union, Quay, and Harding Counties, and the Capitan reef area of southeastern New Mexico and western Texas. Reports of the investigations will be issued as prepared.

Significance and Presentation of Data

Annual Measurements

Annual measurements of water levels are made in the winter, usually several months after pumping fqr irrigation has ceased -- a time when levels in most wells have had opportunity to recover from the local effects of sustained large-scale withdrawals from the ground-water reservoir. The frontispiece shows the location and approximate extent of the areas observed as of January or February 1971, data of which are included in this report. The areas of observation include most areas of major development of ground water in the State.

The tables of annual water-level measurements show the period of record in years, the aquifer which supplies water to the individual wells, the depth to water in January or February in observation wells, the waterlevel change since the preceeding annual measurement and, for comparison, the highest and lowest recorded annual levels during the period of record. Nearly all measurements are given in feet above (+) or below (-) landsurface datum (lsd) at the well. Included are maps, for most of the areas, showing the change in water levels during 1970 which is the period from January or February 1970 to January or February 1971. A few strategically located wells are equipped with recording gages which measure daily fluctuation in water level. Tabulations of daily highest water levels for five artesian wells in the Roswell are are included in this report. Records of daily fluctuations in other recorder-equipped wells are available in offices of the State Engineer and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Water levels are also measured periodically in a number of observation wells to determine seasonal fluctuations of the water table, and the relation of this fluctuation to precipitation and to pumping of water for irrigation. Seasonal measurements are not published, but are available in offices of the State Engineer and the U.S. Geological Survey.

The number of wells in which water levels are measured annually varies from year to year. About 1,500 wells are measured in January or February 1971.

In addition to presenting continuing annual records, this report includes a discussion of the areas of observation, maps showing the waterlevel change for the 5-year period, January or February 1966 to January or February 1971, inclusive, and 5-year summaries of climatological data where available. It presents estimates of irrigated acreages in the State as of 1970 as well as estimates of pumpage where such could be determined with reasonable accuracy.

6 INTRODUCTION

Irrigated Acreage

Aerial photos were taken of several areas in the state during the 5-year period 1966-70. A mosaic was made from the photos and the farmed land traced onto a sectionized base map; the irrigated cropland acreage was determined by planimetering these maps. The method of irrigation also was determined from the photos, where possible; if it could not be determined in this manner, an on-site inspection was made. Irrigated-cropland estimates were made for each county during 1970 by personnel of the State Engineer Office; these estimates were based on aerial photography, visits to the areas, farmer reports to the county agents, and various other methods.

The irrigated acreage given for some areas discussed in the text are lands actually receiving irrigation water and therefore are commonly less than the acreage recited by E. F. Sorensen in another section of this report entitled "Irrigated cropland acreage in New Mexico, 1970" as his estimates include diverted and idle and fallow land for the same areas. The total irrigated cropland acreage in 1970, as recited by Sorensen, is estimated to have been 1,256,130 acres of which 171,780 acres were idle or fallow, and 83,760 acres which were diverted to farm programs, soil building, and other noncrop uses. Approximately 1,432,410 acres were dryland farmed, of which about 200,130 were idle or fallow, and 696,860 diverted to other uses.

Climate

New Mexico is semiarid region and precipi ta tion is rarely sufficient for the needs of most crops. Precipitation, however, does supply part of the water reqUirements and, at times, reduces the amount of water withdrawn from surface- and grounct-water supplies.

The National Weather Service has divided the State into eight climatic subdiviSions, each embracing areas of relatively homogeneous climatic conditions (fig. 3). The total precipitation for 1970 was well below the normal in all eight subdivisions; departures from the normal ranged from 1.14 inches in the Northwestern Plateau to 4.61 inches in the Central Highlands. The average annual precipitation was below the normal for the 5-year period 1966-70 in all subdivisions of the State except the Southern Desert (table 1). The greatest average annual departure from the annual normal for the 5-year period occurred in the Southwestern Mountains (-0.80 inches) while the Southern Desert showed a small increase (+0.10 inches). The only year during the 5-year period showing above-average precipitation for all the subdivisions was 1969 when the Northeastern Plains received 7.79 inches above normal and the average annual departure for the subdivisions was 3.23 inches above normal.

Well-Numbering System

The system of numbering wells in New Mexico is based on the common subdivision of public lands in sections. The well number, in addition to designating the well, locates its position to the nearest 10-acre tract in the land network. The number is divided by periods into four segments. The first segment denotes the township north or south of the New Mexico base line;

a

I'.''''Y·'''' I I

INTRODUCTION 7

'''1' <.> "" "' ....... , • '01'

.0 ~O =-

ALDERS fOUAL .. REA PROJ(cr'ON sn'lDARD 'ARAl..LELS AT lS'f .<1'0 ~ ~

+-------~".

I

FIGURE 3.-- National Weather Service weather stations and climatic subdivisions in New Mexico.

8 INTRODUCTION

TABLE 1. --ANNUAL AVERAGE PRECIPITATION AND DEPARTURE, IN INCHES, FROM NORMAL FOR CLIMATIC SUBDIVISIONS IN NEW MEXICO, 1966-70. *

Northwestern Northern Southwestern Northeastern Plateau Mountains Mountains Plains

Precipi- Depar- Precipi- Depar- Precipi- Depar- Precipi- Depar-Year tation tUre tation ture tation ture tation ture 1966 8.76 -2.08 13.31 -2.76 11.69 -0.90 13.18 -2.29

1967 9.79 -1.05 16.20 0.13 14.00 1.41 15.09 -0.38

1968 9.54 -1.30 13.78 -2.29 10.59 -2.00 11.07 -4.40

1969 13.98 3.14 20.50 4.43 12.71 0.12 23.26 7.79

1970 9.70 -1.14 13.87 -2.20 9.98 -2.61 12.47 -3.00

Central Central Southeastern Southern Valley Highlands Plains Desert

Precipi- Depar Precipi- Depar- Precipi Depar- Precipi Depar-

Year tation ture tation ture tation ture tation ture 1966 8.05 -0.86 13.43 2.86 13.72 -0.42 9.71 -0.20

1967 9.81 0.90 16.34 0.05 9.49 -3.81 11.39 1.48

1968 9.17 0.26 15.98 -0.31 15.58 2.28 10.85 0.94

1969 10.87 1.96 20.73 4.44 16.68 3.38 10.49 0.58

1970 6.01 -2.90 11 .68 -4.61 9.80 3.50 7.64 -2.27

*Data from Environmental Data Service, Environmental Science Services Admin-istration (1966-69) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1970) .

INTRODUCTION 9

the second denotes the range east or west of the New Mexico principal meridian, and the third denotes the section. The fourth segment of the number, which consists of three digits, denotes the 160-, 40-, and 10-acre tracts, respectively, in which the well is situated. For this purpose, the section is divided into four quarters, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, in the normal reading order, for the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast quarters, respectively. The first digit of the fourth segment gives the quarter section which is a tract of 160 acres. Similarly, the quarter section is divided into four 40-acre tracts numbered in the same manner, and the second digit denotes the 40-acre tract. Finally, the 40-acre tract is divided into four 10-acre tracts, and the third digit denotes the 10-acre tract. Thus, well 12S.36E.24.342 is in the NEisEiswi sec. 24., T. 12 S., R. 36 E. If a well cannot be located accurately within a 10-acre tract, a zero is used as the third digit, and if it cannot be located accurately within a 40-acre tract, zeros are used for both the second and third digits.

If the well cannot be located more closely than the section, the fourth segment of the well number is omitted. When it becomes possible to locate more accurately a well the last segment of whose number has been omitted, or in whose number zeros have been used, the proper digit or digits are added or substituted for the zeros. Letters a, b, c, etc., are added to the last segment to designate the second, third, fourth, and succeeding wells in the same IO-acre tract.

Grant land in Sunshine valley in Taos County was sectionized by extension of the Colorado land-grid system into New Mexico. Within the Sangre de Cristo Grant, townships south of the State line have been designated T. 1 S., T. 2 S., and T. 3 S., whereas townships north of the State line are designated T. 1 N., etc., without reference to the New Mexico base line.

Figure 4 illustrates the method of numbering wells and tracts in New Mexico.

,

,

" T '2 S . ~"

"

" i

Sechons Wllhln a township Trocts wIthin 0 section

R 36£ S 24 00.

, . \\ , ,

1 i

• , ,,\ " " , I 2

\: N I

" " " " I

,

,,\ ~- T -24---

" " " '~\ , I I 2 ,

2& I '!'fz'~' I

" '2~ " --l~'T;i 4 ,,\\ " " '",

" 3 I'~ i I I II ~,

.. m"e~ .::0,. . .j \ '\ 1// ! mit~ .... , We t (125 36E 24 342

Figure 4. -- System of numbering wells in New Mexico.

10


Tributaries of the Arkansas River (principally the Canadian River system) drain about 14 percent of New Mexico's total land area (fig. 1). Exploration for, and development of, ground water in the basin was limited until the mid-1960s; the principal areas then irrigated with ground water were in the vicinity of Capulin, Logan, and Clayton. Since that time the amount of irrigated acreage has steadly increased on the Northern High Plains south of Clayton. Principal aquifers in this area are sands and gravels of the Ogallala Formation and sandstones of Jurassic and Cretaceous age. Ground-water levels in the Capulin area continue to be monitored although irrigation is no longer practical; monitoring was initiated in the Clayton area in 1967.

Northern High Plains

by

E. G. Lappala

The Northern High Plains of New Mexico covers an area of approximately 3,500 square miles in parts of Harding, Quay, and Union Counties. The area is bounded on the north by the drainage divide between the North Canadian River (Corrumpa Creek) and the Cimmaron River; on the east by Oklahoma and Texas; on the south by an erosional escarpment about 15 miles north of the Canadian River; and on the west by Ute Creek and the boundary between R. 29 E. and R. 30 E. The eastern part of the area is a flat to gently rolling plain that extends eastward into Oklahoma and Texas. The western part includes gently rolling plains, moderately dissected plateaus, and small volcanic peaks. The western part is not physiographically a part of the High Plains, but is included in this discussion because it contains scattered areas of irrigation just west of the High Plains proper.

The area is semiarid, receiving an average annual precipitation of about 16 inches. Most of the precipitation falls as early summer thunderstorms. Drainage is to the southeast by streams which are perennial only in their upper reaches. In the eastern part of the area numerous small closed basins and shallow depressions exist which accumulate precipitation that recharges underlying rocks. Annual precipitation during the 5-year period 1966-70 averaged 15.20 inches in the area, or about 0.69 inches above normal. Annual precipitation and departure from normal, in inches, for the Clayton weather station was as follows: 1966, 15.43, +0.92; 1967, 13.84, -0.67; 1968, 10.69, -3.82; 1969, 25.70, +11.19; 1970, 10.36, -4.15.

CAPULIN AND CLAYTON AREAS, ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN 11

Principal aquifers are the Ogallala Formation of Pliocene-Miocene(?) age, the Dakota Sandstone and Purgatoire Formation of Cretaceous age, and the Morrison Formation and Exeter Sandstone of Jurassic age. Irrigation wells conunonly are completed in two or more of these aquifers; this is particularly true of the Ogallala-Dakota-Purgatoire aquifer system. Yields to wells from the Ogallala Formation range from 100 to 800 gpm (gallons per minute). Yields of 500 to 1,000 gpm are obtained from the Dakota-Purgatoire and Morrison-Exeter aquifer systems. A few wells yield as much as 1,500 gpm with moderate drawdown from the Ogallala-Dakota-Purgatoire aquifer system. Water levels in some windmills tapping the Ogallala are reported to have lowered several feet in areas of heavy pumping for irrigation.

Two ground-water investigations in Union County and one in Quay County have been made by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the New Mexico State Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources. A quantitative study of ground-water development for irrigation is currently being made by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the New Mexico State Engineer; as part of this study, the Northern High Plains area was included in the water-level monitoring program in 1967.

Clayton Area, Union County

Clayton, the county seat of Union County, is the largest community in the area. Other communities include Sedan, Amistad, and Rosebud. The economy of the Northern High Plains is agricultural. Dryland farming and ranching predominated prior to 1950; by 1954 some irrigation farming had developed.

Before 1954, development of ground water for high-yield supplies was limited to about 30 irrigation wells and about 15 municipal and railroad wells; by June 1971, more than 300 irrigation wells were in operation. As of 1970 about 30,000 acres were under irrigation. Based upon a duty of 1.3 acre-feet of water per acre per year, about 39,000 acre-feet of water was pumped from the ground-water reservoir during the 1970 irrigation season.

Water-level data for eight observation wells measured in February 1971 are listed in table 2.

Capulin Area, Colfax and Union Counties

The Capulin area, in northern Colfax and Union Counties, is flat to gently rolling and contains many small wet-weather lakes and poorly drained depressions. Springs provide water perennially to an unnamed stream, along the eastern side of the area, which flows northeastward out of the basin.

Three irrigation wells 41 to 78 feet deep were dug and drilled in the vicinity of Capulin in 1948 to irrigate about 200 acres of feed crops. The wells obtained water from a volcanic cinder aquifer underlying alluvium and were capable of yields of more than 1,000 gallons per minute. Irrigable acreage is limited by the topography and some areas become marshy when irrigated due to poor drainage and tight soil conditions.

12 CAPULIN AND CLAYTON AREAS, ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN

The three irrigation wells have been abandoned and a recent survey showed no irrigated acreage in the Capulin area during 1970. Water-level data are presented in table 2.

T MIL E 2.--HATf'? LEVELS ttl THE CLAYTON AND CAPULIN AREAS, COLFAX AND UNION COUNTIES, N. I'EX. IN FEBRUARY 1971,

CHANGE fROM FESRUA'{Y 1970 TO FEBRUARY 1971. n feET, AND HIGHEST AND LOWEST REcoRDED LEVELS HI JAN. OR fEe., IN fEET REFERENCED TO LAND-SURFACE DATUM,

SOURCE OGLL. OGALLALA; PRGR, PURGATOIRE; OKOT. DAKOTA; VLCC. VOLCANICS

CLAYTON AREA

LOCATION OWNER SOURCE 71 WATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR LOR YR YEARS OF RECORD

NUMBER LEVEL

UN 3f>E 05 '" JAMES PARKER DeLL -202.75 2-02 -G.65 -1910.70 eo -202.75 " &5,68-7 1

l'.iN 35E 02 1t'<1 Ii.S. HI"'CHESTE~ OGLL -106.8<; 2-02 -4.05 -102.40 69 -106.as " 65,61-71

26N 36E 0'" 212 F .A. FR~EHAN FRGR -151.40 2-02 -Zi!.30 -12",.10 '" -151.40 71 67-11

26tl 36E 13 231 ,. DICKENS OGLL -131.34 2-02 -130.0", 67 -131.38 " 0;7-6",,11

27N 34E 15' 341 B.P. JOQ;CAN OKOT -146.20 2-02 -I). ao -141."0 '" -1,,6.20 71 55,65,61-11

21N 36E 11 434 ,. CARTER OGLL -16.40 2-02 -3.40 -75.00 " -",3.92 " 61-11

Z1N 31E 06 4"2 MRS.J.E. JONES FRGR -131.20 2-02 -1.20 -136.00 " -138.02 6865,61-71

28N 32E 30 331 C.B. IPIHtl PRGR -35.37 2-02 +2.63 -34.50 69 -38.00 '" 55,&5,61-71

CAPLLlti AREA

LOCATIOtl OUNER SOURCE 71 UATER DAlf CHANGE HIGH YR to" YR YEARS OF RECoRD

NUHBER LEVEL

2'm 211£ 11 Hl GEORGE SNEED VLCC -37.02 2-03 -1.05 -32.85 63 -37.04 " <;1,57-71

Z"IN 2 8E 16 323 CITY OF RATON VLCC -26.Z8 2-03 +2. EO -25.76 " -28.S8 '" 57-60,63-71

,,'iN 2 BE 16 m CITY OF RATON VLCC -l11.BO 2-03 -17 .10 " -18 .60 " 57-65,71

,"IN 211E 16 341 CITY OF RATON VLCC -33.110 2-03 -.70 -30.60 " -33.911 67 58-71

SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

The Southern High Plains of New Mexico is an elevated, elongate plateau on the southeastern margin of the State, bounded on the east by Texas and on the north, west, and south by erosional escarpments facing the drainage basins of the Arkansas and Pecos Rivers (fig. 1). Some 170 miles long and 45 miles wide at its broadest point, the New Mexico portion of the plateau comprises about 5,880 square miles -- roughly 5 percent of the State's land area. There are no perennial streams on the Southern High Plains, but intermittent streams may flow briefly follOWing summer thunderstorms. Development of ground water for use in irrigation has been extensive over much of the plains and bordering areas. Ground water is obtained mainly from the Ogallala Formation, but in Portales Valley and the Causey-Lingo area irrigation supplies are obtained from Quaternary alluvium and Cretaceous sands and gravelS, respectively. Ground-water levels in five areas are monitored under the continuing Statewide program (frontispiece).

House Area, Quay County

The community of House, about 40 miles northwest of ClOViS, and the adjoining irrigation-farming area in Quay County are situated in the Pecos River drainage near the western boundary of the 'Southern High Plains; however,

HOUSE AREA, SOUTRERN HIGH PLAINS 13

general conditions of geography, geology, and climate have much more in common with conditions on the plains than with those in the Pecos valley, and for these reasons the area is considered -- in the water-level-monitoring program -to be a part of the Southern High Plains. Water for irrigation is pumped from a saturated zone in the Ogallala Formation of Pliocene-Miocene(?) age which ranges in thickness from about 25 feet to as much as 100 feet, and averages about 50 feet. The Ogallala immediately underlies the surface and is composed of silt, sand, gravel, and some clay; the lithology of the formation is not continuous although a basal gravel appears to be rather perSistent. In 1970, about 4,500 acres of land were irrigated with ground water. The irrigated area lies mainly east and north of the community of House, however several new irrigated farms have been developed northWest of House near the upper reaches of Alamosa Creek (fig. 5). Recharge is mainly from precipitation that collects in the numerous depressions that pock the area and Water-level rises are recorded during some years of above-normal preCipitation. These rises, however, are due more to a reduction in plUllping then to the amount of recharge. The general trend, over the years, has been a steady decline.

The program of measuring water levels on a continuing basis in the House area was begun in 1941. Data are presented in table 3.

T 7 N

T. 6 N.

T. 5 N.

i

r if 0

"J r

~r <

~r ! r r i

li i

,i <

" < m

w o ~i

i i i

I

R,27E.

\

\ /

I

Z

"<:: ~ ~~ ... ",

"-c.,

R.28E.

I \

-124

\ ''--r '",

f\', "" "' .. \

'\ '\

'" .~

\£:c:> '.,. 1'-,··

STATE "" ",

R.29E. R.30E.

EXPLANAT!ON

.. -2.00 -z.S'l

Obs~rvat1onw~1I

Change of water !ev~! Januory !970 to January 1971 above IInc, change of water level January 1966 to January , \ 197! bolow line In feol,

( ~ , , 31<111 ••

\ , , ,

. .. , · .. -:, ~ · .~

~

." ~ ~ .~o~

"1\ +85 -5.54

\ [T -! 21 : ~MCALIrER

" -3.15

STATE "., " twI "-6\ \. · . STATE HWY '" -502-.>,,-

" ,,-292 P L/ . -297

HOUSE .\

--f ~ ":!J!!. " .. :;;:; -3.46 ."" +~ ~5 : 'l . V +!55 9fG'~/ .,. 1'--. , -:J£.

""- '. 1--' "-

L. L....i-'OhA'C;-'?o"'JiY .L-, L-.L-.

'~ --- ,

- L--L--L-R'oosi-v~-~otNry-L--1--L-- L-_ tr-- 1-_

FIGURE 5. -- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and from January 1966 to January 1971 in the House area, Quay County, N. Mex.

14 HOUSE AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH Ph~INS

TABLE '.--UATER LEV€LS I~I HIE HOUSE ~REA. QUAY comny, t>, HEX., IN JANUARY 1971, CHANGE FRCM ,JANUARY 1970 TO ,JANUARY 1971, IN FEET. AHO HIGHEST

AND LOUEST RECORDED LEVELS 1'1 JAil. OR FEB •• IN FEET REFERENCED TO LANG-SURFACE DATUM.

SOUR:!: ; OGLL, OGALLALA

LOCATION OWNER SCURCE " liA TER DATE CHANGE HIGH " LO> " YEARS OF RECORD NUHBER LEVEL

0<;11 leE " m UNKNOWN OGLL -78.53 1-08 -2.23 -76.28 " -76.53 71 69-71

"'" '" " Hi S.£. HORRIS CGll -711. 8~ 1-01l -.63 -411.68 " -78.64 " 43-71 OSN 2<JE 06 m w.o. CARPENTER DelL -64.08 1-011 +1.29 -52.37 " -85.37 '" 45-65,&7-71 OSN '" " W OON '. KENtIEOY DGll -&4.53 1-08 -z.'l2 -34.19 43 -£.4.53 " "1-68,70-71 05N 2<JE " m A.D. NORRIS CGll -&0.55 1-08 t-J.25 -53.70 50 -70.30 " 46-71

"'" m 23 m E.e. HARRIS DGlL -44.07 1-08 -30.10 50 -44.07 " 47-<;0,71 O"N 29E; " lUA C. A. H(H~ROW oell -73.0<; 1-08 -1.83 -&6.90 " -74.10 " 63-&<;,&7-71 D<;N '" " '" W.C. 'N' H • .J. LEE oell -47.73 1-0e -10 ee -34.eo " -411.23 " 44-71 OSN '" " '" UNKNOWN Dell -70.65 1-011 -.10 -70.75 '" -70.8S 71 69-71 OfiN 26E "' m STATE OF NEW MEXICO Oell -65.78 1-06 ... 42 -£>4.3:; " -66.e6 " 47-63.6:;-71

"'" ZOE or HZ UtlKNO;fN OGlL -6J.6e 1-0e -63.68 71 -83.114 " 69,71 OMI 2eE; " '" UNKNOHN OGlL -116.8<) 1-0e -.11 -116.34 " -11£>.89 71 69-71 "N 20' '" '" GEO. ,. IRWIN OGll -9J.06 1-0e -.46 -78.12 " -109.99 " 44-11

"" 2'1£ 30 HZ E.G. HEINE oelL -£>8.50 1-08 +.65 -46.06 " -73.90 " 41-67,69-71 06N '" " w W. S. '10~ROII OGLL -109.66 1-06 -1.27 -70.99 " -109.60 71 46-48.:;0,52-66.68-71

"" '" " w UtlKNOHtI OGll -3~.84 1-08 -1. '.14 -J2.90 " -34.04 71 69-71 "N Z9E " '" DALE CAMPBElL DelL -S2.70 1-26 -52.01 52 -60.15A " 52-62,66-68,71 l1N 30E 14 1440 SOUTHERN PACIFIC RR DGlL -32.60 1-26 -21.46 " -132.36 " 52-68,71 "N JOE 30 '" CITY " TUCUMCARI DeLL -158.20 1-26 -158.20 71 -185.39 " 53-68,71

A - WELL BEING PUMPED.

Areas in Curry County

Curry County is on the Southern High Plains of east-central New Mexico and includes an area of 1,403 square miles. The economy of the county is based on agriculture which was primarily dryland farming until 1948. Several successful wells were drilled and used for irrigation during the late 1940's. The drought in the early 1950's caused increased development of ground water for irrigation which has continued to the present.

The Ogallala Formation of Pliocene-Miocene(?) age is the main source of ground water in Curry County, yielding moderate to large quantities of water of good quality. The Ogallala consists of fine sand and gravel; the gravel generally occurs at the base of the formation. The formation covers the entire county except for the extreme northern part where the underlying red beds of TriaSSic age are exposed. Maps showing the top of the red beds have been constructed by the New Mexico State Engineer Office and were used in conjunction with water-level contour maps prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey to make saturated-thickness maps of the Ogallala Formation. These maps indicate that the water table and the top of the red beds slope to the southeast at about 10 feet per mile and that the saturated thickness of the Ogallala Formation ranges from zero on the western and the northwestern edges of the area to 275 feet in the extreme southeastern corner of the county.

About 145,000 acres of land were irrigated in 1965. In 1970, about 187,000 acres were irrigated. Sorghum is the predominant crop and accounts for more than half of the irrigated crops.

Clovis received an annual average of 16.06 inches of precipitation during the period 1966-70, most of which occurred each year during the growing season July-September. The average annual departure was 1.41 inches below the normal. The only year during the period having above-normal preCipitation was 1969, when Clovis received a total of 24.30 inches, 6.82 inches above normal.

AREAS IN CURRY COUNTY, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS 15

Water levels have been measured each year since 1954 in the Clovis area (table 4). Water levels in the area during the 1966-70 period declined as in previous years; in the Texico area, 5-year declines of more than 20 feet occurred. The average annual decline in the heavily pwnped areas was about 3 feet (see figs. 6, 7), although the annual measurements indicate greater declines in some wells which were located near wells being pt~ped at the time of the measurement.

LOCATION NUMflEF

ow 33£ 16 112 01fl litE 03 112A OW 3510 01 312 DiN 35E 03 111 OHl JE-E OS 211

OtN 36E 06 121 OW 3('E 12' 313 lIiN 36E 16 111 OtN 37£ 15 131 lilt! 31E 01 211

Oltl 31E III 311 Oltl 32E 36 333 02t1 33£ 16 222 Olt. litE 01 122 !It'll 3"£ lilt 321

lilt! 34E 07 212 Olt! 3"£ 10 231 OlN 35£ 04 311 O?N 35E 21 221 0211 35£ 35 211

OZII 36£ !lJ 111 0211 3610 16 211 IIltl 3GE 27 122 OlN 37E 07 211 02'11 37£ 17 121

0211 31E 22 434 02N 37E JO 2.?1 lilt! 37E 32 133 Olt! 3JE 09 111 O;HI 33£ 1Z 131

llJN 34E 02 334 03"~ "3I+E 2Z 133 03N 34E 23 433 03N 34E 30 111 03N 35E 06 111

OlN 35E 12 113 0314 35E 26 112 0314 35£ 34 113 03N l6E 14 211 OlN HE 16 111

QUI 36E 21 333 OlN l7E 04 211 OJN 37E 27 112 O:'lN 37E 32 413 04N 32E 24 333

04N 33E 31 3~2 04fl 35£ 02 122 0414 35£ 14 211 04tl 35E 18 212 04fl 35£ 33 344

04N 36E 03 333 04t/ 36£ 13 434 04N 36E 2Z 331 O~N 36E 36 112 04N 37E 07 212

041l 37E 16 113 04N 37E 26 211 OSIl 32E 19 211 O"N 33£ 2S 222 05N 34E 21 443

05N 34E 3£> 211 O<;N 35!; 11 112 05fl 35E 35 313 O<;N 36E 2f. 124 05N 37£ 32 111

06N 35E 16 244 06N 36£ 23 144 07N 35£ 01 233 07N 36£ 15 322 07N 37E 32 131

TABLE '1.--wATER lEVELS IN GURRY COUNTY, fl. HEX., IN JANUARY 1<)71, CHANGE FROM JANUARY 1970 TO JANUARY 1<)71, IN FEET, 11.110 HIGHEST

ANa lowEST RECORDED LEVELS HI JAU. OR FEB., IN FEET REFERENCEO TO LAUD-SURFACE DATUM.

OIlNER

R.l. SIMPSON UNKNOWN J.W. PATTERSON UNKNOWN J.E. WALL

R.I!. HYMAN C.C. CURRY H.E. HATHORN UNKNOWN ALEX TINDLE

ERNEST COOPER PINElL KOLB \.JNKNOWN BAILEY

UNKNOWN UNKNOWN J.R. VIVIAtl M.R. BlACKBURtl UNKNOWt4

UNKNOWN C.H. HURPHY LEVECA PETERSO'< l.A. PEARCE GRACE £". BURNS

FRM4K E. SEALE HARION DOSHER l.H. FAVIllE UNKNOWI>! H.S. QUAllS

R.O. WAllACE UNKNOWN HONTE MATLOCK UNKNOWN UNKNOWN

FRANCIS VERA l. HARTLEY VERNEY TOWNS ROY WILLIAMS AUO SON UNKNOWN

H.W. HEC!'T GlENl4 A. SINGLETERRY O.N. SCHLUETER B.a. FAVILlE GASTOt, MCDANIEL

J.G. GOULD S.H. PIPKIN GRADY TUCKER UNKNOWN UNKNOWN

UN)"N01,N UNKNOWN lESLIE PATTERSON UtlKNOIW UNKNOWN

UNKNOWN EDGAR EKlER VERNON M,ORESS UNKNOWN UNKNOHN

GARRETT FARMS UNKtlOHN S.H. PIPKItI GORDON SMITH UNKNOHN

I.J. RUTHERFORO G.H. lEONARD OSCAR FRYAR RUCKER R.H. pons

SOURCE OGll, OGALLALA; VlFl, VAllEY FILL

SOURCE

VLFl OGLl OGlL

OGLL

OGll OGlL OGlL OGL l OGll

OGll OGll OGlL OGll OGll

OGll OGLl OGll OGll OGll

OGLL OGll OGLL OGll OGll

OGll OGll OGll OGll CGLL

OGll OGll OGlL OGll OGLl

OGll OGll OGll OGll 0Gl.L

DGll OGll OGll OGll OGll

OGLl OGll OGLl DGll OGll

OGll OGll OGll DGll OGll

OGlL OGLl OGLL OGll OGll

CGll OGLL OGLL OGll OGLl

OGll cGll OGLL OGll OGll

71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR lOM YR YEARS OF RECORD LEVEL

-31.76 -154.22 -179.40 -221.8'1 -1<15.01

-182.95 -199.67 -173.50 -169.0S

-86.6B

-&9.52 -42.61

-151.90 -333.45 -343.15

-287."8 -318.75 -3:31.% -273.26 -l31.~lB

-304.% -272.45 -218.17 -285.91 -245.4B

-232.95 -225.90 -221.93 -331>.95 -371.67

-400.43 -33'3.62 -343.92 -3'30.60 -377.75

-367.54 -381.69 -328.1E -31,.3.35 -358.63

-360.70 -23'3.95 -313.26 -301.35 -304.94

-323.9& -410.10 -386.27 -307.71 -366.60B

-359.15 -334.95 -324.45 -283.95 -324.95

-332.2'1 -280.55 -256.42 -1,.07.90 -440.14

-407.70 -29.43

-4U.63 -309.53 -338.60

-322.46 -356.23 -183.37 -247.30 -245.56

1-05 1-05 1-06 1-05 1-06

1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06 1-05

i-a5 1-0S 1-05 1-0S 1-07

-.18 -4.83 -1.67 -3.09 -3.30

-2.83 -3.71

+.67 +4.29 -.2" -.03

-1019 -2. '15 -;.26

1-05 -1.43 1-05 -2.1" 1-07 1-06 -16.12 1-05 -5.56

1-09 1-07 1-06 l-a7 1-06

1-a6 1-06 1-06 1-05 1-05

1-05 1-05 1-05 1-05 1-05

1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06

1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06 1-05

1-05 1-07 1-05 1-05 1-05

-1.46 -2.20 -1.64 -9.26

-2.3'.1 -3.25 -5.94 -1.68

+4.77 -.31 -.47

-2.60 -3.93

-11.63

-.28 -6.65

-6.'.10 -3.37 -7. '.16 -6.36 -1.90

-.92 -6.24 -5.07 -3.29 -8.63

-20.00 42 -32.03 1>9 42-65,69-71 -172.47 67 -164.2<: 71 67-71 -163.26 55 -179.40 71 54-62,64-71 -207.37 63 -lZl.61o 71 63-61,.,70-71 -163.87 55 -165.01 71 51,.-71

-164.60 54 -182.95 71 54-71 -171.70 54 -1"9.67 71 54,56-63,65-66,68-71 -156.56 54 -174.37 70 54-71 -16"1.08 71 -173.37 70 70-71

-65.1+9 64 ~66.66 71 56-71

-67.38 56 -69.5<: 71 54-65,67-71 -41.~lA67 -43.30 69 62,67-69,71

-146.65 &7 -151.90 71 62,67-71 -315.37 62 -333.45 71 62,67-71 -32&.38 67 -343.15 71 6<:,67-71

-264.20 &7 -287.98 71 62,67-71 -308.65 67 -316.78 71 62,67-71 -300.19 55 -331.'.>6 71 54-56,61-62,64-1>5,71 -240.2a 56 -273.26 71 56-62,64-65,66-71 -223.75 6g -231.'11B 71 69-71

-304.56 71 -304.56 71 71 -233.90 55 -l72.46 71 :4-56,60-62,{:6-71 -192.60 56 -218.17 71 54-58,60-64,66-71 -235.04 55 -265.91 71 54-71 -192.41 55 -245.46 71 54-59,61-62,{:4-71

-202.71 61 -163.94 '.>9 -160.97 511 -329.51 &2 -371.67 71

-361.62 62 -337.60 62 -340.75 55 -346.83 62 -360.13 62

-387.54 71 -349.'+0 56

-232.95 71 61-71 -225.90 71 54-56,56-59,62-64,61-71 -221.93 71 54-71 -336.95 71 62,67-71 -371.67 71 71

-405.20 -3110.27 -343.92 -390.&0 -377.75

70 &2,67-71 &7 62,&7-71 71 54-71 71 62,67-71 71 62,67-71

-367.54 71 71 -381.69 71 54-71

-326.16 71 -328.16 71 71 -261.1'.1 -350.10

55 -344.07 69 54-56,56-64.66-71 69 -358.63 71 69-71

-295.92 55 -360.70 71 54-59,&1-62,65-71 -19<;.46 55 -<:39.95 71 54-71 -251.82 56 -313.26 71 54-71 -23&.5& 55 -301.35 71 54-71 -284.60 56 -304.94 71 54-56,56-71

-320.59 66 -323.96 71 66-71 -374.75 5; -410.10 71 55-56,56,60-71 -349.7; &2 -366.27 71 62,66,70-71 -304.42 70 -307.71 71 69-71 -357.15 69 -36E>.60B 71 69-71

1-05 1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06

-1.E6 -35&.42 69 -359.1; 71 69-71

1-05 1-05 1-06 1-06 1-06

1-07 1-05 1-05 1-05 1-06

1-05 1-05 1-05 1-05 1-05

-4.96 -326.55 69 -334.95 71 69-71 -4.'!5 -262.67 55 -324.45 71 54-62,64-71

+3.45 -.13

-12.05 -E>.65

+'12 +3.67

-1.01 -11.1&

-283.95 71 -283.95 71 71 -324.95 71 -324.95 71 71

-325.10 69 -332.29 -2<:4.26 55 -260.55 -256.31 6" -256.57 -407.90 70 -1+07.'.10 -440.14 71 -440.14

-404.56 62 -419.29 -26.21 66 -29.43

-360.09 56 -413.83 -267.55 &2 -3<:2.22 -336.60 71 -338.60

-321.26 69 -330.14 -323.36 56 -359.90 -169.59 67 -183.37 -245.20 67 -264.94 -224.;4 55 -245.56

71 69-71 71 54-71 68 68-&9,71 10 70-71 71 71

67 62.67-71 71 62,&6-71 71 54,56-62,64-66,69-71 66 62,67-71 71 71

68 62,67-71 70 54-60,62,65-71 71 &2,67-69,71 66 62,67-68,70-71 71 51,.-62,64-71

A W{:LL llElNG Put1PtD. B - WELL PUMPED RECENTLY.

N.

T I

N

16 AREAS IN CURRY COUNTY, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

EXPLANATION o

Obseryotion well

-----,-Une ;howin{l decline (-) of woler level

in feci I interval I fOOl o

FIGURE 6.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Clovis area, Curry County, N. Mex.

AREAS IN CURRY COUNTY, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

i' _____ t-_______ -L _________ '--'~"''''~---JG~'~O~~Li-_,~~~~--to~~ .. .;~~~~~;+-~ N. r STATE IiWV 16 Broadview

T 6 N

EXPLANATION

-------,--------Line showinO decline H of woler level in fecti inlcrvol 2 feci

Clement

T 5 N

r----_1---o~F~;'~ld;----1--------i----------,<

T 4 N

T , N

T I N

R.31E

o .. -....... ...

- --- -ROOSEVELT --- - C"O~U~N--'T~Y~~-~ H -"l--

R,32E. R.33E R.:34E R.35E.

FIGURE 7.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Clovis area, Curry County, N. Mex.

17

18 PORTALES AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

Portales Area, Roosevelt County

The Portales area is in northeastern Roosevelt County. Ranching and dryland farming were the main industries until the advent of pump irrigation. Some dryland farming is still practiced, and is quite successful during years of above-normal precipitation. The principal crops of the area are sorghum, small grains, peanuts, alfalfa, and cotton.

Portales Valley is a broad, shallow, depression 20 to 30 miles wide. It extends from about 12 miles west of Melrose, southeastward through Portales, to beyond Big Salt Lake near the Texas border. The valley floor is characterized by depressions and playas, and a general lack of streams.

The main aquifer in the area is sand and gravel of Quaternary age. A strip of sand dunes which extends almost the entire length of Portales Valley on its north side is a favorable recharge area. Wells are being developed in this area for municipal use by the city of Portales.

Large-scale irrigation began in Portales Valley in 1910, when the Portales Irrigation Co. Was established. About 4,000 acre-feet of water were pumped annually from 1910 through 1914. After a period of relative

inactivi ty following World War 1, by 1929, according to the Federal was being pumped from 166 wells.

the practice of irrigation revived and census, water to irrigate 4,823 acres By 1931, about 9,000 acres were under

irrigation from about 300 wells. Development of ground water for irrigation has continued to expand and in 1970 about 92,700 acres were being irrigated.

The Portales Underground Water Basin was declared by the State Engineer on May 1, 1950. The original basin boundaries included 225 square miles. The basin was extended on July IS, 1955, and revised on November 3, 1955. It presently includes a total of 628 square miles.

Periodic water-level measurements in the Portales area began in 1931. The water level fluctuates seasonally, but in general the level declines from year to year. The magnitude of the decline depends on the amount, location, and distribution in time, of pump age and precipitation; water levels decline more in drought years than in years of near-normal precipitation, when pumpage is reduced. During 1970 water levels declined more than 6 feet in a small area northeast of Portales, near the sand dunes, where development is increasing (see table 5 and fig. 8). During the 5-year period 1966-70, water levels declined more than 10 feet in this same area (see fig. 9); in the vicinity of Arch and Floyd, water levels declined about 8 and 6 feet, respectively.

Precipitation at Portales during the 5-year period 1966-70 was below normal for each year except 1969. The total precipitation and departure from normal is as follows: 1966, 16.00 inches, 0.94 inches below normal; 1967, 13.53 inches, 3.41 inches below normal; 1968, 10.56 inches, 6.38 inches below normal; 1969, 22.44 inches, 5.50 inches above normal; 1970, 10.39 inches, 6.55 inches below normal. The average annual precipitation was 14.58 inches and the average annual departure was 2.36 inches below normal.

LOCATIOt4 NUW1ER

OHI HE 2~ 141 (\1N .HE 25 ,J33 !liN 31E 2& 112 31N 32e 17 ~4~ OW J2E 27 333

OW JZE 32 133 01U 32<'.: 3~ 333 01N 33E 2f:> 12~ 01N :nE 2f 12~ OW 33E 12 .. 43

01U 33£ 3" 400 OW 34E 35 432A oW 3SE 31 141 01tl 3&E 21 213 015 31E 13 413

015 31£ If:> 111 015 HE 02 331 015 33E 07 211 015 33£ 09 111 015 33E 13 l11A

015 HE 14 3310 015 33E 17 211 01S 33E 21 244 01S 33E 3l ll1 01S HE 36 131

01S 3~E 08 43 .. 01S 34E 17 442 01S 34E 30 111 01S 34E 31 112 015 34E 34 1~JA

01S 3SE 02 132 015 35E 04 112 01S 3SE 19 14U 01S l'iE 21 143 01S HE 28 143A

015 35E 29 142 01S 35E 34 H1 02S 31E 12 "33 02S 33E 05 113 32S 3"E 0" 111

02S 34E 06 112A 02S 34£ 08 111 02S 34E 10 "31 025 34E 14 434A 025 34E 18 144

OlS 3'iE 02 23" a2S 35E 05 1"1 02S 35E 06 121A 02S 3'iE 07 113 02S l5E 09 211

OZ5 35E 10 432 02S 35E 16 111 02S 35E 18 111 OZS 35E 19 134 02S 35E 21 133

02S 35E 23 111 02S l'iE 25 114.11 02S 35E 3C 433 02S 36E 01 J32 02S 36E 08 432B

OlS 3&E 14 134 02S 36E 15 l11A 02S 3&E 25 121A 02S 3£'E 29 311 025 36E 34 312

02S 3£'E 35 212B 025 37E 21 312A 025 31E 27 112 02S 31E 30 134 02S 31E 11 111

O~S 3ltE 06 211

PORTALES AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS 19

TABLE S .~-WATER LEVELS IN THE PORTALES ~REA, ROOSEVELT COUtHY, N. MEX., IN .JAt/UARY 1971, CHAtlGE FROH JAflUARY 1970 TO JANUARY 1971, IN FEET, ANO HIGHEST

AND LOWEST ~ECORDEO LEVELS Itl JAN. OR FEO., IN FEET REFERENCED TO LAND-SURFACE OATUM.

OWNER

ALSERT VIDLAU STEVENSON I.O.!lIGLER R.E. SfCK CARL ESSARY

VIRGIL liAWKINS ROBERT NEWHAll J.E. BALOWIN

CHAS HALL

WDOOSURtl arws. EARL MCCALLUM CHARL!f BAXTER UNKNOWN L.L. BAG HELL

DORSEY NASH LETHA BURSON A.Q. SMITH BENNIE VICTOR L.A. KING

A.L. HOOTEN H.W. HAY H.H. HEFLIN UNKNOHN

SOURCE

VLFL VLFL VLFL VLFL VLFL

VLfL VLFL VLFL

VLf'L

VLFL VLFL VLFL VL FL VLf'L

VLFL VLFL VLFL VLFL VLFL

STATE OF NEW liEXICO

VLFL VLf'L VLFL YLFL VLf'L

H.T. DUKE OIL BERT BROWN F.L. COROER CLINT FAIRLY ARVEL PRAIlSCOHq

EASTERN N. MEX. UNKNOWN R.M.PEMBER R.G. PARKEtlSON JAHES FlEN

R.E.LEE L.lh HARRIMAN J.F. REED H.S. DEAN C.B. HIBEL

B.':. SMALL E.L. MILLER B.G. POLK H.A. SHAFFER JOE BARtlEY

HUGGISTotl H.R. TAYLOR DALLAS CLARK J.D. SPINKS H. OOGAL

C.E. CLARK

VLFL VLf'L VLFL VLFL VLf'L

ulnv. VLf'L VLfl VLFL VLFL VLFl

VLf'L VLFL VLFL VLFL VLf'L

VLFL VLFL VLf'L VLfL VLFL

VLFL VLFL VLFL VLf'L VLFL

STATE OF NEW MEXICO E.V. flREWTON

VLFL VLFL VLFL VLf'L VLFL

ROY FAIRCLOTH J.H. BRADLEY

P.O. OOZIER JOE CARAHAY BRANDOtl G.c. ROSS S.H. DAVIS

C.L. TAYLOR TOH O. TAYLOR W.O. PATE AUSTINE HORROH L. H. HAL KER

MRS. EUNICE HARRISON S.R.TATE UNKNOWN H.C. UICHELS J.H.BRADLI."Y

W.E. COMPTON

VLf'L VLFL VLFL VLFL VLf'L

VLf'L VLFL VLFL VLf'L VLf'L

VLf'L VLFL VLf'L VLf'L VLFL

VLFL

SOURCE: VLFL, VALLEY FILL

71 IfATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR LEVEL

-76.98 -103.lt6 -99.09 -~1.1~

-47.91

-69.53 -63.7~

-26.52

-63.63

-22.65 -30.67 -61.70

-155.92 -71.&0

-80.75 -7".61 -S'l." 7 -66.00 -72.94

-76061 -63.20 -7".61 -7J.9~

-80.59

-66.85 -93.82 -86.25 -62.25 -63.95

-55.&2 -56.95 -82.50 -78.3'3 -85.4'3

-90.01) -5~.92

-54.32 -72.81 -£'6.90

-79.27 -62.07 -64.86 -£'S.09 -41.21t

-29.42 -71).87 -87.lt9 -66.72 -58.7~

-42.77 -56.40 -53.1~

-45.&3 -52.£,7

-40.62 -~~.~7

-107.21 -36.57 -37.65

-31.96 -33.67 -37.27 -40.25 -37.~3

-29.37 -2J.95 -23.')5 -31t.70 -2~.33

1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06

1-06 1-06 1-0&

1-06

1-06 1-05 1-06 1-06 1-0&

1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06 1-05

-1.13 -2.45

-.81t -.£,2 -.66

-1.28

-.13 -.59

-4.25 -It.85 -2.67

-.02 -1.03 -2.75 -2.16 -1.02

1-05 -.83 1-06 1-05 -1.25 1-06 1-05 -1.%

1-05 1-05 1-05 1-05 1-06

1-05 1-05 1-05 1-05 1-05

+1.30 -.81

-2.01

-1.2~

-6.37 -1.82 -3.29 -.10

1-05 -3.57 1-05 1-05 1-05 -2.lt1 1-05 -2.23

1-05 1-0S 1-05 1-05 1-05

1-05 1-05 1-0& 1-05 1-0&

1-06 1-05 1-06 1-0<; 1-05

1-06 1-05 1-05 1-06 1-06

1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06 1-0&

1-06 1-0& 1-06 1-06 1-06

-2.40 -1.20 -2.12 -1.23

+0 26

+.5G -2.6&

+0 ~1 -3.92

-2.05 -1.66 -2.22 -1.20 -.87

-1.21 -.71

-2.28 -1.40

-1.49 -1.22 -2.27 -It.86 -.90

-1..0lt -1.64

+.35 -1.64 -1.67

-&8.20 56 -64.0& 56 -85.7~ 56 -35.30 S£, -36.96 62

-&5.41 ~7 -It2.66 ~a -3.54 It2

-30.97 50

-9.12 54 -19.29B51 -47.5& £'3

-141.57 63 -40.23 51

-66.76 61 -31.15 51 -15.2'0 ~5 -13.36 ~3 -43.51t 53

-56.15 57 -20.66 ~7 -35.lt9 50 -73.94 71 -36.19 52

-28.33 43 -67.20 61t -49.56 54 -31t.55 ~'O -59.76 55

-43.52 4~

-39.07 61 -57.69 59 -&1.61 61 -56.90 58

-33.15 43 -37.9~ 61 -It9.76 65 -51.lt9 51 -24.70 50

-53.84 5e -50.35 63 -30.92 51 -It3.08 55 -41.24 71

-20.38 61 -13.45 It2 -56.66 56 -33.03 54 -56.74 71

-22:.61 55 -21t.52 ~7

-25.12 55 -25.87 51 -41.32 ~B

-21.45 51 -22.Q7 51 -9th92 56 -15.81 51 -31.ltl £,£,

-21.60 £'3 -20.76 55 -20.55 55 -23.80 &1 -14.36 51

-16.79 57 -16.76 55 -1&.&3 53 -15.49 52 ·13.32 55

LOll YR YEARS OF RECORD

-76.96 -103.lt8 -100.35 -41.14 -~7.91

71 56,58,60-71 71 56,58-71 67 56,58-71 71 5&,58,62-71 71 57-71

-69.53 71 It6-71 -63. 7~ 71 It6-71 -26.52 71 39-42.~8-49.52-56.60-64,6B-

" -&3.63 11. 49-60,62-71

-26.18 £,7 53-~5,67.69-71 -30.87 71 49-64,£,7-71 -61.70 71 63-71

-155.92 71 63-71 -71.60 71 51-71

-60.75 71 56,61-71 -71t.61 71 51-55,57-&It,67-71 -5'3.47 71 44-£'3,65,&7-11 -66.00 71 ItO-71 -72.'04 71 53-55,57-6~.67-71

-76.61 71 56-71 -63.20 71 It5-69,71 -80.25 £,7 50-63,66-71 -73.91t 71 71 -BO.5'l 71 52-65,67-71

-66.15 -'03.82 -86.25 -82.25 -63.95

-55.62 -56.95 -62.50 -78.39 -65.49

70 ItO-56,£'0-71 71 64-71 71 53-71 11 49-68,71 71 55-60,62-65,67-71

71 H-69,71 71 £'1-71 71 59-71 71 &1-71 71 57-63,65-71

-90.06 71 40-71 -51t.92 70 61-71 -54.32 71 61~69,71 -72.62 71 ~5,lt7-51,53-71

-£,6.90 71 50-5~,'.i6-71

-79.27 71 56-71 -62.07 71 63-71 -64.66 71 45,50-65,&7-71 -66.63 &7 55-63,65-71 -42.55 63 63-71

-29.'06 70 61-71 -16.67 71 "0-71 -87.90 70 55-71 -66.72 71 54-71 -56.74 71 71

-It2.77 71 55-59,61-62,EIt-66,66-71 -57.72 67 45,47-&1,63,65-71 -53.18 71 54-64.6&,68-71 -46.50 67 4£'-71 -53.17 67 ~8-&3,£'5-71

-49.00A 56 49-71 -4B.33 £'9 46-71

-107.21 71 56.61-71 -3B.57 71 "4-71 -37.65 71 63-66,71

-31.96 71 63-71 -J3.B7 71 55-66,70-71 -37.27 71 55-62,64-71 -40.25 11. 61-71 -36.31 67 It7-71

-2'0.37 71 5£'-66,70-71 -23.95 71 5~-71

-24.54A 66 53-71 -31t.70 71 49-71 -21t.33 71 53-56,60-62,64-66,&8-71

-5~.78 1-0S -5.60 -It9.16 70 -69.70 56 56,&1-71

A - WELL IlEING PUMPED.

1~ I ') !\, ,:,', :'.: :'<.-.i:·, ;/;:,:-: :'V 0 IJ/V ~ Ie .'1-:0 /~'" 1\ \. .z/ ~ '-~ ':::':, ,:.X/~>" 0 II IZ),;;P ;/' /./ /

EXPLANATION o

Observotion weI!

-~/-Line showing decline H of wafer level in

feet; interval I foot

o ,

Sand dune areas

, I

FIGURE 8.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Portales area, Roosevelt County, N. Mex.

R. 37 E.

,

'" o

EXPLANATION o

Observa t ion we!! --2----

J (

LIne shCWIing decline (-) of water level in feet dashed where approx i mate \ interval 2 feel.

o

~ ~

sand dune areas

I 7 ~ 0

\ R. 36 E v

FIGURE 9.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Portales area, Roosevelt County, N. Mex.

R 37 E.

22 CAUSEY-LINGO AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH PL~INS

Causey-Lingo Area, Roosevelt County

The Causey-Lingo area is located in east-central Roosevelt County about 30 miles southeast of Portales and near the small communities of Causey and Lingo. About 13,000 acres of land were irrigated in 1965 and about 11,000 acres in 1970.

Prior to 1945, only dry land farming was practiced. A few dryland farms are still operated and are successful during years of above-normal precipitation. The first irrigation well was drilled in the area in 1945; in 1954 an intensive program of well construction for irrigation began. The principal aqUifer is unconsolidated sand and gravel of Cretaceous age that occur mainly in erosion channels cut into the underlying red beds of Triassic age.

Monitoring of ground-water levels in the Causey-Lingo area was begun in January 1956 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the State Engineer and has been a continuing program.

Measurements made in 19 wells in January 1971 (see table 6) were compared with measurements made in the same wells in January 1970 and in January 1966 to construct the maps showing water-level change for 1970 (fig. 10) and for the 5-year period 1966-70 (fig. 11). In 1970, rises occurred in four wells; 15 wells showed declines of from less than 1 foot to as much as 7.3 feet. The average change in water level during 1970 was a decline of 1.1 feet. The average annual change for the period 1966-70 was a rise of 0.3 feet.

Precipitation at the nearest weather station, Elida, approximately 30 miles west of the Causey-Lingo area, was 9.65 inches, 5.44 inches below normal, for 1970.

lOCATION NUMBER

04S 36£ 16 243.11 OSS 35E 24 412 O<;S 35E 34 333 05S 36£ 07 113 OSS 36E 10 412

OSS 37E " 333 O'3S 37E 31 111 OSS 37E 3Z 133 OSS 37E 33 112 06S 36E 09 143

06S 36E 15 332 06S 37£ 02 222 U6S 37E 22 443 06S 37E 23 111 06S 38E as 222

06S 38E 06 133 06S 3eE 09 133 06S 38E 18 121 06S 38E 21 233

TABLE &.--WATER LEVELS IN THE CAUSEY-LItlGD AREA, ROOSEVELT COUNTY, N. HEX., IN JANUARY 1971, CHANGE FROH FEBRUA~Y 1970 TO JANUARY 1971, IN FEET. AND HIGHEST

AND LOWEST RECORDED LEVELS IN JAN. OR FEB •• IN FEET REFERENCED TO lAND-SURFACE DATUM.

SOURCE: CReSt CRETACEOUS

OWNER SOURCE 71 WATER OATE CHANGE HIGH " '" " YEARS OF RECORD LEVEL

G. A. SHEPPARD CRCS -155.31 1-01 +.09 -1'%.31 71 -165.19 " 60-11 FRITZ AOAlR CRCS -8S.13 1-01 -1,.43 -82.10 " -102.36 " 56-11 KARL cox CRCS -8E.91 1-01 -.63 -14.56 " -81.22 " 56-62.64-11 RALPH HA~VEY CRCS -122.54 1-01 -.70 -121.84 70 -144.14 " S6-71 CLARENCE FULlE~ CRCS -18 O. 33 1-07 -2.59 -1&5.39 58 -182.99 " 57-71

H.U. JACKSON eRes -90.50 1-07 -BO.09 " -'10.50 71 56-62.71 IlORENE LEDBETTER CRCS -93.48 1-07 -2.07 -62.07 " -93.48 71 56-11 T.W. HEATHHlS CRCS -102.35 1-07 +.87 -95.38 57 -103.22 70 56-58,60-11 V.E". SE"EFElO CRCS -9S.09 1-07 +. 02 -84.01 " -97.06 " SG-68,70-71 EUGENE LE GRANO CRCS -105.14 1-07 -.41 -66.95 " -105.46 " 56-71

C.H. RUSSELL CRCS -95.30 1-07 -7.30 -69.4'1 " -95.30 71 5&-62,64-&&.68-71 PERRY HCGAHA CRCS -101.13 1-07 +3.21 -8<).83 " -104.34 70 48.5&-62,&4-71 HILLARD COX CRCS -10a.92 1-07 -.45 -101.87 62 -110.4711. 67 56-71 HUGH H. eo, CRCS -10'+.72 1-07 -.46 -98.07 " -105.09 " 56-71 C.S. JONES CRCS -95.00 1-07 -1.57 -62.69 SG -96.'+2 " SG-59.61-71

C.B. STR.EEBECK CRCS -'16.30 1-07 -1.34 -87.60 57 -96.30 " 56-65,67-71 HAX HOWEllS CRCS -91.<)3 1-07 -2.E6 -79.37 " -<)2.9'3 " 56~71

J.N. LEAVITT CRCS -96.88 1-07 -1.00 -8e.60 57 -100.73 " %-11 C.C. HAIlVEY CRCS -95.10 1-07 -.73 ~87.18 " -96.08 " 56-66.66-71

A - WELL bEING ?UM?E!.l.

1: 6 S

T 4 S.

1: 5 S.

CAUSEY-LINGO AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

R. 35 E.

EXPLANATION

.... 96 .. "ii3.7O

Observation well

Change of water level February 1970 10 January 1971 above Hne; water

level in January 1971 below 1 ine, In feel below land - surface datum.

R 36 E

hogen (ill)

(> ....:t.:22. 155.37

@

-.70 1fi34

I;~:~j "Causey

-1.43 85IT" Garrison

<§)

-.63 0"'"

0-.:11 105.14

o~

'L r1

+3.21 101.13

go .. -.46

104.12

0 .<, loa92

R 36 E. R. 37 E. o ~ 3 4 r ? MILES ~' __ L--L. __ ~' __ ~' __ ~.~.

-2.07 93.48

R 37 E

'1

I !

: I

I i I

~ ! J ul xl

o9'MO ~I o « x

o-§<g] ~, o . o.=:E Zi 102.35

0 -1,5~!

J15.00 I ~o ,. -2.66

~

~ I 96.66

-.73 .. i """

~ I

@ J R. 38 E.

"' ...

FIGURE 10.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to February 1971 and depth to ground water in January 1971 in the Causey-Lingo area, Roosevelt County, N. Mex.

23

24

" 6 S

T 4 s

" S S

~USEY-LINGO AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

EXPLANATION

0';'10.49

Observation well

Oecline H or rise {+l of water level, in fect.

R 35 E R 36 E

kogers

§

o +9.62

.0§

tl0.l2 +15.98 ~2.66ocausey 0

Garrison

~

-.67

.;3.74

-12.80 0

ogo '!.t62

".47

R 36 E R 37 E o 2345 6 MILES ,~~ __ ~, __ 'L-_'L-~' ~,

R 37 E /! I ! I : I

I i

ll-'1 !

J <-'I xl

H.67

~I 4.63 -1.29 ~I -1.96

- -, 1

-6.281 I

+3.85 I ",82: ~ i

: 1

® I R 38 E

FIGURE 11.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Causey-Lingo area, Roosevelt County, N. Mex.

TATUM-LOVINGTON-HOBBS AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS 25

Tatum-Lovington-Hobbs Area, Lea County

Lea County is in the southeastern corner of New Mexico. The TatumLovington-Hobbs irrigation area is in northern Lea County on the Southern High Plains. The Ogallala Formation of Pliocene-Miocene(?) contains the principal aquifer from which ground water is obtained. It consists of sand, caliche, gravel, and some clay, and ranges in thickness from about 50 feet to more than 300 feet. The formation overlies Cretaceous shales or Triassic red beds of the Dockum Group.

The ground-water reservoir is recharged by precipitation, mainly from runoff in the drainageways and numerous depressions that characterize much of the surface of the plains. Ground water moves east-southeasterly from New Mexico into Texas except in the southern part of the plains in New Mexico where ground-water movement is more southerly. Springs along the western and southern borders of the plains discharge a small quantity of water, but wells discharge by far the greater amount of water.

Maps showing the top of the red beds were constructed in 1970 by the U.S. Geological Survey. These maps were used in conjunction with waterlevel contour maps to make an isopach map showing the saturated thickness of the Ogallala Formation. The indicated saturated thickness of the formation is as much as 240 feet in small areas about 6 miles north and 2 miles southeast of Hobbs.

The Lea County Underground Water Basin, declared by the State Engineer on August 21, 1931, was extended on October 1, 1952, and now includes 2,180 square miles.

In 1970, a preliminary estimate of irrigated acreage was made for Lea County by the New Mexico Reporting Service, State Engineer, and County Conservation Needs Inventory Committee. This report indicates a total of 101,500 acres were under irrigation in Lea County. Sorghum and cotton are the predominant crops.

Annual precipitation varied widely in the area during the 5-year period 1966-70. Annual totals for Hobbs, in inches, was as follows: 1966, 15.24; 1967, 7.45; 1968, 19.79; 1969, 20.64; 1970, 10.61. Annual totals for Tatum were: 1966, no record; 1967, 9.01; 1968, 23.14; 1969, 23.66; 1970, 11. 98 .

Water levels have been measured in Lea County since 1929 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the State Engineer to determine the effects of pumpage and precipi ta tion on ground-water storage. Water levels measured in January 1971 (table 7) and January 1970 were used in preparing the map (fig. 12) showing changes in water level in 1970. The same 1971 measurements were compared with measurements made in 1966 to prepare the map (fig. 13) showing water-level changes during the 5-year period 1966-70. In 1970, water levels declined throughout the irrigated areas; declines of more than 4 feet occurred under about 20 square miles in four areas near Lovington. During the 5-year period 1966-70 several areas declined more than 7 feet (fig. 13).

" ,

"

" ,

, "

28 TATUM-LOVINGTON-HOBBS AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

\/ I" '"" " )

UNSATURAT CENOZOIC

( DEPOSITS

~+-~~---+----~-~~~~

.... --'" " , '" Tatum

J, J-----~-~-+----4_------~----~,

, " ,

~I'~ Z z , , 0'0

"I" ,

>'

", Z ,

EXPLANATION .'

ObseryoliQllwell

(R indiCates Vlell eqijj~ped with wcU-~IQqe reccrder)

----,--Line showing rise \+1 or decline (_) of woler level, In fcet; interval

I fOol

o!: ~_ .......... _ ~ ..J Area bo,:,ndary of unsaturated Cennlo;c

1 dello!,';,

o , 5 G Mil .. ! .,J

o

o

II 34 £::

FIGURE 12.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in Tatum-Lovington-Hobbs area, Lea County, N. Mex.

, ~I

-

" ;

"

" ;

"

" ;

"

, "

w J, ~,>

~ °1' a o 0 ~ o 0

u'u

TATUM-LOVINGTON-HOBBS AREA, SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

'"'

o

Tatum

o

IIllE RlZE

'"'

-113'(--1- RJZ£ 1133E , I

~I'~ z z o 0 0'0

T

>'

<-", ~C

\, , "'0 EXPLANAT!ON

.' Ob5crootion weI!

(~~~:i~~:~~cw~~~g~u~ffed with

__ -2-

Une ~howln\l rise (+) (lr decllne(-) of waler IlIVel, in ftet; interval

2 feel

o I~ ..---""",-c:r:=' a ..J Area boundary of unsaturated CenOlOK: w I depo~it~

I 9 f 3 ~ ~ Mil ..

FIGURE 13.-to N.

January Mex.

Change of ground-water level from January 1966 1971 in Tatum-Lovington-Hobbs area, Lea County,

29

30 FORT SUMNER AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN

PECOS RIVER BASIN

The Pecos River drainage basin in New Mexico comprises some 26,000 square miles, roughly a fifth of the State's total area (fig. 1). The river proper heads in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico and upon leaving the mountains it flows generally southeastward to the Fort Sumner vicinity and thence southward to the Texas line. From a regional viewpoint, the Pecos River drainage is a part of the Rio Grande system; however, the two streams do not join within New Mexico, and from a State point of view the water resources of the two drainage basins have no hydrologic relationship.

Surface flows of the Pecos River have been extensively developed for irrigation, particularly in the northern mountain regions and in the 50-

called middle valley in the vicinities of Roswell and Carlsbad. Large areas in the middle valley are underlain by extensive aquifers in which recoverable ground water occurs in large quantities, under both artesian and water-table conditions. Both types of aquifers have been intensively developed, notably in the Roswell-Artesia and Carlsbad areas, and it Was in the Roswell area that the program of continuous monitoring of water levels was initiated, more than 40 years ago. As of 1970, water levels were being measured on a continuing basis in five areas in the basin (frontispiece), and seven areas of ground-water control had been declared by the State Engineer (fig. 2).

Fort Sumner Area, De Baca County

The Fort Sumner area, in northeast De Baca County, extends along the Pecos River from near Alamogordo Reservoir about 12 miles north of Fort Sumner, to about 5 miles below the mouth of Taiban Creek, some 10 miles south of Fort sumner. Irrigation with Pecos River water began in 1863 when a U.S. Army Post (Fort Sumner) Was established to guard a reservation of Navajo and Mescalero Apache Indians captured and moved from their homeland in northwestern New Mexico by Colonel ItKi til Carson. Inadequate crop yields, disease among the Indians, and pest infestation led to the abandonment of 3,000-acre project in 1868.

A private organization constructed an irrigation system in the valley in 1907 which was subsequently sold to the Fort Sumner Irrigation District, an organization of local farmers, in 1919. Deterioration of the system led the district to ask the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to rehabilitate the project; reconstruction was started in 1950 and finished in 1951. The main diversion canal takes water from the Pecos River about 2 miles north of Fort Sumner and extends south for a distance of 16 miles. The project now serves 6,500 acres of which 6,070 acres were irrigated with surface water in 1970.

Development of ground water for irrigation began about 1960. Wells

ROSWELL-ARTESIA AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN 31

used in 1970 to irrigate about 2,000 acres south of Fort Sumner on the west side of the Pecos River, and east of the river about 5 miles north of Fort Sumner have reported capacities ranging from 500 to 1,500 gpm. Several irrigation wells have been completed recently in Triassic sandstone underlying an area east of Alamogordo Reservoir and about 12 miles north of Fort Sumner. In 1970, about 1,500 acres of land were being irrigated in this area.

The Fort Sumner Underground Water Basin, in Chaves and De Baca Counties, was declared by the New Mexico State Engineer on May 7, 1954. The declared area extended on both sides of the Pecos River southward from Alamogordo Dam to the north boundary of the Roswell Underground Water Basin, varied in width from 2 to 7 miles, and encompassed an area of about 259 square miles. On October 21, 1970, the basin boundaries were extended by the State Engineer thereby increasing the total declared area by 800 square miles (fig. 2).

Water levels in four wells located south of Fort Sumner have been monitored since 1958; the January 1971 measurements indicate that only small changes have occurred (table 8).

TABLE 8.--WATER LEVELS IN THE FORT SUMNER AREA, OE BACA COUNTY, H. HEX., IN JANUARY 1'l11. CHANGE FRON FE6RUA,Y 1970 TO JANUARY 1971, IN fEET, AND HIGHEST

AND LOHEST RECORDED LEVELS IN JAN. OR FEB., IN FEET ~EFEREtiCEO TO LA/IO-SURFACE OATUH.

SOURCE: VLFL, VALLEY FILL

LOCATION OiHlER SOURCE 71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH " LO' YR YEARS OF RECORO NUMBER LEVEL

01N 26E 04 233 J. L. OUtlCAN VLFL -78.40 1-25 -.18 -78.22 70 -81.10 69 68-71 01N 26E 16 211 CECIL HOTL VLfL -80.25 1-25 -1.03 -07.19 68 -09.71 " 60-71 0211 26E 20 222 a + J ENTERPRISES VLFL -00.52 1-25 +1.82 -80.52 71 -86.90 " 68-71 0211 26E 28 313 B + J EtiTERPRISES VLFL -80.71 1-25 -.14 -00.57 70 -85.12: 68 68-71

Roswell-Artesia Area, Chaves and Eddy Counties

The Roswell-Artesia area lies within the Pecos River valley and mainly west of the river. It extends from about 24 miles north of Roswell southward to the Seven Rivers Hills. About two-thirds of the area is in southern Chaves County and the remainder is in northern Eddy County.

The Roswell Underground Water Basin, as declared for administrative purposes by the State Engineer on August 21, 1931, included an area of about 760 square miles. The boundaries have been extended from time to time, and the basin presently encompasses an area of about 4,281 square miles. It is adjoined by the Carlsbad declared basin on the south, Capitan basin on the east, Fort Sumner basin on the north, and the Hondo and Penasco basins on the west.

Ground water for irrigation in the Roswell basin is obtained from two aquifers -- the water table or "shallow aquifer" and the "artesian aquifer"; both have been intensively developed. The aquifers receive recharge from direct precipi ta tion and flood runoff. The" shallow aquifer" also is recharged by return flow from irrigation, by leakage from artesian wells, and by upward leakage from the "artesian aquifer",

32 ROSWELL-ARTESIA AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN

Ground water is discharged from the Roswell basin by both natural and artificial means. Natural discharge occurs through small springs, through seepage into the Pecos River and its tributaries, and by evapotranspiration. Artificial discharge, from wells, is several times greater than discharge by natural means. Ground water accounts for more than 95 percent of the water used for the irrigation of cropland in the area. Sorensen (table 41) estimates that there were 130,460 acres of irrigated cropland using ground water or ground water and surface water combined in the Roswell-Artesia area in 1970.

Flow meters were installed on all pumps used for irrigation in the Roswell basin during 1966. Since January 1967, records of diverted water have been kept by the State Engineer in cooperation with the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District. The following table lists ground-water pumpage for irrigation, in acre-feet, from both aquifers.

Year Artesian Shallow Total

1967 224,900 132,300 357,200

1968 199,600 114,100 313,700

1969 208,700 124,300 333,000

1970 217,100 126,800 343,900

The first observation-well program in the Roswell basin was begun in 1925 with the placing of recording gages on three artesian wells. Artesian water levels have been monitored continuously since that time. A shallow observation-well program Was initiated in 1938.

Water levels measured in 50 shallow wells (table 9) and 85 artesian wells (table 10) in January 1971 were used in the preparation of maps for various parts of the Roswell basin showing changes in the water levels during 1970 and for the 5-year period 1966-70 (figs. 14-25). Water-level declines of about 6 feet were recorded during 1970 in the "shallow aquifer", south of Hagerman and northwest of Artesia (figs. 15-16). During 1970, water levels in the "artesian aquifer" declined more than 15 feet in a large area extending from near Dexter southward to near Lake Arthur (fig. 21). The "shallow aquifer" declined more than 12 feet in areas southwest of Dexter and northwest of Artesia during the 5-year period 1966-70 (figs. 18-19). Due to a re-evaluation of wells in the "artesian aquifer", measurements were discontinued in many wells measured in 1966 and different wells were measured from 1967-71. Because of this break in record, comparable data were not available to complete a reliable change map for the 5-year period 1966-70 for the artesian aquifer. The contours shown on figures 23-25 Were drawn on the basis of the available data.

Recording gages were maintained on five artesian wells and five shallow wells during 1970. Mean monthly and mean annual water levels, with other related data for the five artesian wells, are shown in table 11, and departure from long-term average and the annual water-level changes are shown in table 12. Summary data and daily water levels for the five artesian wells are given in tables 13-17. Hydrographs for the artesian wells equipped with recording gages are shown in figures 26-29,


Precipitation during the period 1966-70 ranged from 74 to 136 percent of normal, averaging slightly above normal. The annual total precipitation and the departure from normal, in inches, are shown in the following table:

Year

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970

Roswell

Annual total

9.68 11.06 15.84 13.33 8.63

Departure from

normal

-1.94 -0.56 14.22 +1.71 -2.99

Annual total

Artesia Departure

from normal

11.46 +0.13 -5.92 +2.47 +0.87 -1.33

5.41 13.80 12.20 10.00

T,\DLE 0 ~_WATEIl U:VELS IIi SIL\LLCM' AQUIFER III THE nOSWELL-ARTI:SL\ AIlEA, CllAV£S AND EDDY coumIES, N. MEX., II! JAtHh\RY 1971, CHANGE FRO.II JANUAIlY 11:170 TO JANUARY 1971, m FEET,

LOCII TION NUftBER

lOS 2lfE 10 223 lOS 24E 24 Jll lOS 24£ 35 444 lOS 25£ 15 323

lns 25£ 33 331 115 23( 13 232 11S 24£ 211 333 11S 25E 06 421e I1S 25E 15 142

11S 251-; 27 133 11S 25E 29 .. 4 .. 125 25E 09 422 125 25£ 25 413 125 26E 17 1f+3

125 26E 32 133 135 25£ 12 311 135 25£ 26 211 135 25E 29 223 1:0:5 Z&E 05 331

.13S 2610 19 lUA IJS 26E i!.2 313 145 25E 01 111A 14S O'SE 15 413 l~S 25E 25 1116

14S O'oE 03 433 l~S 20E 05 433A 14S 26E 12 4336 14S 20E 0'3 232A l~S 26E 29 ~41C

l<;S 25E 04 212 l<;S 2&E 22 222: l"S 20E 27 211 16S 25E 0& 224 16S 25E 06 313

16S O'SF: 11 113A 16S 25E 34 233 l&S 26E OB 111 1f,S 26E 15 234 16S 26E 19 211

16S 26E 31 311 17S 2&E 03 333 17S 26E 12 313 17S ZoE 22 233A 17S 26E 35 133

18S 26E 12 433 1'.!S 26E 02 231 1QS 2&E 1~ ~31e l'lS 26E 20 221 20S 26£ 03 ~11

20S 26E 21 112

AND HIGUEST AND LO>iEST ru;COIIDW LEVELS IN JAil. OR FEB., HI FEET ru:rr;ru:NCED TO L\IID~SUIlF,\CE Il\TUM,

OWNER

M.C. SCOTT R. G. DERRICK J. P. WHITE u.S.G.s.

U.S.G.S. PVACD NO. 2 J.K. PATTERSON COLE BROTHERS W.M. KENT S.P. JOHNSON

K.P. WHITNEY GLE~IN WHEELER CUMBERLAND TOWNSITE H.H. KUYKENDALL CECIL JOHt~SON

EARL CORtl HAL BOGLE DWIGHT SHARP SEN KERR R.H. ASTON

A.T. STONE JOE MOSELEY FRANK REINECKE J.a. MITCHELL JOHN M. HaRRIS

HOWARD MENEFEE JOHN GA~NER C.O. DatlAGHAY F.E. PILLEY J.II. WIGGINS

J.II. JONES CONST. CO. O. HURST u.s.G.s. COOPER MALONE FRANK CHILDRESS

U.S.G. S. FRED SAVORY I.P. JOfHlSOU HAL BOGLE H.V. PARKER

F.R. ZUNI/All A.T. WOELK UNKNOWN H.L. GREEN J.w. OLEVHS

u.S.G.S. HAMP LEIHS ALOERT LEE R. t. FLOYD JOHN FANNING

MANUEL HERNANDEZ

SOURCE; ~6SA, ROSWELL eASIIl SHALLOW AQUIFER

SOURCE

RBSA ReSA ROSA ReSA

ROSA ReSA RSSA ReSA ROSA

ReSA R6SA ReSA ReSA ReSA

RaSA RaSA RBSA ReSA ROSA

RBSA ReSA ReSA ReSA ReSA

RaSA ReSA RBSA RBSA ReSA

RBSA RaSA RaSA ROSA RBSA

R6SA ROSA RaSA RaSA RESA

ROSA ROSA RBSA RaSA RBSA

RaSA RaSA RaSA ROSA RaSA

RaSA

71 HATER DATE CHAUGE HIGH YR LEVEL

-53.72 -21.S6 -2~.77

-~. 7~

-~.63

-123.15 -123.63 -17.01 -1.1~

-13.1~

-lS.12 -77.23 -73.51 -16. 7~

-30.59 -75.45

-110.11 -105.75

-21.<)7

-52.~3 -20.61

-121.77 -153.22 -121.57

-27.8~

-6~.98

-18.5~ -35.07 -89.70

-89.~6

-l~.oa -13.-38 -23.8e -30.2~

-53.52 -166.78

-3<).99 -9.63

-90.18

-148.3~ -30.95 -~.~7

-39.81 -15.18

1-14 I-HI 1-25 1-21 1-21

1-21 1-21 1-21 1-21 1-21

1-22 1-22 1-22 1-22 1-22

1-22 1-22 1-22 1-25 1-2S

1-20' 1-22 1-26 1-22 1-25

1-25 1-25 1-25 1-25 1-25

1-25 1-2S 1-25 1-25 1-25

1-2S 1-26 1-26 1-U .. 1-26

-10.98 1-25 -62.45 1-25 -41.8~ 1-25 -80.4~ 1-25 -49.9~ 1-26

-2.~8

-.66 -1.01 -.~5

-.5~

+2.41 +1.62 -.79

+1.08

-.06 +.11 -.59

-2.28 -.59

-1.00' -7.31

-.50 +. 29

+3.35 -.92

-1.99 +6.S8 -.99

+1.~9

+.O~

-.73 -1.01 -6.40

-.81 -.0<) -.69

-~.lS

-.~o

-2.76 -~.06

-~. 67 -.55

-5.11

-5.99 +.73 -.n

-1.17 -.30

-2.90 -.79 -.14 -.94

-2.29

-17.27 1-26 +1.26

-51.24 70 -20.43 68 -22.38 6B -4.29 70

-3.22 66 -10<).05 &3

-<)4.76 55 -8.77 55 -1.72 71

-13.06 70 -S.61 ~~

-39.60 ~2 -11.90 42 -1~.80 56

-18.80 6~ -11>.23 ~2 -47.33 42 -<)4.82 55 -13.27 42

-34.41 6~ -4.09 56 -1~.8~ 53

-129.06 53 -B6.48 50

-16.16 56 -10.70 r,8 -12.50 ~2 -13.96 ~5 -75.2~ 5i1

-88.55 70 -11.~5 55 -12.70 70 -19.73 70 -27.15 59

-40.45 65 -121.05 55

-12 .45 ~2 -5.58 55 -9.34 ~2

-84.76 ~9 -29.98 69 -2.90 53

-36.03 67 -1~.8a 70

-8.61 1>2 -~1.BO 59 -16.43 ~7 -50.95 55 -45.10 59

-15.S3 50

LOll YR YEARS OF RECORD

-S3.72 71 10-71 -21.55 71 5B-11 -24.'17 71 68-71 -5.53 65 1>1-71

-~ .53 71 65-71 -125.% 10 1>3-&6,&8-71 -125.25 70 55-11 -17.~9 61 5~-11 -2.80 70 10-71

-13.1~ 71 70-71 -15.48 &9 ~~-66,6B-71 -86.62 69 36-66,&8-11 -73.51 11 38-39,~2-5S,S8-6I>,70-71 -25.63A 61 55-&~,6&-71

-30.59 71 63-66,69,11 -75.45 71 39-61,&9-11

-110.17 71 38-3'l.~2-60.62-&&,61!-71 -105.75 71 55-66,68-71 -22.26 70 38-66,70-71

-55.78 70 63-66,&8-71 -20.61 71 ~7-60,62-&5,68-71

-121.71 71 53-66,08-71 -116.51 &8 53-66,58-71 -153.05 &5 ;0-63,&5-56,&9-71

-2'.!.37 65 55-71 -66.18 69 41-65,68-71 -35.73A 53 ~O-6&,66-11 -35.22 56 45~11 -89.70 11 ,6-65,68-11

-89.~6

-H.37 ~14.27

-23.88 -30.2~

71 70-71 66 55-11 67 &1~65,67-71 71 70-71 41 36-66,69-71

-53.52 71 6~-65,69-71 -166.76 11 55-66,10-71

-39.99 71 36-51,53-65,68-71 -11.75 65 55-66,70-71 -90.18 71 36-66,56-71

-1~8.34 71 ~8-55,57-66.68-71 -32.~1 68 68-71

-<).BIA 1>4 56-60,62-66,70-71 -39.81 71 63,61-71 -15.18 71 70-71

-16.98 71 62-71 -71.85A 58 51-66,70-11 -S2.861< 53 ~6-58,61-60,1>6-71

-82.65 65 55-66,70-71 -52.30 54 5~-&6,70-71

-22.63 ~9 ~6~61>.&6-71

A _ WELL t;EING PU~I?ED.


T,\fiLE lO.--WIITZR LEVELS IN pnmCIP<\L ,mTESIAIi IIQurfl:n WELLS IIi TIlE ROSWELL-ARTESIA ARE.\, CJLWES AliD EDDY COUNTIES, N. MEX., m JAllUARr 1971, ClL\NOE FP.o:,l JANUARY on FEORmny 1(HO TO JANUARY 1971, Hi FEET,

LOCATION NUMBER

117S 23£ 12 211 07S 2:JE 23 2'<" 075 24E 31 133 Das 24£ 04 124 08S 24E 16 333

08S 24£ 27 4JJ O'lS 22£ 01 Zlt4 O'lS 2JE 15 33-'1 O'lS 24£ 05 311 0<)5 24£ 15 241

D9S 24£ 20 324 O"lS 24E 34 221 lOS 21£ 25 111 lOS ZJE 01 432 lOS 2JE 09 413

10S 2JE 19 444 lOS 23£ 27 234 lOS 24E 04 323 lOS 24E 27 424 lOS 25£ 17 122

115 22E 01 312 11S 22E 04 333 11S 22£ 16 211 11S 22£ 22 111 11S 23£ 03 342

115 2JE 22 J4JA 11S 2ljE 06 331 11S Z"E 14 143 11S 24E 22 1,33 11S 2"£ 30 242

11S 25E 18 JJ3 l1S 25£ 34 112 125 22E 12 Ilt4 125 22£ 23 1t22 125 2JE 01 321t

125 23E 06 1t11 12S 23E 20 213 125 23E 21t 231 12S 2 ~E 22 1t1t2 125 25E 09 321

125 26E 32 133A 135 22E 3D 113 13S 23E 21t 2i1t 135 23E 31 Itltlt 13S 25E 02 1t33

135 25E 02 1t33 135 25E 26 ItZl 135 26E 30 132 lltS 23E 06 lit It lItS 23E 24 413

11<S 2~E 00 122 lltS 2~E 32 333 l~S 25E 14 113 145 26E 20 322 l~S 26E 30 ~~4

155 22E 09 122 15S 23E 06 222 155 23E 22 ~11 l'>S 2~E 09 222 l'>S 2ltE 25 1t33

15S 25E 35 213 155 26E 04 123 15S 26E 15 131 15S 26E 30 131 16S 23E 26 .141

lr.S 24E 04 321 16S 24E 11 344 16S 25E 01 111 16S 2£.E 11 333 165 26E 35 311

17S 23E 30 123 11S 25E 23 141 175 26E 14 211 11S 26E 16 311 175 26E 29 131

165 23E 05 333 16S 23E 29 114 165 26E 16 ~22 165 26E 34 313 195 24E 26 144

.19S 26E 05 323 l"lS 26E 14 233 205 2~E 05 331 205 25E 13 .113 205 26E 04 221

20S 26E 06 142

AND lIIG!IEST AND LCIIIEST RECORDED IXVELS Il1 JAN. 01\ FEB., IN FEET, REFEfl[J(CED TO Mlm-5UIU',\Cf; lHTlIM.

PRINCIPAL ARTESIAN AQUIFER INCLUDES SAil ANDRES LIHESTO~E AND/OR GRAyeURG FCRHATIOII

OHNER

U.S. GOVT. JESS CORN EDiHII CORN JESS CORN P.V.A.C.O.

POE CORN BERT MARLEY BERT MARLEY BILL PETTY J.P. MCLEAN

O. WMITE J. MCLE AN MARLEY-WHITNEY RANCH LOIS CHAVES J.A.COOPER

CITY OF ROSHELL E.H.HALEY GLEN WHEELER TORREON LIVESTOCK CO. J.A. EAKIrI

GLAZE SACRA CITY OF ROSIIELL GLAZE SACRA GLAZE SACRA J.L. MASK

BYRUM BROWN N. T. OTTERSotl F.B. GOOOIlItI MAtlSFInD TIIEEDY ROSHELL READY MIX

L. WAGGONER STATE ENG. TEST WELL HRS. J.E. BLOOM ED BLOOH R. CASAREZ

J.B. PATTERSON BROWN RAtiCH R. CHESSAR II.F. KERR R.F. BARTON

EARL CO~N DAVID HCGEE BILL Y GRAY FLOYO CHILDRESS EO WEDDIGE

BEN KERR HAL BOGLE H.D. KINCAID R. CASAREZ

A.II. t.\UGENlGm:n RAY TAYLOR BILL LANGENEGGER BELL TELE. CO. P.V.A.C.O. 110 1

FRANK RUNYAN CHARLES NEFF DAVE HUFFHAN J.L. TAYlOR JACKSON RECORDER

ROBINSON A. J. JOIiNSON D.H. LANKFORO PAUL ROBINSON D.W. RUtlYAN

W.C. WELCfI R.L. FPY SHITH UIIKNOWN Ii.R. COLLEY

VILLAGE OF HOPE BILL GISSLER OASIS STATION ARHSTRONG AND SOliS CARL E. HARTIN

JOE CLEMENTS DELTA DR.ILLING CO CHAS HARTIN WALORIP PAUL JONES

L. F. POIIELL FORREST LEE FR.ANK RUNYAN J.T. PRICE HOHARO

HOUTRAY EROS.

SOURCE

SAUl SALM SALH SALI'I SALH

SALH SALH SAUl SALH SALH

SALM SALH SALH SALH SAUl

SALH SALM SALM SAOR SAOR

SALH SAUl SALH SAL Ii SALIi

SALH SAUl SALIi SALI! SAUl

SALM SALH SALH SALH SALH

SAUl SALH SALH SAUl SAUl

SALM SALIi SALH SALH SAUl

SAUl SALM SALM SALM

SAUl SALM SALH SALH SALH

SAL!' SALM SALM SALH SALM

SALM SALM SALH GSAM SALH SALM

SALH SALM SALM SALH SALH

SALH SAlIi GSAH SALH SALH

SALM SALH SALH SALM SAL Ii

SAUl SALH SALH SALH SALH

SAUl

71 HATER DATE CHAtlGE HIGH YR LOW YR YEARS OF RECORD LEVEL

-41&.93 -:?60.1<) -212.40 -112.38 -lO1.:?<)

-108.0;0; -H<).01 -262.£:.1 -133.93 -66.15

-101.£:.1 -43.03

-559.50 -11t8.92 -2511.19

-302.23 -193.51 -63.35 -42.&1 -7.34

-305.36 -413.05 -533.70 -4111.710 -195.12

-200.05 -"l2.25 -55.49 -7&.20

-130.25

-23.00 +12.93

-34~.105

-3%.93 -1117.96

-269.65 -291.66 -192.31 -1104.19 -54.31

+25.0~

-£.19.13 -236.20 -3113.74 -17.37

-33.52 +9.43

-315.99 -20£'.36

-231.11 -190.94

-5£:..20 -70.12 -79.67

-465.35 -1t22.22 -232.54 -175.93

-1<).23

-£:.6.<)6 -~6.47

+10.90 -24.62

-241.&2

-9J.7~

-4('.39 -20.~2

-4. 08 -17.29

-5106.51 -187.72

-6.32 -64.42

-111.01

-412.10 -461.15 -42.15 -58.30

-312.36

-60.44 -13.94

-475.21 -10.13 -41.28

1-11 1-11 1-11 1-11 1-13

1-11 1-13 1-13 1-11 1-.13

1-11 1-13 1-15 1-14 .1-14

1-1~

1-14 1-11 1-14 1-14

1-15 1-2& 1-14 1-14 1-14

-1.15 -1.37 -1.60 -2.76 -2.22

-2.12 -2.10 -2.41

-l.l£'

-2.19 -2.64 -2.02

-2.15

-1.1& -2.24 -2.22 -2.53 -1.64

-2.94 -3.06 -2.10 -2.29 -2. II 0

-415.53 70 -1t16.96 71 70-71 -241.26 52 -2%.70 68 51-60,62-66,68-71 -209.64 69 -212.40 71 66-71 -109.60 70 -1.12.36 71 £'8-71

-61.32 63 -101.29 71 63-1',&,70-71

-105.62 1',<) -1118.55 11 66~71 -516.<)1 10 -519.07 71 70-71 -280.20 70 -262.61 71 70-71 -102.'37 5& -135.7~ 68 55-69,71 -&3.85 69 -66.15 71 £'9-71

-104.58 6"l -107.61 71 66-71 -40.39 70 -43.03 71 70-71

-551.46 70 -559.50 71 70-71 -130.30 b1 -151.22 67 61-6"l,71 -242.00 61 -263.66 67 1',1-71

-299.40 £'9 -302.28 71 68-11 -160.91 54 -193.51 71 54-63,65-66,£'8-71 -69.58 £'3 -83.35 71 &3-71 15.60 50 -42.61 71 50,52-53,55-56,£'0-6tO,68-71

5.50 £,2 -25.27 10 61-£'6,£'8,10-71

-302.~2 10 -305.36 71 70-71 -40"l.99 70 -413.05 71 66-71 -531.60 70 -533.10 71 70-71 -412.1+5 70 -414.71+ 71 70-71 -159.6.1 53 -195.72 71 52-6&,&8-71

1-21 1-16 .1-22 1-21 1-19

-1.9:> -1&1+.3£, 53 -2Qll. US 71 52-6£',£'8-71 -1.95 -88.43 68

-16.10 ~1

-2.50 -60.10 £'0 -2.£'2 -12&.65 &g

1-:?2 .1-2& 1-14 1-15 1-11l

1-14 1-11l 1-18 1-16 1-21

-3.1£. +2.31 -S.07 -4.33 -3.29

-.47 -2.54 -3.30 -3.01 -4.03

1-26 -5.31 1-15 -.<)1 1-16 .1-16 -2.1<) 1-26 -10.48

1-22 1-26 1-16 1-19

1-18 1-l0 1-25 1-2£. 1-25

1-25 1-25 1-25 1-25 1-19

-10.72 +3.46 -2.49 -2. ~6

-2.84 -1.65

-15.26 -11).84 -10.65

-:?30 -2.01 -2.01 -1.7S

-lit. ~2

-1.00

-4.77 -2.46

+.27

1-70 -2.69 1-25 - 2. tH 1-25 -5.59 .1-25 +1.0& 1-25 +.84

1-19 1-26 1-2£' 1-26 1-2£'

1-19 1-19 1-25 1-25 1-20

1-25 1-25 1-20 1-2£' 1-2&

-1.93 -1.~4

-i!.~7

-3.86

-3.14 -1.57 -1.19 -2.73 -2.01

-.90 -1.119 -.81 -.79 -.£'0

-19.84 10 14.09 &9

-324.30 62 -339.00 £.2 -164 • .19 69

-266.43 6~

-295.32 70 -187.35 £'9 -1Itl.30 £,<)

-50.26 70

33.34 70 -616.16 70 -186.~0 61t -368.40 63

19.1)0 ~9

-10.50 &1 56.~0 46

-257.55 43 -203.90 70

-226.21 10 -160.81 £'4

-40.<)4 70 -59.86 10 -£'9.02 70

-~63.05 10 -420.21 10 -2H.2£' 63 -16&.62 £,4

-4.1)1 70

"l.60 47 -39.33 68 36.40 61 -2.10 ~o

-232.50 61t

-90.65 70 -25.00 £,1

1.40 56 -4.08 71

6.40 5£,

-546.58 70 -175.93 64

20.60 56 -60.54 70 -73.60 60

-387.46 ~7 -475.28 66

-.40 £'.1 -30.50 56

-305.30 64

-53.63 £'3 9.85 63

-474.40 70 -69.31+ 70 -39.00 6.1

-'02.25 71 ,,8-71 -65.49 71 47-~9,51-52,54-65,71

-76.20 71 60,63-71 -130.25 71 66-71

-23.00 10.62

-355.51 -3£'3.10 -187.<)8

71 70-71 70 £'8-71 £,1 ~l,Gl-,,5,67-71 67 Gl-6It,61-11 71 68-71

-269.85 71 £'8-71 -297.86 71 70-71 -192.37 71 66-71 -144.79 71 ,,6-71 -54.31 71 70-71

5.1& 65 £3-65,£'1,£.9-71 -6.19.13 71 70-71 -236.20 71 63-6~. 71 -1014.73 £'8 63-£'£',66-71 -17.37 71 ~6-109,51-5&,56-6It.6£;-67,G9-

-33.52 -9.27

-315."l9 -206.36

n 11 £'1-71 67 26,41-53,5£.,58-63,£,£;-71 71 ~O-71 71 70-71

-231.11 11 70-71 -1<)0.9~ 71 £'3-71 -59.50 65 63-71 -76 • .10 &5 63-67,£'9-71 -79.67 71 70-71

-~85.35 71 70-71 -422.22 71 70-71 -235.'n 65 £'3-71 -P:',J} 71 63-71 -62.65 68 67-71

-9"l.28 64 ~7-1t8.;5,57-66,68-71 -51.11 67 61-68,71

4.02 65 57-&6,66-71 -32.42 65 39-41,1t3-,,6,&8-71

-243.53 66 63-£'4,61-71

-94.07 69 69-71 -4b.3~ 71 Gl-64,67-71 -23.94 69 56,58-63,£'5,67-71 -19.45 60 £'6-71 -36.02 £'6 56-59,61-71

-548.51 11 70-71 -167.72 71 63-66,70-71 -30.7£. 65 5£,,58-66,68-71 -76.02 68 £'8-71

-114.44 66 60,62-£'6,71

-469.12A 66 45-47,50-71 -481.15 71 65-71 -56.83 64 5&-59,&1,63-&1+,69-71 -72.13 65 56-61,63-65,66-11

-312.36 71 &3-M,£'9-71

-80.25 65 63-6&166-71 -14.17 69 £'3,6<)-71

-475.21 71 70-71 -77.33 68 £,8-71 -01.1.10 SS 55-56,58,61-&6,60-11

1-26 -.91 -20.49 70 -26.80 66 66-71

A - WELL bEING PUMPED.


TABLE 11. --MEt\N MONTHLY AND MEAN ANNU,\L AnTESIAN HEADS IN ARTESIAN WELLS IN ROSWELL-ARTESIA AREA IN 1970 AND HIGHEST I\ND WtlEST MMN ANNUAL AND MErlN MONTHLY AIITESIAN HEADS, IN FEET ADOVE MEAN SE,\ LE\'EL.

(Measurements and other data for these wells are listed in tabulations of dai 1 records of water level.) N<lme

of well

lOcation no.

January February March Apri I May June

July Augus t September October November December Mean

annual

Mean annual

H 19hes t Lowest Fi rst year

of record

Mean monthly

Highest Lowest Fi rs t

Serren 0-Smi th

Orch,Jrd Greenfield Jackson Artesia itA" Park. "A"

\05.24E.21.212 12S.25E.23.344

Days of

record

31 28 31 30 31 .0

31 31 30 31 30 31

Year

1942 1970 1941

Head Days

of record

3,527.78 31 3~528.0a 28 3,523.85 31 3,520.38 30 3,519.35 31 3,517.18 30

3,515.79 31 3,514.27 31 3,514.46 30 3,519.04 31 3,522.21 30 3,523.25 31

3,520.47

Head

3,571.0 3,520.5 3,566.2

Year

1968 1965 1965

Head

3,514.11 3,511.80 3,448.84 3,417.70 3,436.93 3,415.65

3,400.66 3,400.21 3,414.17 3,465.06 3,493.98 3,501.48

3,451.72

Head

3,464.9 3,448.1 3,448.1

Jan '43 3,574.4 Aug '693,512.7 Jun '403,559.7

Feb '68 3,515.9 Jul '653,388.0 Jan '653,502.7

13S.25E.27.211

Oays of

record

31 28 31 30 31 30

31 31 30 31 30 31

Year

194\ 1964 1941

Head

3,506.51 3,502.74 3,425.49 3,398.64 3,408.62 3,380.67

3,358.38 3,357.69 3,383.17 3,443.88 3,491.10 3,489.82

3,428.89

Head

3,517.5 3,418.8 3,517.5

Jan '42 3,535.4 Aug '54 3,350.0 Jun '40 3,496.0

lSS.24E.25.433 \BS.26E.6.442a

Days of

record

31 2B 31 30 31 30

31 31 30 31 30 31

Year

1967 1968 1967

Head Days of

record

3,523.78 31 3,512.44 28 3,476.78 31 3,470.03 30 3,473.70 31 3,453.93 30

3,452.06 31 3,450.08 31 3,479.24 30 3,506.75 31 3,514.82 3D 3,517.58 31

3,485.95

Head

3,488.0 3,483.5 3,488.0

Year

1962 1964 1962

Head

3,315.29 3,318.64 3,299.88 3,269.96 3,272.96 3,261.78

3,244.70 3,238.56 3,246.21 3,279.42 3,295.12 3,304.70

3,278.94

Head

3,282.8 3,255.1 3,282.8

Jan '703,523.8 Aug '703,450.1 Jun '67 3,461.9

Jan' 62 3,328.2 Aug'643,204.4 Ju\ '61 3,246.6

month of record

TABLE 12.--DEPARTURE IN 1970 FROM AVER-\GE AND CWu'iGE FROM 1969 TO 1970, IN FEET, OF MEAN MONTHLY AND 1<tEAN ANNUAL HEADS IN ARTESIAN WELLS IN ROSWELL-ARTESIA AREA.

(Measurements and other data for these wells are listed in tabulations of daily records of water level.) Name

of well L9ca t i on

00.

January February March April M,y June July Augus t September OctOber November December Annual Record

began

BerrendoSmi th

\,J';.24E.2\.212

Dept. f,om avg.

-24.6 -24.1 -25.S -25.0 -:26.3 -26.9 -26.6 -26.5 -28.0 -27.6 -27.0 -27.6 -26.0

June 1940

1969 to

\970 -0.85 -0.17 -1.07 -0.12 -1.38 -0.29 +0.77 +1.61 -;3.08 -I. 71 -1.99 -2.82 -0.93

Orchard P<Jrk "A"

12S.25E.23.344

Dept. hom avq.

+ 5.2 + 6.2 -10.0 - 6.7

5.8 1.7 3.B 7.B

-19.2 0.0

+ 0.3 0.7 3.7

\969 to

1970 + 3.27 +\4.07 - 3.78 +14.06 -14.51

1. 16 + 2.10 + 7.31 -36.23 - 7.47 -10.58 - 7.25 - 3.32

January 1965

Greenfield

13S.25E.27.211

Dept. f,om avg.

- 9.1 - 3.1 -40.3 -44.4 -45.4 -60.6 -74.3 -70.5 -60.0 -38.6 -15.3 -23. I -39.S

June 1940

1969 to

1970 + 2.85 +14.65 + 3.46 + 2.42 -17.67

8.88 - 3.46 + 0.69 -43.92 - 9.52 - 1.95 -11.34

6.23

Jackson

15S.24E.25.433

Oep t. from avg.

+22.1 +\4.7 - 6.5 + 0.1

3.2 4.0 B.B 5.2 1.9 1.0

- 1.4 2.7 0.1

June 1967

1969 to

1970 + 8.92 + 5.67

2.78 - 3.22 - 0.71

4.01 + 6.24 +12.47 -12.90

5.37 - 4.47 - 4.94

0.43

Artesia "A"

\SS.26E.6.442a

Dept. f,om avq.

+ 7.8 + 9.9 +12.2 + 5.8 + 7.0 +\0.0 + 8.6 + 9.0 + 4.2 +1\.1 + 4.3 + 3.9 + 8.0

July 1961

1969 to

\970 + 4.31 + 8.10 +10.11 - 3.90 - 1.25 + 0.89 - 2.54

0.36 -16.17 - 3.32 - S.74

5.50 1. 52

Table l3.--Daily water levels in well 10S.24E.21.2l2, Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex., Berrendo-Smith. Drilled observation artesian well in San Andres Limestone, diam. 10 in., depth eN

Q)

324 ft., depth to artesian aquifers 269 and 310 ft. Lsd is 3,580.65 ft. above msl. Highest water level 6.06 Jan. 19, 1946; lowest 68.12 Aug. 16, 1969; records available 1940-70.

Daily highest water level, in feet below land-surface datum, from recorder graph, 1970 . Dat Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June Jult AU9' Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

1 53.55 52.07 53.07 58.78 60.23 61.57 62.02 e64.26 66.40 63.71 59.58 57.20 2 53.49 52.15 52.98 58.94 60.30 62.08 61.92 e64.44 66.45 63.49 59.47 57.11 3 53.46 52.07 53.28 59.00 60.15 62.32 61.96 e64.62 66.75 63.28 59.46 57.09 13 4 53.36 52.02 53.62 58.95 59.98 62.47 62.04 e64.80 66.97 62.91 59.34 57.00 gj 5 53.37 52.08 53.88 58.76 60.11 62.55 61.94 e64.98 66.67 62.77 59.18 57.01 t<l

6 53.37 52.02 54.06 58.64 60.19 62.60 61.81 e65.16 66.37 62.75 59.13 56.91 t"' t"'

7 53.27 52.02 54.26 58.97 60.22 61.98 62.10 e65.34 66.10 62.76 59.07 56.84 ;,l. 8 53.26 52.04 54.21 59.22 60.44 61.85 62.38 e65.52 66.47 62.69 58.96 56.79 el 9 53.13 51.99 54.12 59.53 60.31 62.13 62.81 e65.70 67.26 62.50 58.96 56.70 t<l

t:Jl

10 53.04 51.93 54.77 59.62 59.90 62.19 63.01 e65.88 67.27 62.30 58.86 56.60 H :>

11 53.02 51.94 54.96 59.62 59.80 62.69 63.19 e66.06 66.94 62.14 58.77 56.78 :> 12 53.01 51.95 54.76 59.44 60.54 62.74 63.34 e66.24 66.63 61.99 58.64 56.68 ~ 13 52.96 51.89 55.13 59.30 60.50 62.96 63.26 e66.42 65.96 61.98 58.64 56.60 14 52.85 51.95 55.53 59.51 60.62 62.53 63.96 e66.60 65.62 61.92 58.54 56.44 't>

15 52.78 52.10 55.44 59.69 60.78 62.33 64.33 e66.78 66.19 61.61 58.37 56.31 t<l ()

16 52.77 52.07 55.39 59.81 60.69 62.87 64.77 e66.96 65.43 61.20 58.27 56.40 0 t:Jl

17 52.70 52.07 55.87 59.68 60.45 63.06 64.92 e67.14 65.23 61. 11 58.24 56.31 po

18 52.76 52. 12 56.23 59.67 60.33 63.29 65.29 e67.22 65.10 60.93 58.05 56.26 H <:

19 52.71 52.40 56.58 59.52 60.55 63.60 65.05 65.23 64.80 60.77 58.06 56.18 t<l po

20 52.61 52.73 56.77 59.41 60.64 63.55 64.82 65.70 64.50 60.62 57.97 56.02 ~ 21 52.61 52.60 56.60 59.68 61.09 62.90 65.13 65.93 64.37 60.50 57.93 56.00 t:Jl

22 52.49 52.44 56.63 59.46 61.21 62.58 65.59 66.32 64.59 60.44 57.90 56.00 H z 23 52.47 52.42 56.71 59.58 61.07 62.30 65.69 65.94 64.80 60.34 57.80 56.00 24 52.42 52.73 57.48 59.81 60.83 62.35 64.60 65.92 64.67 60.29 57.64 55.80 25 52.40 53.03 57.73 59.87 60.72 62.44 64.13 66.01 64.90 60.16 57.51 55.80 26 52.37 53.03 58.02 59.56 60.87 62.55 63.68 66.35 64.58 60.08 57.47 55.78 27 52.26 52.94 58.27 59.40 60.96 62.71 63.57 66.38 64.13 60.07 57.46 55.72 28 52.25 53.07 58.14 59.79 61.06 62.68 63.72 66.83 63.94 59.96 57.38 55.68 29 52.41 58.06 59.81 61.28 62.76 64.17 66.54 63.87 59.87 57.29 55.64 30 52.28 57.88 59.90 61.58 62.29 e63.90 66.34 63.84 59.77 57.18 55.62 31 52.16 58.47 61. 73 e64.08 66.30 59.64 55.61

e. Es ti mated

Table 14.--Daily water levels in well 12S.25E.23.344, Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex., Orchard Park "A". Drilled observation well in San Andres Limestone, diam. 8 5/8 in. casing 0-304 ft., 7 in. casing 304-714 ft., depth 930 ft., depth to artesian aquifer 710 ft. Lsd is 3,539.00 ft. above msl. Highest water level 21.75 Feb. 21, 1968; lowest 165.64 July 31, Aug. 1 and 2, 1966; records available 1965-70.

Daily highest water level, in feet below land-surface datum, from recorder graph, 1970

Da):: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Ma):: June Jul):: AU9' SeE!t. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1 26.86 22.55 36.83 121.84 e 113 .94 97.75 127.13 126.48 145.98 102.85 52.19 37.81 2 26.71 22.79 36.65 119.31 e113.57 105.35 126.61 122.62 144.64 101 .22 51.22 39.44 " 0

3 26.57 22.91 42.60 121. 34 e113.20 108.80 128.95 121.64 143.93 99.82 50.67 39.19 ~ 4 26.50 22.86 45.29 121.34 e112.83 113.43 129.42 129.87 142.12 86.43 50.23 38.26 '" E=: 5 26.50 22.98 50.13 121. 34 e112.46 115.32 124.43 132.35 143.14 86.16 49.13 38.31 :l. 6 26.68 23.90 61.54 121.34 e112.09 114.93 126. 15 133. 14 139.59 89.71 48.69 37.43 " 7 26.50 23.39 61.62 121.34 el11.72 112.66 130.86 131 .69 136.64 88.66 48.59 .36.92 til 8 26.49 23.10 64.03 121. 34 ell1.32 110.24 136.64 129.51 139.94 91.14 47.75 37.88 r.o

H

9 26.32 23.06 69.00 121.34 el10.98 112.60 141.24 129.02 137.53 89.55 47.02 37.78 e>

10 26.59 23.45 79.34 121.34 ell0.61 121. 06 144.13 122.64 139.52 81.02 47.11 38.11 e>

1 1 26.76 23.71 76.58 121.34 110.33 I 19.02 143.71 125.06 136. 16 75.01 46.91 38.14 ~ 12 26.06 24.58 72.26 e120.97 110.33 117.75 141.63 129.20 132.86 73.61 47.70 37.98 13 25.40 24.80 77.29 e120.60 e107.32 125.93 138.64 133.47 126.95 76.66 46.52 38.79 '0

'" 14 24.85 25.03 84.94 e120.23 e104.31 12 I .06 145.46 130.29 125.19 75.43 46.34 39.01 " 0 15 24.46 25.87 86.16 e119.86 e1Ol.30 I 19.97 148.62 132.27 129. 11 74.72 44.70 38.52 r.o

16 24.24 26.11 90.23 e 119.49 e 98.29 121.64 151.84 129.08 121.24 68.79 43.83 37.82 " H

17 23.92 27.34 95.05 e119.12 e 95.28 123.56 151.91 126.08 116.24 65.75 43.12 37.21 <: '" 18 23.96 28.71 99.93 e118.75 e 93.26 129.55 151.85 133.52 119.55 62.63 42.82 37.66 "

19 23.82 29.22 99.90 e118.38 92.24 128.72 151 .84 135.52 114.84 60.90 41.54 37.78 rg 20 23.69 29.36 105. 13 e118.01 92.81 128.92 150.99 142.78 103.74 61.64 40.67 37.12 r.o

H

21 23.73 27.08 99.98 e117.64 100.49 122.49 150.72 142.53 102.23 60.96 40.12 36.57 2:

22 23.43 25.94 103.08 e117.27 100.74 122.94 149.99 142.45 101.64 60.64 39.80 36.25 23 23.95 26.31 103.43 e 116.90 100.69 125.96 147.98 138.81 100.96 59.23 39.84 36.24 24 23.34 29.42 112.94 e116.53 99.43 130.62 132.26 140.65 101. 10 58.26 39.14 35.83 25 23.08 33.28 116.44 e116.16 98.49 134.14 129.56 143.93 102.56 56.39 38.42 34.84 26 22.92 34.51 121 .84 e115.79 98.10 131.52 122.03 149.26 102.96 55.76 38.32 34.22 27 22.56 36.01 121 .84 e115.42 97.26 130.35 120.18 151 .99 99.33 58.39 38.31 34.61 28 22.56 38.35 121.84 e115.05 99.29 121.21 1:11.21 154.52 98.82 57.48 38.21 34.03 29 23.09 121.84 e114.68 96.32 120.81 130.36 151 .82 102.83 56.18 37.94 34.25 eN

30 22.95 121.84 e114.31 97.84 125.55 130.50 148.04 101 .24 55.04 37.31 34.67 ...,

31 22.67 121.84 96.36 127.75 143.43 54.73 33.81

e. Estimated

Table 15.--Daily water levels in well 13S.25E 27.211, Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex., Greenfield well. Drilled observation artesian well in San Andres Limestone, diam. 10 in., depth to

'" 880 ft., depth to artesian aquifers 740 and 795. Lsd is 3,523.76 ft. above msl. Highest water level 12.94 January 13, 1942; lowest 181.08 July 23, 1965; records available 1940-70.

Daily highest water level, in feet below land-surface datum, from recorder graph, 1970 Da~ Jan. Feb. Mar. A~r • Ma~ June Ju1~ Au~. Se2t • Oct. Nov. Dec.

1 20.18 14.12 30.70 128.48 125.80 1 10.24 153.20 e162.40 175.45 116.08 49.50 32.50 2 20.32 14.32 31.24 127.85 126.20 118.45 157.18 162. 15 175.15 111.72 48.35 33.48 3 20.35 14.50 38.86 132.10 113.30 123.10 156.46 e161.95 174.80 103.00 47.64 33.48 4 20.67 14.50 44.60 125.30 109.70 124.42 147. 10 e161.85 174.55 92.60 47.38 33.10 i3 5 18.48 14.62 55.34 121.64 117.84 128.98 143.40 e161.36 167.58 90.38 45.60 33.44 f!i! 6 19.44 16.95 62.12 123.74 117.65 128.62 146.10 e160.87 166.78 98.98 45.40 33.90 to

7 19.20 15.42 62.52 129.36 115.30 126. 15 157.85 e160.38 165.98 97.28 45.00 34.70 ~ 8 19.10 14.98 65.30 132.32 115.72 125.35 158.86 e159.89 165. 18 98.32 43.30 32.33

;,l.

9 18.95 14.90 70.66 130.72 108.20 131 . 12 162.46 e159.40 164.40 98.40 42.90 34.40 q to

10 18-.82 -16.98 83.00 131 .52 101 .40 134.82 168.70 e158.91 163.58 87.50 44.68 32.10 fJ) H

11 18.99 16.30 78.40 122.70 100.00 136.20 169.20 e158.42 162.00 80.85 44.35 34.06 » 12 18.38 16.94 77.10 116.05 101 .30 135.52 167.40 e158.30 152.26 79.18 e43.43 33.72 » 13 17.65 17.40 87.84 114.45 106.20 138. 17 164.78 157.91 146.22 86.70 e42.51 33.72 ~ 14 16.90 17.42 95.26 121 .38 110.38 139.38 169.78 158.60 144.55 85.50 e41 .59 33.80 15 16.63 18.50 95.84 122.30 111.16 138.80 172.38 156.08 147.45 83.70 e40.98 35.38 '"d

to 16 16.32 19.60 100.46 123.40 104.30 138. 15 173.38 152.88 129.10 74.75 40.65 34.52 (")

0 17 16.03 21.59 108.34 122.20 el03.60 141 .56 174.62 153. 10 123.50 71.40 40. 10 36.86 fJ)

18 16.06 22.74 1 12.55 114.00 el02.70 146.68 174.60 160.60 121 .62 66.05 e39.40 35.24 ::t> H

19 15.80 23.95 112.38 105.95 101.90 152.06 174.14 167.00 116.00 61.42 e39.00 34.72 <: to

20 15.60 21.90 113.40 106.26 105.85 152.57 175.52 171.50 107.08 64.46 38.70 34.72 ::t>

21 15.60 18.30 112.15 116.80 108.17 138.58 174.90 167.62 105.20 63.54 35.52 34.98 !J; 22 15.26 17.20 111.18 120.00 107.80 145.75 177.20 164.00 105.40 64.20 34.99 31.50 fJ)

H

23 15.25 19.22 114.58 124.52 113.35 152.78 175.55 158.90 106.70 62.00 34.75 30.84 2:

24 14.95 26.38 124.45 116.65 115.75 155.54 162.20 156.12 107.94 60.00 32.76 29.52 25 14.80 30.12 129.70 113.30 116.26 159.26 153.20 164.95 109.84 56.00 32.82 29.04 26 14.70 31.24 133.94 107.25 115.35 158.38 150.65 168.42 1 17.40 54.90 32.19 28.52 27 14.40 32.44 134.30 114.20 1 17.38 155.44 148.90 168.72 109.70 56.95 33.06 29.21 28 14.40 31.62 130.20 117.74 117.35 149.80 156.60 173.34 108.80 56.12 32.42 28.60 29 14.60 126.00 118.06 116.02 148.32 155.40 176.05 112.06 54.70 32.60 29.46 30 14.60 123.42 125.64 112.10 152.86 159.00 176.15 113.38 53.80 31. 16 30.19 31 14.25 129.64 109. 15 e162.60 175.80 51.35 29.12

e. Estimated

Table 16.--Daily water levels in well 15S.24E.25.433, Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex. J

, Jackson well. Drilled observation artesian well in San Andres Limestone, diam. 8 5/8 inch, casing 0-548 ft. Depth 910 ft. Lsd is 3,528.92 ft. above msl. Highest water level 3.89 Feb. 21; 1968, lowest 92.32 Aug. 8, 1968; records available 1967-70.

Daily highest water level, in feet below land-surface datum, from recorder graph, 1970

Dal' Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Mal' June Jull' Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1 5.26 5.31 30.73 59.39 58.37 63.45 77.01 e56.72 80.57 24.60 13.44 11 . 18 2 5.32 5.41 32. 12 64.18 47.61 75.30 74.23 e60.63 78.93 37.05 13.85 10.93 3 5.28 6.18 35.78 62.01 35.23 75.30 69.43 64.55 75.50 28.95 14.42 12.89 13 4 5.32 6 •. 31 34.66 61.40 33.03 78.13 76.51 78.94 75.47 26.53 14.09 11.49 ~ 5 5.21 8.62 42.00 55.96 45.42 81.30 74.14 82.40 75.36 25.71 13.15 11.40 t;.j

6 5.62 8.57 29.22 53.57 48.39 80.05 65.81 78.14 64.89 28.89 12.45 10.34 e:: 7 5.24 8.52 26.40 55.96 54.59 75.30 65.09 75.12 57.21 27.34 12.50 10.76 ~

8 5. 17 8.49 23.88 56.39 51.65 60.32 68.57 78.93 56.80 25.58 12.25 11 .86 ~ 9 5.05 9.25 23.64 59.63 50.87 65.31 78.32 71.62 e55.00 24.80 12.72 10.69 rn

H

10 4.86 8.70 41.71 58.05 51.62 75.49 83.47 73.13 53.90 20.84 12.86 10.13 ;J>

11 4.98 9.27 29.59 54.47 54.94 75.49 81.47 72 .27 51.28 19.03 13.05 10.34 ;J>

12 4.84 9.07 27.32 46.46 57.33 e74.55 77.29 74.55 e53.00 18.29 13.19 10.26 ~ 13 4.73 11.73 44.93 45.24 55.26 e74.00 80.63 70.22 54.75 19.37 11.96 9.23 14 4.70 13.32 50.74 52.69 58.58 e73.90 85.10 84.64 53.35 20.80 12.45 8.68 >t:J

t;.j

15 4.71 11.87 40.99 45.48 45.91 e73.45 89.00 79.51 70.49 19.80 11.69 8.41 (l 0

16 4.70 11 .39 40.55 42.57 43.98 73.10 88.65 74.50 38.19 17 .07 11.72 8.37 rn

17 4.59 13.64 52.99 47.98 34.62 72A8 89.74 71.39 31.32 16.09 11.57 8.25 :>;l H

18 4.81 15.12 51.60 44.18 33.07 71 . 16 90.67 79.27 29.99 15.84 10.98 8.18 <: t;.j

19 4.65 18.83 59.88 46.29 50.79 70.13 85.18 78.23 29.53 16.37 11 .05 8.50 :>;l

20 4.55 16.90 56.17 44.88 50.25 68.82 84.98 87.89 25.28 17.35 12.36 8.49 it 21 4.61 12. 16 52.31 50.32 56.27 52.49 92.24 86.24 24.66 17 .43 11. 51 8.48 rn

H 22 4.40 10.31 51.06 57.37 55.98 52.29 89.53 82.50 39.23 16.69 10.96 9.01 'Z

23 4.37 10.06 49.61 59.59 55.01 72.65 84.81 74.79 41.46 16.27 1 1 • 17 9.19 24 4.32 22.09 68.19 64.63 44.65 78.67 68.29 72.15 35.63 15.42 12.14 9.05 25 4.40 27.76 75.10 63.21 43.80 78.18 63.20 76.45 33.98 15.46 11 .27 8.55 26 4.23 32.06 75.10 55.28 56.96 73.89 56.03 74.64 31. 15 16.02 11.44 8.34 27 4.20 29.30 75.09 54.04 61.77 75.53 50.79 70.81 27.40 17.72 10.70 8.55 28 4.43 32.38 67.64 65.37 64.11 70.04 50.94 79.93 24.48 15.79 12.67 8.94 29 4.53 56.63 59.40 65.42 69.10 e45.00 75.75 23.74 14.95 11 .36 9.23 30 4.40 54.81 56.57 65.57 78.66 e48.91 71.68 25.93 14.50 10.42 9. 16 eN 31 5.13 63.05 63.51 e52.81 68.83 14.37 9.33 "' e. Es t i mated

Table 17.--Daily water levels in well 18S.26E.6.442a, Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex., Artesia "A", drilled observation well in San Andres Limestone, size of hole 12~-inch to 726 ft., 7 3/4-inch hole to 950 ft., 726 ft. of 8 5/8-inch casing; 6~-inch hole to 1,008 ft., depth 1,008 ft. , depth to artesian aquifers 768-802, 820-857, 889-958, 999-1,008. Lsd is 3,402.10 ft. above "" 0 msl. Highest water level 71.79 January 26, 1962; lowest 209.15, July 26-August 2, 1966; records available 1961-70.

Daily highest water level, in feet below land-surface datum, from recorder graph, 1970 Day Jan. Feb. Mar. A2 r . May June July AU2' Se2 t • Oct. Nov. Dec.

1 89.32 83.72 84.56 136.09 132.37 127.31 149.82 167.59 170.43 133.63 112.27 100.93 2 89.20 83.51 84.38 133.84 130.74 130.03 148.26 167.27 170.74 134.25 111.93 100.80 3 89.08 83.32 85.55 133.54 126.82 132.62 147.83 165.79 170.27 132.84 111.78 100.57 4 89.13 82.92 85.84 133.63 125.15 134.44 147.72 168.08 168.64 131.46 111.68 100.10 13 5 88.96 82.96 85.88 133.47 124.60 135.79 144.27 166.20 169.48 130.64 111.03 100.15 ~ 6 88.84 82.80 89.33 132.27 123.67 134.78 142.95 166.28 170.30 129.95 111 .33 99.38

to

8 7 88.34 82.85 87.44 133.18 122.20 131.02 146.28 167.38 167.35 129.03 110.59 99.04 ;l. 8 88.22 83.21 91.25 133.17 121 .37 129.95 147.94 168.04 165.46 128.22 109.55 99.09 :>:> 9 88.01 83.12 92.56 134.16 121.45 130.13 149.98 166.26 165.21 127.54 109.09 99.11 t;i

10 87.59 82.70 99.06 135.07 120.62 130.85 151.83 161.94 162.37 126.34 108.83 (J)

98.89 >-I

11 87.37 82.58 99.73 134.66 119.72 131.30 153.60 158.51 160.80 124.65 108.40 »

98.84 » 12 87.12 83.01 99.70 132.07 121.62 131.23 155.24 157.38 e161.48 123.66 107.74 98.38

~ 13 87.09 82.78 102.60 130.86 123.33 131.98 153.74 156.38 e 162.16 123.15 107.15 97.62 14 86.61 82.71 107.27 131. 74 124.84 131.46 156.08 155.15 162.55 122.83 107.15 97.20

'1j

15 86.38 82.79 108.14 130.29 127.09 132.34 158.08 153.77 162.21 121. 74 106.32 97.04 to n

16 86.29 82.71 108.16 130.52 129.19 134.71 158.69 152.32 155.78 120.75 105.87 96.65 0 (J)

17 85.97 82.78 108.24 129.36 130.04 136.89 159.35 154.20 153.10 119.71 106. 10 96.37 :>:J

18 85.86 82.98 108.31 128.54 130.89 140.02 159. 14 155.59 151.34 118.91 105.56 96.33 >-I

-< 19 85.64 83.03 108.37 126.76 134.45 142.01 158.14 156.15 149.02 118.72 105.22 96.31 to

20 85.39 83.16 108.72 125.60 136.10 143.39 156.62 156.09 144.72 118.24 104.74 95.23 :>:>

21 85.70 82.68 108.72 126.42 137.95 143.48 158.42 154.84 143.82 117.99 104.07 95.04 ~ (J)

22 85.45 81.98 108.72 127.08 136.38 143.06 161.37 157.54 143.33 117 .62 103.82 95.58 >-I

23 85.44 81.79 108.72 126.87 131.15 145.81 162.67 159.82 142.43 117.07 103.65 96.12 z

24 85.29 82.38 108.72 127.02 126.86 148.51 162.82 161 .79 142.47 117.06 103.10 95.52 25 85.27 83.33 108.72 127.26 125.98 150.53 161.33 164.85 142.35 115.98 102.74 94.59 26 85.18 83.65 108.82 127.55 127.33 151 .07 159.61 166.26 141.04 115.42 102.29 93.99 27 84.86 84.16 108.82 126.59 127.20 152.50 158.35 166.24 138.86 115.28 101.91 93.54 28 84.72 84.35 110.08 129.57 126.26 151 .76 160.38 164.63 136.50 114.73 102.30 93.14 29 84.53 110.08 131.15 128.61 149.28 161.93 165.90 134.80 113.96 101.54 94.01 30 84.33 110.08 130.75 129.63 149.61 164.68 165.65 134.11 113.24 101.02 93.42 31 83.88 110.08 128.48 165.40 168.34 112.88 93.26

e. Es t i mated

ROSI/ELL-ARTESIA AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN

R. 23 E.

• •

T.I\-+-+--+_I--I'~ 6 \. S. (

\

R.23 E.

EXPLANATION

o

Observation weI!

----1 ____

Line showing rise (+) or decline (-)of waler level in feel; Interval I fool.

o I 2 3 4 5 GMoies ! !!!!!

Z'T'/

R.24 E. R!.l5 E.

/

R.26 E.

J

FIGURE 14.-- Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Salt Creek-Macho Draw part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.

41


I 'f)\ \<1::,. /

_ ~~t.,4 -" ,r

< ~I '\ T. I-- ;, \.1 ~~ II s.

.' b' i:'~ \j

.,'

Observation wei!

(R indicates well equipped with waler-stoge recorder)

-----/-Line showing rise (f) ordeclinc{-) of water level in feet; interal I foot

, , ; , , <'.'.'-e' , I , I I , ,

.. L f'ell~ ..

~ ~ .. r- ... 1'--'

... s.

I \ .. I 0

", r\' 0, ~~ "- ( ).~ ) 0(" " f.-IX.,!J

/'\. 0

\ o I -~ " -/' " '-...../ r

o

I--- .- i'---

" <

00

_r~.+. ~.r. ~~~o;rh";~~-+~+-~~~~/*~~~~J~(( I~ / ~C:~ •• , '" / S. ... ..'V -~ "~oke Arthur I\.J

~ -,

FIGURE 15.-- Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1970 to January 1971 in northern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.

ROSWELL-ARTESIA AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN

-T, 15 S,

EXPLANATION

o Observation well

--1-

"'o~ ,.!'V;,

Line showing decline (-) of water level in feet; Interval I fool

0

'-CrO,fJ.t

R,25 E,

II ~ _4 1/ ) !

..,. ./

'-; -" V ( Loks,.. IV Arthur

II I / '(

/

~, I j .. ~.\\

"/ 0 \

R,26 E, R,27 E,

FIGURE 16.-- Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1970 to January 1971 in southern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex.

43


x

T~+-~~-+~I~'-i 61'..., s. (

1\

\

EXPLANATION

Observation weI!

Line showino decline (-) of waterlevel in feet; intorval 2 to ot

o J 2 ~ 4 5 6 MoI~, L....-L... 1 .J......------L.-L.....-J

- - ++--+--+- ~-I--II-

/

( /

----T. 9~r-+-+-~~-+~--1I--+ s.

R.23E. R.24E. R.25 E.

\I. S.

y

R.26 E.

FIGURE 17.-- Change of ground-Water in shallow aquifer from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Salt Creek-Macho Draw part of the RoswellArtesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.

--


II 1"'-

EXPLANATION 0"

Observation well (R indicates well equipped

with wofer-sloge recorder)

----2 ___

Line showing decline H of woler level in feet; intervol 2 feet.

1

I 2 "" .. ',' e' '_L' ~'_L' ~'_L' -",

1 /~A ~ //1/'%1

1---

/ l' '11 1-+/++--1-1010 1/1--1+/-1 I '-- ,~ /

/ // \. ~-B /

H-I--+l--HiHl--f- \. :---\ \ ---IL ,

1\ iC=l v v

.. l-l \ ' l--bh<F-~~-.':::-f""·-!·- . 1"'-" xc· T. ~ ~- \., "-I.':' o ! s.

T 15 s.

-

1-1--+-+-1

o

. , (\, J -'l!.ake Arthur ~ -"

FIGURE 18,-- Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1966 to January 1971 in northern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N, Mex.

45


R.24E.

L

\

EXPLANATION

0' Observation well

(R indicates well oqulpped with water-slage recorder)

~-2~

Line showing decline (-) of water level in feel; interval 2 feel

R,25 E. R,26 E.

f- '"-,L,J-rL -,---,

\

1\ 1\ \:I"~ 1// b

V Artesia

". -

II h

-u

"'$Qf.~"'J..-f-,,f--l--!1\-<ll Do y to n +--+-\-+-[-! o I 2 3 4 5 6 Moles 1---+'-l-+--+-l-+--I-41-+--l---l--l+-l---'H ! t ! 1 ! I 1

\

1/ R.25 E. R.26 E. R.27E.

FIGURE 19.-- Change of ground-water level in shallow aquifer from January 1966 to January 1971 in southern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex.


x

T. 1\-+--+-1-+--1:''--1 6 \.. s. (

) " ... '-.. / 4:'

R23E.

EXPLANATION

oR

Observation well (R indicates weJl equipped with

water-stage recorder)

___ -1---

Lme showing decline {-} of water level, in feet; interval I foot

/;\

R24E.

( J

1---1--R26E .

FIGURE 20.-- Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Salt Creek-Macho Draw part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County 1 N. Mex.

47

48

T. 12 S.


R.22 E. R.23E. R.24E. R.25E.

FIGURE 21.-- Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1970 to January 1971 in northern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.

.. ROSVIELL-ARTESIA AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN

R.24E.

EXPLANATION

0' Observafion welt

(R Indicates well equipped wifh waler-stage recorder)

---1-Line showing decline (-) of water level in feet; interval

1 foot

/ /

R.25 E.

R.25 E. R.26E.

\ )

;.,..-- ~tesio-""""" I

.(. -

R.26 E. R.27 E.

FIGURE 22.-- Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1970 to January 1971 in southern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex.

49


b

\

\

EXPLANATION

oR

Obscrvaf!on well (R indicates well equipped with wafer-slage recorder)

----5~ Line showing decline H of water level In feet; Interval

5 foot

c z ~ .. ~ £, '>',I~, ! , ! ! , , !

/

)

-~~ol,--+-+-+-+-+~t~'f+;-+-+~-'~ ~ , ~. d ~o -+--+---+--+-I-'\>,.J--fF:i~-:::::J.---I--+---~+---I ( u y:Y

-+-I'·/'--\\cf-:,.<-p.L,r+I-"I·' ",-,cr'~'k~~+-I_I\_:_ --- ~6SkLi4-~j"'\,,¥H::':1~ / 7J

/ /"- /'</ ) T, I ./ .7 -- +--I-++-+-+---I 9~+-+-+--h~-+-+-~hw4---I-~~'I---I-AP~-+-+-+-~+--1 s. ______ IV 1/ ;./ ~FP-r---r----I-+---~-~

If V / I iv~fjA--+-++--H--+---i .91 S.I\ / / V /!I

R.26 E. R,23 E. R,24E. R,~5 E.

FIGURE 23.-- Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Salt Creek-Macho Draw part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.


R.23 E.

EXPLANATION

oR

Observation woll (R indicates well equipped

with water-stage recorder)

R.24E. R.25 E.

,0 I yct\, I

1 1

R.26 E.

o

line showing rise(+)or decline(-) of wilier level in feet; interval 5 feel

T. I'" s.

... /V

II

~agermon

)

?

11 ,,/' r-~... I / s. I ..... ·~ ....... --- "'\.1 II ...-: :;~oke Arthur '\}

/ 0 ,1":'\ .. .: ''-, ./ _ _ . CHf!.VES C,~,--L __ _ LV _ ! 01 _;11 _ _ __

R.23 E. EDDY CO, --R.25 E.'-'- JJ. R.26 E. c-.

FIGURE 24.-- Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1966 to January 1971 in northern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.

51


R.24E. R.25E. R.26 E. -5 tJ d () 0

b V- I----T. r?/. I / 15

'.,"',,1' Lake '\J

S.

---'v

ca,tJ/r ,/"' Arthur

/ If f'.- f'-1 ."'\/

V .1, ,? 0

j -T'-- -.t= 'i!:'AVES CO. KD,DY CO

,0° , I

1'0 T. " C>

\ \ \. ~~'I'..,IO \ 'xJ, 16 " ' S_ 0' \ ;- xXi ~

'\. \. -0 -:~ ~ "- \. ±. h ~

"- \. EXPLANATION

" :;;-.> \. Artesia 7 \ ~.olr

oR I"ot l'iw ~ :.-ObservoHon weI!

./ ,," - 0 "":h (R indicates well equipped tl: with water-slage recorderl " 'V ;--- ~

------- -5 __________ \ J / / x' ~ -X tl: --5~ /, /

Line showing rise {+l or decline{-l of weter / / / "\ level in feet 1 interval 5 feet

~" ,,-

~ ""\ ~ ... ... f.<:- r

Dayton

0 , 2 , , , 6 "hies , , , , , , , • " V \ 0

.-.~ x' --.". V ~~

-:;> ,,~ T. r " ";,, .- 'Jv7 '-, " .. 19 ~

S. <:> .>d:-j " ~k.wool-J ",,-. i-----' \ fA J ~,)j

• N[l,"~~P \. • .. ~

~ \. " if T. ~ ". "-----

j ". ,,' 'Y:.0

20 Yr"" S.

/ J'" '\ ~ \... R.25 E. R.26 E. R.27 E.

FIGURE 25.-- Change of ground-water level in artesian wells from January 1966 to January 1971 in southern part of the Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex.

J£

~590

" W > 3560 W

" < 3570 W

• 3560 Z •

~ \J W 3550 ~

W 3540 > 0 m 3530 • " W 352.0 W ~

" 3510

.:; 3500 W > W 3490

" " 3480 W

" • ~ 3470 1950 1951

ROffiVELL-ARTESlA AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN

- I--\ f\ f\ t\ k

\I \J \ \ 1\ r\ 1\ Y\ i'I 1 V V \J _'11 \ 1\ 1\ h

8errondo-Sm,lh We!!.tOS.Z4E.21_ZIZ, Ch"ve~ Coun1y V V 1 \. { I\, II" 1\ I\, 1\

1952

v V \j V

r- - I--- 1---r--r-

1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

FIGURE 26.-- Mean monthly artesian water level in well IOS.24E.21.212 in Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.

53

1 i\ 1

V

\970 1971 1972- 1973

54

3530

3520

3510

3500

3490 ...J w > 3480 w ...J

<l: 3470 w (f)

z 3460 <l: w ~

w 3450 > 0 CJ:i 3440 <l:

I-w 3430 w LL

z 3420 ..J w > 3410 w ...J

a: 3400 w I-<l: ~ 3390

3380

3370


Orchard Park "d,' Well, 12S. 25E. 23.344, I I I I

Chaves County

1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973

FIGURE 27.-- Mean monthly artesian water level in well l2S.25E.23.344 in Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.

3530

3520

3510

3500

3490

-' 3480 w > w 3470 -' <! w 3460

'" z <! 3450 w :; w >

3440 0

'" <! 3430

f-w 3420 w "-

" 3410

...i 3400 w

> w -' 3390

'" w f- 3380

~ 3370

3360

3350

3340


,

-

IIIU

Greenfield Well, 135. 25E. 27. 211, Chaves County

1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

FIGURE 28.-- Mean monthly artesian water level in well 13S.25E.27.2Il in Roswell-Artesia area, Chaves County, N. Mex.

1970 1971 1972

,

56

337 0

336 0

335 0

334 0

333 0

...J 332 w

0

> ~ 331 0

'" ~ 330 0

z ~ 3290 ~

~ 3280 o m o<l: 3270 >w ~ 3260

~ 325 ~

0

w ~ 3240 ~

~ 3230 >-

'" :?! 3220

3210

3200

3190

3180

3170 1955


I

I

\

Afl,esia Well ISS.26E.5.333

d[~COnlin:ued J:une 1~61;

ew Jell A+Sia I~I ,8s.dsE. 6.442 a I .

begu:n June1

1961.

Ed~y cou1nty

1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 19S! 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970

FIGURE 29.-- Mean monthly artesian water level in well ISS.26E.5.333 and replacement well ISS.26E.6.442a in Roswell-Artesia area, Eddy County, N. Mex.

1971 1972

RIO HONDO VALLEY, PECOS RIVER BASIN 57

Rio Hondo Valley, Lincoln County

The Rio Hondo valley is in southeastern New Mexico and extends westward from Roswell to the Sierra Blanca area in the Sacramento Mountains. The altitude of the valley proper ranges from less than 3,500 feet to more than 6,000 feet.

Diversion of surface water for irrigation began more than 100 years ago. Ground water has been used to supplement surface water since about 1920; however, most of the ground-water development has been since 1943. In 1953 the area was declared an underground water basin by the state Engineer and closed to further development; the basin includes about 611 square miles.

Most irrigation wells in the area are finished in sand and gravel of the valley alluvium which is in direct contact with surface flow in the Rio Hondo or its main tributaries, Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso. Water moves from the fill to the main stream or from the main stream to the fill depending upon the altitude of the water table in relation to the stream. Wells tapping thick sections of saturated alluvium yield as much as 3,000 gpm.

In 1970, there were about 3,700 acres of irrigated cropland in the Hondo valley of Lincoln County; Sorensen (table 41) estimates that ground water only was used to irrigate 300 acres and that surface water supplemented by ground water was used on 3,400 acres. Diversion requirements for irrigation are about 3 acre-feet per acre. In areas where ground water supplements surface water, about a third of the requirement is met with ground water. Pumpage in 1970 is estimated to have been about 6,000 acrefeet.

Precipitation during 1970 was below normal throughout the valley. Precipitation, in inches, during the 5-year period 1966-70 for Ruidoso and Picacho was as follows:

Year RUidoso Picacho

1966 16.51 11.17

1967 20.84 10.17

1968 18.69 15.71

1969 21.94 17.58

1970 12.27 8.11

Water levels in the Rio Hondo valley have been monitored since 1955. In January 1971, water-level measurements were made in five wells in the valley; these measurements and other related data are listed in table 18. Water-level changes during 1970 ranged from a rise of 1.05 feet near Lincoln, in the Bonito Creek drainage, to a decline of 2.62 feet below Riverside in the lower Rio Hondo valley.

58

LOCATION NUMi3ER

(l''JS 14E 10 132 lOS 17E 16 ItJl 11S tJE 22 134 l1S 1 ~E 15 431 I1S 18E 24 341

RIO HONDO AND RIO PENASCO VALLEYS, PECOS RIVER BASIN

TAelE 18.--IIATER LEVELS IN THE RIO HONDO VA.LtEY, LltlCOUl COUNTY, N. MEX., IN JAIIlJARY 1911, CHANGE FROIl FESRUII.RY 19711 TO JMIUARY 1971, IN FEET, AND HIGHEST

AtID LOIIEST RECORDED LEVELS IN JAN. OR fEB .. IN fEET REFERfhCEO TO LANO-SIJRFACE DATUM.

SOURCE: H)IGS, HANCOS; VlFL. VALtEY FILL

OWIEn SOURCE " WATER OATE CHANGE HIGH YR CO" YR YEARS OF RECORD LEVEL

VILLAGE OF CAPITAN MHOS -It2.70 1-2:11 -.70 -34.38 " -64.79 57 55-71 HILBUn MCKNIGHT VLFL -123.13 1-28 +1.05 -121.57 5& -126.52 " 55-65,67-71 CREE MfAOOHS liNGS -54.94 1-26 -53.&2 " -63.09 57 55-69,71 EHALO ... FUCHS VtFl -&1.49 1-26 -2.17 -57.43 60 -61.49 " 55-71 R.O. ANOERSotl VLFL -46.67 1-28 -2. E2 -44.05 70 -59.7£, " 55-64,66-71

Rio Penasco Valley, Chaves and Otero Counties

The Rio Penasco valley, in southeastern New Mexico, from Artesia to Cloudcroft in the Sacramento Mountains.

extends westward Surface water has

been used for irrigation in the upper Rio Penasco valley for more than 100 years. About 1946, irrigation with ground water to supplement surfacewater supplies was begun and to date about 30 wellS have been drilled for irrigation use. Little, if any, new ground-water development has occurred since the area was declared an underground water basin by the state Engineer in September 1953; the declared area includes about 393 square miles. About 2,800 acres were irrigated in 1970; Sorensen (table 41) estimates that 700 acres of irrigated cropland were served by ground water and surface water combined.

Measurement of water levels was begun in the Rio Penasco valley in 1954 to determine the effect of pumping and preCipitation upon the groundwater body. Water levels measured in January 1971 indicate a substantial rise when compared with measurements made in the same wells in January 1966. This rise is probably due in part to decreased pumpage as farm land is being returned to permanent pasture. Th~ water-level measurements made in three wells in the Rio Penasco valley in 1971 are listed in table 19.

Precipitation has been above average at Cloudcroft each year since 1966, except for 1970 when only 15.23 inches, 10.41 inches below normal, was recorded.

TABLE 19.--WHER LEVELS IN THE RIO PENASCO VALLEY, CHAVES ANa OTERO COUNTIES, tl. HEX., Itl JANUARY 1971, CHANGE FRON FEaRUA~Y 1970 TO JANUARY 1971, IN FEET, Atm HIGHEST

AtlD LOHEST RECORDED LEVELS Itl JAt(. OR FEB., IN FEET REFERENCED TO LAND-SURFACE DATUM.

SOURCE: 'fESO, YESO; VLFl. VALLEY FILL

LOCATION OIiNER SOURCE 71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR La" YR YEARS OF RECORO tWHBER LEVEL

15S 16E 19 344 CHARLES CLEVE YESO -259.60 1-27 +.53 -256.57 59 -<:65.31 " 56-71 165 16E 03 321 ANGIE CLEVE VLFl -30.51 1-27 +1.31 -30.51 71 -38.87A 57 54-57,54-71 175 14E 08 112 HERBERT OOCKRAY VlFl -32.77 1-27 -1.60 -31.17 70 -1,1.87 " '36-71

A - WELL BEING PUMPEO.

CARLSBAD AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN 59

Carlsbad Area, Eddy County

The Carlsbad area is that part of the Pecos River valley between the river and the Guadalupe Mountain front; it is bounded on the north by Lake Avalon and extends southward to just below Black River (frontispiece). Diversion of surface water for irrigation began about 1880. Surface water for irrigation of as much as 25,000 acres within the Carlsbad Irrigation District is stored in Avalon, McMillan, and Alamogordo Reservoirs on the Pecos River. Water from these reservoirs is sometimes in short supply, and beginning in about 1945 individual irrigators began to develop ground water to supplement the surface water. High post-war prices for farm produce encouraged such development, and in 1947 the State Engineer found it necessary to assume control of ground-water use in the area. The Carlsbad Underground Water Basin, originally declared in October 1947, has been extended several times since then, and now includes about 1,500 square miles.

Ground water within the Carlsbad area occurs in limestone of Permian age and in alluvium of Quaternary age. Water in limestones of the Capitan Limestone and Tansill Formation constitute oue continuous aquifer, referred to here as the limestone aquifer. Water occurs in the limestone under artesian pressure in interconnected solution channels through which it moves with relative ease. The alluvial aquifer, found along the Pecos and Black Rivers, consists principally of unconsolidated to consolidated deposits of cobbles, gravel, sand, and silt. Both aquifers yield large quantities of water for irrigation, municipal, industrial, domestic, and livestock uses.

The limestone aquifer is widespread and permeable, so rises or declines are relatively uniform over large areas. Thus, slight changes in the artesian head in this aquifer may represent large changes in the volume of water in storage. Figure 30 indicates declines of about 2 feet in the limestone aquifer in 1970. This decline is probably due to the belownormal precipitation of that year which caused additional pumping for irrigation. However, as indicated by figure 31, water levels rose slightly during the 5-year period 1966-70. Small water-level rises occurred in 1970 in the alluvium south of Carlsbad and east of the Southern Canal. Water levels in this area are influenced by the supply of surface water available for lands within the Carlsbad Irrigation District. Figure 31 shows substantial water-level rises in the alluvium in this area for the period 1966-70, indicating above-average surface supply most of the time.

Water-level measurements were made in 54 wells in the Carlsbad area in January 1971. Water-level declines were recorded in 38 of these wells, including all 12 of the wells finished in the limestone aquifer (table 20) .

According to Sorensen (table 41) there were a total of 26,490 acres of irrigated cropland in the Carlsbad area in 1970 which utilized ground water and surface water.

Weather stations records at Carlsbad indicate generally below-normal precipitation for the years 1966 through 1970. Heavy rains in August 1966 and July 1968 caused above-normal precipitation in these years. Annual precipitation, in inches, and departUre from normal for the period 1966-70 is as follows: 1966, 13.83, +1.38; 1967, 6.97, -5.48; 1968, 16.52, +4.07; 1969, 12.40, -.05; 1970, 8.09, -4.36.

60 CARLSBAD AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN

Surface-water records of diversion through the Main Canal at Carlsbad for the 5-year period 1966-70, are listed below. These records, in conjunction w-ith irrigated acreage and precipitation records, were used to estimate the ground-water pumpage for irrigation. Municipal and industrial groundwater pumpage as reported by the city of Carlsbad and the International Chemical Corp. are also listed below.

Irrigation use Municipal supply Industrial Surface Ground water Total city of Carlsbad supply from water (ac-ft) diversion from limestone limestone

Year (ac-ft) limestone alluvium (ac-ft) (ac-ft) (ac-ft)

1966 53,660 5,000 52,540 111,200 6,729 3,834

1967 72,770 5,000 44,813 122,583 7,381 3,835

1968 67,270 4,700 34,789 106,759 6,546 3,678

1969 75,650 5,000 32,920 113,570 6,979 3,750

1970 71,360 5,000 44,340 120,700 7,147 3,338 Cc

CARLSBAD AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN 61

TA8LE 20.-~HATER LEVELS III THE CARLSBAD AREA, EDDY COUNTY. II. HEX •• IN JANUARY 1'171, CHANGE FRON JMHJARY 1'170 TO JANUARY 1'171. IN FEET, AND HIGHEST

AND l DHEST RECORDED LEVELS IN JAN. OR FEB •• Itl fEET REFERENCED TO LAND-SURFACE DATUM,

SOURCE: CPTN, C\PIT,\li, CLaD, T,\liSILL; VLFL, VALLEY FILL

LOCATION OWNER SOURCE 71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH " CO" " YEARS OF RECORD NUMBER LEVEL

Z1S '" " 4" L.F. RAYROUX CLBO -54.77 1-11 -2.11 -46.30 50 -5& ,:;4 " 47-71 Z1S '" " 344 ALBERT CARTER CLBO -2:4.64 1-13 -2:.22 -15.11 " -25.85 " 47-'>2,54-71 215 '" 36 212 S.B. BOfHlEY VLFL -25.&0 1-13 -5.'35 -19.65 70 -2:5.65 " 47-71

'" 27E " m F.R. DICKSON CLBO -34.62 1-11 -2.02 -26.10 " -36.'+0 " 46-71 215 27E 30 44, T. IVES CPHl -18.26 1-13 -3.7'+ -10.06 " -18.2& 71 47-71

215 27E " 21. T. NICHOLAS CLaD -15.2:3 1-13 -1.63 -&.80 50 -17.39 " 1t7-66,70-71 21S 27E " 214 MRS. DENHOFF VLFL -17.00 1-13 -.06 -lS.37 " -19.65 50 47-71 21S '" 3i 333 UNKNOWN VLFL -19.15 1-13 -16.26 " -19.15 71 69,71 21S '" 32 11. L.E. LOMAN VLFL -15.3" 1-13 -.09 -13.3f> " -17.2& 50 1t7-71 21S '" " 112 L .E. LOHAN CPTN -13.32 1-13 -4.1f> -4.&4 50 -11t.188 " 1t7-71

21S 27E 32 11211. S.TRACY VLFL -11t.77 1-13 -.11t -12.10 " -15.53 " 50-71 21S '" 3D '41 CITY OF CARLSBAD CLBD -93.65 1-16 -2.27 -91.38 7a -94.20 " 63-68,70-71 22S '" oz '42 CITY Of CARLSBAD CPTN -56.07 1-13 -1 ... 3 -SIt.49 " -6005'5 " 59-71 us '" " J44 TOMMY BALL CPHI -81.7l 1-13 -l.OIt -7l.43 50 -101.31B GO 1t8-71 us '" 15 424 CITY OF CAIlLS8AD CLaD -154.02 1-13 -2.34 -11t6.70 56 -155.67 " 55-71

us '" 26 41. CITY Of CARLSBAD CLBD -199.20 1-lIt -2.04 -191t .10 56 -lOl.10 " 55-71 m '" " 11111. UNKNOWN VLFL -181.42 1-14 -178.30 " -181.42 71 69,71 22S m "' 212 UNKNOWN VLFL -10.86 1-13 -.06 -10.60 7a -11.06 " 69-71 225 2TE " J14 GEORGE MASHAW VLFL -2l.0& 1-13 -1.51 -16.b8 50 -l3.10 " 47-&7,&9-71 225 '" "' JJJ H. EIHFER VLFL -"1.08 1-13 -1.S6 -35.85 53 -1t8.4 .. 54 .. 7-1t8. 5 a -&0,62-71

22S 2TE 10 JJJ ALBERT HEMLER VLFL -18.56 1-13 -.1t0 -&.30 " -3".31t " 47-71 22S m 15 41. FRED FORNI VLFL -25.12 1-13 -.1t9 -8,"0 " -33.78 " 1t7-&7 ,69-71 225 27E 26 11111. UNKNOWN VLFL -1t9.07 1-11t -It 7 .22 " -1t9.07 71 69,71 22S 27E 22 421 EUEA GRANDI VLFL -52.8~ 1-13 -2.'+8 -20.00 51 -60.<;0 " 47-68,10-71 22S 27E " '14 CAESAR GRANDI VLFL -50.23 1-13 +1. So -23.30 " -61.21t " lto-£:6,&8-71

225 27E " 1JJ ROY THOHASOt.! VLFL -87.92 1-lIt -1.7" -51.05 50 -96.21 " 1t7-71 22S '" JZ J11 J.B. DAVIS VLFL -155.36 1-11t +5.07 -137.13 6J -170.79 " &2-71 22S '" JJ '31 JAMES E. LEWIS VLFL -96.81t 1-lIt -1.15 -&9.12 " -102.31t " It 7- 57, 59-b3, &f>. &8-71 22S 27E J5 11. ". CRAFT VLFL -56.71 1-13 +.92 -2&.2<; " -&5.!>9 " 4&-71 us m J6 1JJ BRANTLY AND WILLIAMS VLFL -1t!>.03 1-13 +1.16 -17.33 " -51.30 " ~&-I>&,68-71

2J5 '" 02 1t30A CITY Of CARLSBAD CLBD -"O~.&1 I-11t -1.'19 -401.&2 70 -1t05.55 65 &1t-71 m '" 24 21J UNKNOWN VLFL -3'19.67 I-11t -399.&5 71 -1t01.~2 " 69,71 2J5 27E 09 '" J.A. COX VLFL -57.85 1-15 -2.80 -'+9.25C51 -&8.22 " 50-53,5&-71 2JS 27E 10 14J A.A. CRABS VLFL -9.17 1-15 - ... 5 -5.72 50 -11t.&2 65 1t7-71 2JS 2" 12 2JJ BIRO BROS. VLfL -53.02 1-14 +1.13 -31.00 " -65.~7 " 1t7-71

2JS 27E 14 ." A.M. HOUSE VLFL -8'1.63 1-15 +1.11 -I> 7 .02 so -'19.08 " "6-50,52-71 2JS 27E 2J 22J R. T. CALLISON VLfL -104.55 1-1" +1.21t -63.24 " -105.illt 56 51t-71 2JS 2TE JS 112 ERNEST GIBBONS VLFL -120.7" I-lit -8.25 -97.86 " -120.71t " 51t-71 23S '" " '31 JULIUS IiOBERSOt.! VLFL -2&.15 1-13 +1.91 -12.1t0 " -39.72 " ~6- Sit, 5 &-57, &2-71 2JS '" " '31 UNKNOWN VLfL -3 ... 00 1-13 +.62 -31t .00 " -38.70 " &6-71

2JS '" 11 114 BONtlEY YARBRO VLFL -1&.10 1-13 -1.81 -10.90 " -2'1.3011. " ~ 7-71 2JS '" " J21 BEUFORD YARBRO VLFL -17.1t0 1-13 +1.35 -10.1t3 61 -29.11 " 56-71 2JS ZOE 10 222 HR. CARTER VLFL -31t.50 1-13 +.66 -22.01 so - ..... '1~ " ~7-71

23S '" 10 JJJ L.T. LEWIS VLFL -76.95 1-1'+ -.15 -56.50 " -84.05 65 It 7- 50,52-60, &2-71 23'S '" 20 '44 MR. CARTER VLFL -59.80 I-lit +.31 -46.80 so -&7.91t " 1t8-71

2J5 '" 22 JJJ J.L. SEAL VLFL -1t0.25 1-13 +1.83 -31t.35 61 -51.3& 65 1t7-54,56-71 2J5 '" 2J "J A.R. DDNALOSON VLfL -1t9.02 1-13 +.51 -41.&0 " -58,"5 " 47-63,&5 -66,68-71 2J5 '" 24 1J4 BUFORD YARARO VLFL -'+1.75 1-13 +.51> -3&.30 61 -47.20 ss 1t6-6It,6&-71 2J5 '" 2S 21J RAY HOHARD VLFL -36.36 1-13 +1.19 -32.16 " -42.20 " .. 6-68.70-71

'" '" 2& 121 UNKNOWN VLFL +.33 1-11 .J9 69 .JJ 71 69,71

2" 24E 27 '" WALKER HOOD VLfL -95.21t 1-11 -.28 -9'+.4& SJ -96.1t7 " 52-67,69-71 2SS 24' 27 42. HAL KER HCOD VLFL -56.59 1-11 -.33 -56.07 " -59.&1 " 52-66,69-71 265 '" "' 441 JOHN HAYES VLFL -46.19 1-11 -1.16 -42.1t4 " -52.39 " 52-67,69-71 2&5 '" 10 '31 A.J. HAYES VLfL -35.4~ 1-11 -1.6& -31.29 " -1t2.95 " 52-67,69-71

A WELL BUNG PUNPED. , WELL PUHPED RECENTLY. C NEARBY I,ELL PUI'IP1NG.

62

T 2 S

I

T 22 S

T 23 S.

T 2. S.

Cl\.RLSB.4.D AREA, PECOS RIVER BASIN

,..:::~R 26 E R 27 E R 28 E

~~ pi'

~ EXPLANATION ,,:M ~ 0

I\.. AVALON ~~

P Observatian well ~~,

~ I--i~

t--. (( ..l P:: ----+1_____.

"\ l~ '\ ~

,<~ ~ :L ~ Line sllIlWOlgrize{+1 Qr decline H of weter I~vel in

~'-...,~ -, If,o,~ ~/~' leet;lnlervcll fOOl

'- ,~~ i{>':~ s=7 fo .-

\ .. ~ . 0 ./ /CARLSBA6? \ /"O:'~ 0), / ? , , , 4 MILES

,,\ 6"" 1'- , , , ,

V /1_ ~- ',0_,. ' - .... 1-=

! ' ,< j O'o •. ~- - , \~ECOS "'\\.

~" ±~ .. I ~ ~\ "', I r I~ ; ; d I). , 0 ____ i".

t~ ~i ~~~o. ,

__ Mc~,k ' I A L <"~ V/ o~ ~/

o·

\~/ V '\ o~ .~ \t \ \", kc& o • 0

/ ;J:;72 ~ i - tI o 0 L \1 ~r ", "' ') >-V E?;/ '" ! ~ r----"- l/ il J ~ :'-j I7f V "" ,~

Y' ~ ~o:, rt )0 ~,.' .'" " "}--" /J f'-... ./' II //rK'~. :'-.K , k'\ .~ s-:~ " 0 00 LAK£"'::'

:J' I , \ ~,:s. L~i';,9 o"'~ ~ <:/",<'.----- 'h. 0

t7 1/ ~

~ 0 D) ,p:- ( t'--1-.1 CO

/1 t--- ~ / >'] 1\ -0 V /

I L ~ f ~ ~

~ ---. ~ ~,e(

""" \31 0CJ'- '" i-::3.

I "(' Ma'lgo ----V V II wlLiowa,

LAKE ,)

FIGURE 30.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Carlsbad area, Eddy County, N. Mex.

CARLSBAD AREA, PECOS RIVER R~SIN 63

~~26 E. R. 27 E R, 2.8 E.

EXPLANATION

Ob5~r~otion well

T 'r-...... II ----+5 ___

20' f---+-I--+-I-"' ..... ""'\+j)/-!--Ij-Ahl+----j'--+----j-; f-fk'-~-,Lin. Line showing risa(t) or decline H of water le~ut In

~~ fcct,inlervol5 fecI

T. 23 S

,,~~! '"'Y r\°on ,= '- "<t.:: - I_~ !.Y rot"· \"- "CARLSBA~ ~I \. /;'

o ,

/ II--- ~ ", LS-v .~ 1\

4 MILES ,

FIGURE 31.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Carlsbad area, Eddy County, N. Mex.

64 ESTANCIA BASIN, CENTRAL CLOSED a~SINS

CENTRAL CLOSED ~SINS

The Central closed basins of New Mexico consist of four areas of interior drainage which, collectively, extend from southern Santa Fe County to the Texas line (fig. 1). The basins are Estancia, Jornada del Muerto, Salt, and Tularosa, and together they enclose some 14,600 square miles, roughly 12 percent of the State's area. There are no significant flows of surface water in Estancia basin or Jornada del Muerto, and the only such flows in the Salt and Tularosa basins occur in the upper reaches of streams that drain the west and south slopes of the Sacramento Mountains. All four basins are underlain by extensive reservoirs of underground water, the quality of which ranges from good to very saline. Most water developments for irrigation and other purposes utilize ground water. Ground-water levels in five areas in Estancia, Salt, and Tularosa basins are monitored in the continuing Statewide program (frontispiece).

Estancia Basin, Santa Fe and Torrance Counties

Estancia basin, extending from southern Santa Fe County into southcentral Torrance County, is about 50 miles long, and ranges in width from about 12 miles near Moriarty to about 30 miles near Willard. The basin floor is relatively flat and encompasses an area of about 900 square miles, of which about two-thirds is in Torrance County. Numerous playas and associated dunes are located in the eastern part of the basin. Some welldefined arroyos extend from the higher surrounding lands to the playas, but there are no perennial streams in the basin.

Estancia basin is underlain by valley fill of late Tertiary and Quaternary age, which overlies Pennsylvanian and Permian sandstone, limestone, silt, and gypsum. The thickness of the fill ranges from 0 at the margins of the basin to at least 400 feet about 2 miles southeast of Stanley.

The valley fill of late Tertiary and Quaternary age consists mainly of unconsolidated gravel, sand, and clay. The valley fill is the principal aquifer, but the arkosic limestone member of the Madera Limestone of Pennsylvanian age yields large quantities of water to wells in some parts of the basin. The Glorieta Sandstone and Yeso Formation of Permian age also yield water to several irrigation wells.

The ground-water body is recharged mainly by precipitation within the basin proper and by runoff from the nearby mountains. The ground water moves towards the center of the basin where it discharges naturally to playas and salt lakes. Artificial discharge from wells occurs throughout the basin but is concentrated in the irrigated areas of the west-central part of the basin.

The chemical quality of ground water in the valley fill of the western part of the basin is suitable for stock and irrigation; although the water is hard, it can be used for domestic purposes. The water in some wells tapping the Yeso Formation in the eastern part of the basin is very hard and is considered undesirable for domestic use,

ESTANCIA BASIN, CENTRAL CLCSED BASINS

The Estancia Underground Water Basin was declared by order of the State Engineer on January 31, 1950 (fig. 2). The basin covers about

65

1,498 square miles and includes part of southern Santa Fe County and most of Torrance-County. The basin is not closed to further development, but additional appropriation of ground water for irrigation is regulated by the State Engineer. Sorensen (table 41) reports that there were 41,510 acres of irrigated cropland in the Estancia basin in 1970 that utilized ground water on.ly.

Extensive irrigation in the Estancia basin began in 1947 and water levels declined for the first time since the program of measuring water levels and collecting related data began in 1941. Water-level measurements were made in 39 wells in the Estancia basin in January 1971 (table 21).

Water-level declines, generally directly related to the amount of pumpage, occurred throughout the areas of irrigation in 1970. Water levels declined more than 4 feet in an area near Moriarty and in an area about 5 miles northwest of Estancia (fig. 32). During the 5-year period 1966-70, the water level declined more than 10 feet near Moriarty, more than 7 feet northwest of Estancia, and more than 12 feet in a small area west of Willard (fig. 33).

The amount of ground water pumped for irrigation depends to a large extent upon the amount and distribution of precipitation during the .growing season. Precipitation for the 5-year period 1966 to 1970 as recorded at Estancia, was follows: 1966, 7.71 inches; 1967, 14.03 inches; 1968, 9.05 inches; 1969, 17.79 inches; 1970, 9.38 inches.

Tularosa Basin, Lincoln and Otero Counties

Carrizozo Area

The Carrizozo area of ground-water observation extends from the vicinity of the town of Carrizozo southeast to Nogal and southwest to Oscura, all in Lincoln County. This area of about 150 square miles lies between the Sacramento Mountains on the east and The Malpais (lava flow) on the west. Large quantities of ground water are available from the alluvium in some parts of this area. Generally the water is hard and high in dissolved solids.

According to Sorensen (table 41) there were about 200 acres of irrigated cropland utilizing ground water in the Carrizozo area during 1970 and an additional 300 acres of irrigated cropland utilized ground water and surface water combined. Most of the cropland consisted of small farms and gardens.

Water levels have been monitored in this area since 1957; those made in February 1971 are listed in table 22.

66 ESTANCIA BASIN, CENTRAL CLOSED R~SINS

TABLE 21.--)i.II.TER LEVELS IN THE ESTANCIA BII.SIII, TORRANCE AIm SAIITA FE COUNTIES. ". HEX •• IN JA.tIUARY 1971, CHANGE fRail FEBRUARY 1970 TO JANUARy 1<)71, tN FEET. AUO HIGHEST

'''0 LOllEST RECORDED LEVELS Ttl JAtl. OR FEB •• IN FEET REFEREtiCEO TO LANO-SURFACE DATUM.

SOURCE: HGal, HflCOA.LENA; SALH. SAN ANDRES LItlE; VLFl. VALLEY FILL

LOCATION OWNER SOU liCE 71 WATER OATE CHANGE HIGH " CO" YR YEARS OF RECORD NUMBER LEVEL

0'" ODE 11 m 1".0. BREEDLOVE VLFL -91.21 1-25 -61.31 " -97.27 71 50-62 t 71 O~N ODE 13 m 1".0. BREEDLOVE VLFL -67.65 1-25 -5.79 -70.62 " -67.&5 71 50-56.60-63.65-66.6<)-71 m ODE " 133 F .0. BREEDLOVE VLFL -69.21 1-25 +6.97 -64.7';1 " -<16.16 70 49-71 04N m " '" 1".0. BREEDLOVE VLfL -63.69 1-25 -1.76 -5 ... 70 " -63.89 71 56-71

"'" 07E 11 '" R.O. OROWN VLFL -11(,.77 1-26 -1.57 -67.&7 " -116.77 71 47-51,55-60,62-71

O<;N 07< 13 21' VEIHlON aL YE VLFL -10a.&3 1-2& -1.94 -90.43 " -loa .63 71 %-71 OSN DOE 05 '" ROElERT f1CHIITH VlFl -a&.21 1-2& -.56 -51.1'+ " -6&.'+5 " '+7-71 OSN "" 00 m ARLINGTON T. AUSTIN VLFL -100.'+7 1-26 -3.05 -64.0') " -100.47 71 4a-71 O~Hj 0", 10 113 T. AUlT AHD R.C. HALL VLFL -55.5') 1-26 -3.6a -36.31 " -55.5') 71 56-71 05U 0", " 113 O.S. SAlLEY VlFL -54.4& 1-26 -2.19 -17.91 "' -54.46 71 '+7-71

0'" DOE " '" SEll MULLEH VLFl -86.40 1-26 -.75 -46.07 " -6&.40 71 '+7-56,&0-71

"''' OOE " 31' ARLINGTON T. AUSTIN VlFl -76.31 1-26 -1.67 -57.96 " -76.45 " 55-71

"'" 0", " JJ1 ALAN SUTHERLAND VLFL -52.16 1-26 -52.16 71 -52.16 71 " o<;tl 0", 21 '+41 J.D. ESTES VLFL -51.09 1-25 -1.1'+ -39.94 " -5100') T1 5&-71 m 0", 0& 1:33 HOHER BUIlKSHIRE VlFl -23.70 1-26 t6.2e -22.3'+ " -29.96 70 57,59-71

O';>N D'lE 31 3:31 LLOYD 8RAtlDEUSURG VLFL -'+3.61} 1-25 -1.6& -32.32 51 -43.&9 71 41-63,65-71 06N 07E 25 '+11 EMMETT SHEILDS VlFL -a3.19 1-26 -2.1>1 -66.04 " -a3.19 71 56-71 06N 08E 21 331 ALAN N. AYERS VLFl -50.30 1-26 -33.65 " -50.30 71 55-6'1,71 O&N 06E 3Z 212 REVIS STRONG VL Fl -53.70 1-26 -2.32 -23.22 "' -53.70 71 47-71 De" 09E 11 211 RAY O. BROliN VlFL -8.56 1-26 -.39 -5.eo 50 -12.42 " 49-11

OMI lOE 07 '" HULING MEANS, JR. VLFL -9.74A 1-26 -.64 -5.14 " -9.74A 71 49-11 De" lOE 00 112 J.H. HILBURN VlFL -10.14 1-26 -.17 -9.04 ;0 -11.36 " 46-63,65-71

"'" ODE 03 423A ANTELOPE SPRINGS CO. VLFL -53.66 1-27 -3.14 -9.95 " -53.66 71 4a-51,54-71

"'" 0", "' '" EO HUNT VLFL -127.15 1-21 +a.57 -127.15 71 -161.a3 ;0 57-71 01tl OBE 13 '" II.H. BAUCUM VLFl -36.24 1-26 +1.45 -27.12 55 -1,.0.52 " 5D,54~11

07N 0 BE " '" J.J. THOMAS MGOl -aJ.6~ 1-27 -5.10 -32.49 " -107.39 " 46~52 ,51,.-56.61-71 07N DeE 25 121 M.D. ORO DieS VlFL -33.90 1-26 -2.63 -25.30 " ~33 .90 71 62-71 D1U 09E 17 221 UNKNOWN VLFL -25.98 1-26 -.16 -16.23 " -25.96 71 50-71 01tl 09E 3D '" H.L. DAVIDSON VlFL -17.')'1 1-2:6 +.16 -11.53 51 -16.97 GO 48-52:,54-64,66-71 oau 06E 11 '" II.H. HOODHAN VLFL -111.15 1-27 -2.46 -106.61 70 -111.15 71 10-11

D8N D6E " 212 GEORGE PATE VLFL -73.07 1-26 -1.96 -30.21 " -73.07 71 4B-71 DeN DeE " m A.C. HIBNER HGDL -95.25 1-27 -3.06 -52.95 " -95.25 71 1,.7-71 D'ltl DBE " 311 H.L. BENEFIELD VLFL -63.07 1-27 -5.2:9 -64.95 " -B3.72 " 57-71 09N DeE " 3JO VALLEY IRRIGATION CO. VlFL -6~.04 1-26 -.62 -4n.1O " -67.61 " 48-11 a'lN 06E " '" UNKNOWN VLFL -1O~.9a 1-27 -1.28 -a5.10 " -104.96 71 57-11

10N 08E 13 133 W.R. tRSY VlFl -111.53 ~1-25 -.7') -e6.75 50 -111.53 71 50-11 10N 0 BE 25 311 FLOYD IRVIN VLFL -100.56 1-25 -2:.13 -12.65 " -100.56 71 46-71 iON D9E os "' BILL KING VLFL -107.66 1-25 -11.54 -72.89 " -107.66 71 46-71 lOt. 09E " 130 GLEN TERRY SALN -60.72 1-25 +.22 -55.13 " -63.95 " 1,.9-11

A - WELL BEiNG PUMPED.

Three Rivers Area

The Three Rivers area of the Tularosa basin includes about 150 square miles between Sierra Blanca in the Sacramento Mountains and U.S. Highway 54 and straddling the boundary between Lincoln and Otero Counties (frontispiece) The area is drained by Three Rivers and tributaries which have perennial flow in their upper reaches on the west slope of Sierra Blanca.

The development of surface water for irrigation began as early as 1900 when a small dam on Indian Creel{ diverted water to irrigate about 200 acres at Tres Rio Hacienda. The original ditches and dam have long been destroyed but water from Indian Creek is still being used by several farmers on the west side of the Mescalero Indian Reservation to irrigate about 100 acres. About 40 acres is being irrigated from Three Rivers. There is no irrigation by ground water in the Three Rivers area.

ESTANCIA BASIN, CENTRAL CLOSED BASINS

I !j ./

T9djtttWl0~~~~~~~ EXPLANATION

N. !-+-+-++-+-+-+_'.,,'MI'0::-~' f"i ;;,.:.",+y,c'1l'-r-l--I--t o

I '\I Observation well

L __ _ --1-----I P' \ r---I-f+--+---L-+-tH""",I----'H Line showing decline(-)of water level in

T \ I feet, dashed where approximate; interval 8 I foot

NI--r~\~r+-I-jH-~~ '\ II' e 2 3 >1 ~ '" ~', .,

~R~~Or~C~O~.~+-~'4f,~/"o~~J4~~~+-,-,:=;=;=;~~==~~ TORRANCE CO. VO' / 0""

R. 7 E. R.B E. R.9 E. R.!O E.

FIGURE 32.-- Change of ground-water level from February 1970 to January 1971 in the Estancia basin, Torrance and Santa Fe Counties, N. Mex.

67

68

T. 7 N.

ESTANCIA BASIN, CENTRAL CLOSED BASINS

i/iL I / I 'j/ /l( if I

co. CO.

r--j--j--j-\--\+--ff=!l-l,.---AI'-.-/H Line showing declineHofwoler \evelin feet,

/ j I dashed where approximate, interval 2 feel

~'I-l-l--I++r+-!H-f++-t N I

I I' i 0 , 2 , , , ~R1J~O CO. I /,0 \ , , , ,

TORRANCE CO. \ 0

i:--- \' \\~. \ 0 \ '/~ I, • , / ~

- f' F--- ~ 0 \~

v:/' ~

~ i'-- • ~

, ESTANCIA /

FIGURE 33.-- Change of ground-water level from February 1966 to January 1971 in the Estancia basin, Torrance and Santa Fe Counties, N. Mex.

6 MIIH ,

TULAROSA BASIN, CENTRAL CLOSED BASINS 69

Eight test wells were drilled in the Three Rivers area during 1957 to evaluate the potential of ground-water as a supplemental water supply for Holloman Air Force Base. The test wells varied in depth from 116 feet to 300 feet and the static water levels varied from 25 feet to 50 feet. OWing to low yields and poor quality of the water determined during test pumping,

the Three Rivers project was abandoned as a potential development of potable water supply, but four of the test wells continue to be measured as part of the Statewide water-level program (table 22) .

Tularosa-Alamogordo Area

The Tularosa-Alamogordo area is on the east side of the Tularosa Basin at the west base of the Sacramento Mountains in northwestern Otero County. The farming area is situated on the lower part of coalescing alluvial fans that slope westward from the mountain front towards the basin. Altitudes in the irrigated area range from about 4,200 to about 4,800 feet.

The Tularosa Basin is a bolson valley filled with alluvial deposits of clay, sand, and gravel to a thickness of more than 1,000 feet. Only the upper few hundred feet are permeable enough to yield adequate amounts of water to wells for irrigation.

The principal area of recharge to the bolson fill apparently is a strip of coarser fill adjoining the base of the mountains; the coarser fill is particularly well developed at the mouths of the larger canyons. Runoff from precipitation in the mountains recharges the bolson fill; the amount of recharge is small, however, and water for irrigation is pumped almost entirely from storage.

Irrigation with surface water, primarily from the Rio Tularosa, began in the early 1900's; large scale ground-water use, mainly to supplement surface-water supplies, did not begin until the end of World War II. About 90 wells had been drilled in the area by 1955 and ground-water use by 1970 was several times more than surface-water use.

Irrigation farms are scattered throughout the area between Tularosa and Valmont, about 10 miles south of Alamogordo; most of the irrigation is with ground water in the southern part of the area and with surface water or surface water and ground water combined in the northern part. According to Sorensen (table 41), there were 6,830 acres of irrigated cropland in the Tularosa-Alamogordo area in 1970 which utilized ground water and ground water-surface water combined. It is estimated that 14,196 acre-feet of water is used annually for irrigation purposes including that used on lands of the Tularosa Community Ditch Corp.

The program of measuring water levels and gathering related data began in 1952 when the irrigated area was expanding and withdrawal of ground water for irrigation and municipal uses was increasing. Water-level measurements made in 16 wells in the Tularosa-Alamogordo area in January 1971 are listed in table 22. During 1970, the water level declined about 3 feet in the heavily pumped areas near Tularosa and about 1 foot near the Holloman well field south of Alamogordo; during the 5-year period 1966-70 water levels declined more than 12 feet near Tularosa and more than 3 feet in the Holloman well field (fig. 34).

70 TULAROSA BASIN, CENTRAL CLOSED BASINS

Precipitation averaged slightly above normal for the 5-year period 1966-70. Annual precipitation recorded at Alamogordo and departure from normal, both in inches, are as follows: 1966, 9.76, -0.04; 1967, 10.85, +1.05; 1968, 11.95, +2.15; 1969, 14.18, +4.38; 1970, 5.88, -3.92.

TASLE 22 .~-HATER. LEVELS IN THE TULAROSA eASIN. TORRANCE, LINCOLtI, "'NO OTERO COUNTIES, II. !'lEX., IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY 1971, CHANGE FROM JANUARY l'HO TO JANUAlly OR fEBRUARY 1971, IN FEET, AND HIGHEST

AND LOWEST RECORDED LEVELS IN JAN. OR fEB., HI FEET REFERENCED TO LAtID-SURfACE DATUM.

SOU~CE: 'lLSII, 80LSOI~ DEPOSITS; VLFL, VALLEY FILL

CARRIZOZO AREA

LOCATION OWtlER SOURCE 71 HATER OAT!; CHANGE HIGH '" LO" '" YEARS OF RECORD HUMBER LEVEL

(l1S 10E 2<:1 310 HARKEY VLfL 06S 09£ 34 JJ3 HRS. NICHOLS VLFL

- .. 3.07 2-09 -31.17 70 -43.08 70 '}7-66,66-7 -31.69 2-0<) +6.61 -31.&<) 71 -39.6'5 " '57-71

08S 11E 0& 431A J.B. S!OHELL VLFL -47.25 2-09 +5.90 -"5.87 " -53.15 70 5<)-71 06S IJE 1" 330 F.W. LEII.CH VlFL -Z2.07 2-09 -1.50 -17.77 " -23.67 " 57-71 06S IJE 30 441 rUL TON DUGGAR VLfL -29.26 2-09 -1.77 -20 ... 2 " -31.92 " 57-66,68-71

lOS iDE 3i! 4208 T.F. RYAN III VLfL -Z1.20 2-09 -3.46 -17.74 70 -23.98 S7 57-71

THREE RIVERS AREA

LOCHION DHNER SOURCE 71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH " CO" YR YEARS OF RECORO lIUHBER LEVEL

11S 09£ 13 <:34 T.f. RYAN III VlFL -15.76 2-0g -3.g0 -11.66 70 -17.08 65 '}7-71 11S 10E 06 4JJ T.F. RYAN III VLFL -37.19 2-09 -&.14 -29.Bl " -43.64 S7 57-71 11S IDE 07 23 .. T.F. RYAtl I! I VLFL -27.1g 2-09 -2.96 -24.23 70 -28.52 " 56-71 llS iDE 07 23"A T. F. RYAN III VLFL -30.7" 2-0<) -5.30 -25.", .. 70 -30.710 71 66-E7,69-71

TULAROSA-ALAMOGORDO AREA

LOCATION OIlNER SOURCE 71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR CO" ,. YEARS OF RECORD NUMBER LEVEL

135 09E 3 .. 430 SPENCER BLSN -33.12 1-22 +.15 -28.51 " -310.17 " 53,55-71 14S 09E 12 220 ERNEST SILLUPS BLSN -1"1.02 1-22 -3.17 -120.99 " -141.02 71 52-71 145 09E 25 140 C.H. TFANHEL BLSN -1910.103 1-22 -.85 -155.92 .- -1910.43 71 510,56-67,69-71 1"5 09E 26 121 MONTIE GARDENHIRE BLSN -68.62 1-22 -1.27 -39.69 " -68.62 71 52-66,68-71 145 10E 16 "2" HARKEY AND RICHARDSON BLSN -193.100 1-22 +&.27 -173.37 54 -199.&7 70 52-67,69-71

l"S 1 DE 19 130 .J.c. JOHNSON BLSN -135.65 1-22 -6.27 -115.83 .- -135.£>5 71 52-71 1"5 10E 19 230 HARKEY AND RICHARDSON BLSN -179.47 1-22 -153.44 " -179.47 71 52-54,%-&9,71 14S 10E 29 312 ". BUSTER SHAW BLSN -184.92 1-22 -2.12 -156.&9 " -181<.92 71 5l,51<-71 l"S 10E 31 144 LUTHER \fATS ON BLSN -112.36 1-22 -6.78 -60.5& " -112.36 71 52-71 1SS 0910 01 122 T.C. RAMSEY BLSN -97.47 1-22 -3.110 -61.22 54 -97.47 71 52-71

iSS '" " "" UNKNOWN BLSN -1101. 72 1-12 +3.lB -132.1<0 " -1105.00 70 55-71

'" DOE " 422 J.H. PRUIETT BLSN -115.01 1-22 -.91< -101.31 " -115.01 71 56-58,&1-71 175 '" Z4 '" HOLLOHAtI AFB BLStl -73.27 1-22 -.37 -£>1.92 GO -73.91 " 55-63, £>5-66,68,70-71

'" '" is 432 HOLLOHAN AFB BLSN -112.1& 1-22 -.19 -101.&7 GO -112.30 " 51<-6&,&8-71 175 10E " 321A ,"IOLLO:lMI AFB BLSN -B£>.71< 1-22 -1.54 -75.811 " -8&.74 71 54-&&,68-71

175 '" 19 32J HO ... Llll-IAU AFB 6LSN -a5.g6 1-U +.I<£> -71<.91 " -86.1<2 70 51<-&6,&8-71

Salt Basin, Otero County

The Salt basin of New Mexico and Texas is a closed topographiC basin containing the Crow Flats irrigated area in southeastern Otero County, N. Mex., a northWard extension of the Dell City irrigated area in Hudspeth County, Texas. Ground water for irrigation, domestiC, and stock uses is pumped from the Bone Spring Limestone of early Permian age, and the overlying alluvial valley fill.

TULAROSA BASIN, CENTRAL CLOSED BASINS

c " 0 c EXPLANATION . " +1.14 , • > o -2.21 ',< ~

\:; Observation weI!

T . Change of water level January 1970 > 3 I--- , ,- 1971 above line, change of water I

71

to January ovel

I" S \ January 1966 10 January 1971 bel ow line

T

4 S

T IS S

T 16 S

T 17 S

r

+" ~"I04 ,

-

_127 :s:36

........--;pr .-

...-: ,7

R 8 E

--

,- ---,---1 0 I 2 , , , MILES , , , I , , ,

,,=' -1-- : \ -9.00 V l\ ~tm~r

~ '7;7 1 o -6,97 , _9.65 ~ -12.67 "'" '\' -'"

- .65 1--":"212

"Y '- ,~o _IO'A8 T ULARO SA

, -678 ::T2Fa

-3.00. \ :;m-

\ \ \\ \ \ ,

1\\ +3.26 La Luz -=:3'3

\\ \\ &HwylI:>">

~ 0, .... ,..

"ncnRnn: --~ -I , , _l- -

........--f/ ,,/

·.94 :22i

- 37 oX _.19

o ::3i9 -> o~ • 0.3.50 ,

:/i ~ -4.41

R 9 E

R,\OE

FIGURE 34.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Tularosa-Alamogordo area, Otero County, N. Mex.

72 SALT BASIN, CENTRAL CLOSED BASINS

The Bone Spring Limestone underlies most of the Salt basin. Ground water occurs under both water-table and artesian conditions in interconnected solution channels in the limestone and moves through it with relative ease. Thus, small changes in water level represent a fairly large change in storage. Most of the water pumped for irrigation in the Salt basin is pumped from the Bone Spring Limestone. Water in the alluvial valley fill is under water-table conditions and occurs in unconsolidated cobbles, gravel, sand, and silt. The alluvium lies directly on the limestone and water is transmitted locally from one aquifer to the other.

Sorensen (table 41) estimates that in 1970 about 5,150 acres of irrigated cropland utilized ground water in Salt basin.

The water-level monitoring program started in 1956 and, in general, water levels have declined in the basin since measurements began. Water levels in the Bone Spring Limestone form an almost level surface and fluctuate with relative uniformity as water is added or withdrawn. During 1970, the water levels in the limestone declined an average of 1.44 feet and during the 5-year period 1966-70 the water levels declined an average of 6.38 feet.

Water-level fluctuation in the alluvium ranged from a decline of 1.66 feet to a rise of 2.85 feet during 1970 and from a rise of 1.0 foot to a decline of 4.57 feet during the 5-year period 1966-70. Water levels measured in 10 observation wells in the Salt basin in January 1971 are listed in table 23.

T~BLE 2.l.--WATER LEVELS IN PiE SALT BASIN, OTERO COUNTY, N. IiEX., IN JANUARY 1971. CHANGE FRill'! JANUII.RV 1<)70 TO JANUARy 1971, IN FEET, AND HIGHEST

AHD lOHEST RECORDED LEVELS HI JAN. OR FEB., III FEET REFERENCED TO LA NO-SURFACE DATUM.

SOURCE: BSPL, aONE SPRINGS LIME; VLFL, VALLEY FILL

LOCATION OHNER SOURCE 71 ~ATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR L" YR YEARS OF RECORD

NUMBER LEVEL

2'>S 18E (18 242 HOHELL LEIIIS VLFL -74.31 1-12 -1.E6 -&1.24 57 -74.31 71 '>&-&1,&3-71

2<;S 18E 12 124A RAY LEHIS VLFL -122..'>5 1-12. +2.85 -111.03 " -125.40 10 '>6-71

25S 16E 21 233 GENE LEWIS BSPL -83.89 1-12 -.16 -72.65 59 -83.39 71 5&,59-71

2'>S 18E 25 230 J.D. LEIlIS VlFL -67.6'> 1-12 -1.13 -55.79 57 -67. &5 71 56-68,70-71

2C;S 18E 26 111 EO PRr.THER VLFL -52.03 1-12 +.96 -41.06 60 -56.63C 6'> 56-71

26S 18E 21 331 FRANK GENTRY BSPL -52.52 1-12 -1.67 -33.&4 57 -52.52 71 5&-71

2f>S 16E 26 113 FRANK GENTRY aSPL -49.16 1-12 -1.74 -31.50 56 -49,16 71 56-&0,62-71

26S 18E 30 122 ER~lEST SHELTON aSPL -106.2& 1-12 -1.43 -69.08 " -106.26 71 56-71

26S 18E 32 122 MRS. K. BROHNFlELD ESPL -46.&7 1-12 -1.76 -31.85 " -411.67 71 5&-71

26S teE 33 133 J.Il. HILL DSPL -44.05 1-12 -1.59 -H.50 " -44.05 71 56-71

C - NEARBY WELL PUMPING.

RIO GRANDE a~SIN 73

RIO GRANDE a~SIN

The Rio Grande rises in the San Juan Mountains of south-central Colorado, roughly bisects the State of New Mexico, passes into Texas near El Paso, and thereafter forms the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, ultimately discharging into Gulf of Mexico some 1,800 miles from its point of origin. Within New Mexico, the river provides drainage for about 25,700 square miles, about one-fifth of the State's area (fig. 1).

The valley of the Rio Grande contains the oldest permanently settled agricultural communities in the United States. Irrigation here was practiced by village-dwelling Indians for centuries before Europeans appeared on the scene, and much land irrigated by prehistoric farmers still is under irrigated cultivation.

Slightly more than half of all New Mexico residents live in the basin of the Rio Grande, and about half the basin population is concentrated at Albuquerque. Roughly one-half of all water depleted for beneficial purposes in New Mexico is depleted in the Rio Grande basin. Nonbeneficial use of water, principally loss to phreatophytes, runs higher in the inner Rio Grande valley than elsewhere in New Mexico, and total water depletions (beneficial and nonbeneficial) in the Rio Grande basin approximate half of all such depletions throughout the State.

Recoverable surface flows of the Rio Grande in New Mexico have long been fully appropriated. Following World War II, it became evident that large amounts of the ground-water resources could be, and would be developed from the extensive stream-connected aquifer system which underlies the river channel. Because of the intimate hydraulic connection which exists between surface water and ground water, it also was evident that unrestricted development of the ground-water resource would seriously reduce supplies of earlier-appropriated surface water within the State as well as impairing New Mexico's ability to meet its Rio Grande Compact corrunitments.

In an effort to cope with the problem, the State Engineer in November 1956 declared the Rio Grande Underground Water Basin, extending from Colorado to Elephant Butte Dam and containing some 5,400 square miles. The basin has been extended seven times since 1956; as of 1970 it enCOmp8.8SeS about 9,860 square miles. Laterally from the Rio Grande, the area of control includes those lands on which it might be practicable to develop wells with yields sufficiently large to materially affect the river's flow (fig. 2).

Within the boundaries of the Rio Grande Underground Water Basin the State Engineer permits drilling of new wells and new withdrawals of ground water on the condition that effects of such withdrawals on the flow of the river be offset by retirement of valid existing rights to the use of the river 1 s surface flows. Ultimately, in a hydrologic situation such as exists along the Rio Grande in New Mexico, the rate of depletion of water pumped from a well will be fully reflected in diminution of surface flows; however,

74 SUNSHINE VALLEY, RIO GRANDE BASIN

before an equilibrium between the pumping and the stream is reached, a portion -- and in some cases a large portion -- of the withdrawal by the well merely reduces the amount of water in underground storage. That portion of the withdrawal has no effect on existing surface flows and rights, and the new user is not required to compensate for it. This principle of administration permits maximum development and use of ground water, while protecting older rights to use of the surface water.

The various areas in the Rio Grande basin wherein ground-water levels are monitored on a continuing basis (see frontispiece) are discussed hereinafter.

Sunshine Valley, Taos County

Sunshine valley is in north-central Taos County, N. Mex., and southwestern Costilla County, Colo. The area is bounded on the east by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, on the west by Ute Mountain and the Rio Grande gorge, and on the south by Guadalupe Mountain. It extends from Jarosa, Colo., to Questa, N. Mex., and includes an area of about 125 square miles. The New Mexico portion of the valley is included in the Rio Grande Underground Water Basin declared by the State Engineer on November 29, 1956.

Five perennial streams discharge into Sunshine valley from the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. All five streams lose much of their flow to the permeable alluvial sediments over which they flow. This water, together with seepage from irrigation ditches, provides much of the recharge to the ground-water reservoir from which irrigation wells derive their sURPly. Additional recharge is provided by summer and winter precipitation upon the valley flats.

Surface water has been used for irrigation since 1907. The principal streams from which surface water is diverted are Costilla, cabresto J and Latir Creeks. The use of ground water for irrigation began in 1947 when two wells were drilled in the southern par"C 01' the valley; since then 46 irrigation wells have been drilled, 10 of which are in Colorado just north of New Mexico line. Many of the original wells have been abandoned because the yields were insufficient for irrigation. Sorensen estimates (table 41) that there were 5,870 acres of irrigated cropland utilizing ground water only in the valley in 1970.

Ground-water levels in Sunshine valley have been monitored since 1955. Twenty wells were measured in February 1971 and are listed in table 24. Water levels declined in the areas where wells are still being used for irrigation, but SUbstantial rises were recorded where lands were allowed to lie fallow (fig. 35.).

The climate in Sunshine valley is semiarid. About 40 percent of the annual precipi"Cation occurs during July and August. The weather station at Cerro, N. Mex., in the south-central part of the valley, recorded belownormal precipitation throughout the 5-year period 1966-70. Annual precipi-

T

SUNSHINE VALLEY, RIO GRANDE BASIN

R 75W. R 74W R 73W

EXPLANATION

Q~ -426

Observatlonwoll

30 Chango otwater level January 1970 N to february 1971 above line, change

of wafer level February 1966 10 February 1971 below line I in feel

Or.-, _-1-1 _-,1L--,lL~1Mil"

R.II E.

,,~ 2.2 6

GUADALUPE

R.12 E.

D

R.13 E.

FIGURE 35.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to February 1971 and from February 1966 to February 1971 in Sunshine valley, Taos County, N. Mex., and Costilla County, Colo.

75

76 SUNSHINE VALLEY, RIO GRANDE BASIN

tation and departure from normal in inches, were as follows: 1966, 10.62, -1.84; 1967, 10.85, -1.61; 1968, 9.97, -2.49; 1969, 11.23, -1.23; 1970, 9.68, -2:78. During the 5-year period 1966-70, the annual average was 1.99 inches below normal.

TABLE 24.--I4AT£R lEVELS IN SUtlSHINE VALLEY, TAOS COUNTY, ". HEX •• AND COSTILLA COUNTY. COLO •• lH FEBRUARY 1971, CHANGE FROM JAtIUARY 1970 To FEBRUARY 1971, IN FEET, AtlO HIGHEST

AND lOI1EST RECORDED LEVELS Itl JAN. OR fEB., HI FEET REfEREUCEO TO LAllO-SURfACE OATUII.

SOURCE: VLfl, VALLEY FILL

LOCATION OHNER SOURCE 71 HATER DATe: CHANGE HIGH YR LOW YR YEARS OF RECORD NUMBER LEVEL

01N 7414 25 111 CORP OF ENGltlEERS VLFL -231.22 2-03 -.02 -226.% 59 -231.&1 G7 55-67,69-71 DiN l1jH 25 430 MAX IIEST VLFL -91.za 2-03 +11.05 -97.22 71 -106.2.7 " 55-71 DiN 7411 33 322 WALLER II.NO ALLEN VLFL -12:6.40 2-04 -7.11 -92.21 " -H6.~O 71 55-71 01tl 74M 33 1+22 H. L. CROUCH VLFL -101+.23 2-03 -.24 -67.22 57 -104.23 71 56-71 015 73H 19 222 SPRItlG BROS. VLFL -197.&3 Z-03 +9.65 -197.63 71 -Z09.15 " <;5-57,59-71

015 7311 19 1+22 SPRING aROS VLFL -19&.32 Z-03 +13.61+ -195.05 " -liO.16 " 5<;-65,67-71 01S 73H 29 1+22 UTE MOUNTAIN FARHS VLFL -212:016 2-DI+ +1.83 -193.&4 " -Z13.':I':I TO 55-63,67,&'3-71 01S 73H 3Z 12Z UTE HOUNTAIN FARHS VLFL -155.72 2-04 +14.9& -154.21+ " -172.31 " 55-63,67,69-71 015 73H J2 222 "" HOUtlTAIN FARMS VLFL -167.11 2-04 +1.1+7 -160.39 56 -181lo56 70 55-64,67,&9-71 01S 73W 32 322 UTE MOUNTAIN FARMS VLFL -116.1+2 Z-Ol+ +22.66 -116.1+2 71 -141.10 70 55-63,&7,&9-71

01S 73H 32 422 UTE. r·\OuNTAIN fARHS VLFL -126.1+9 2-01+ +1+.98 -126.1+9 71 -140.77 57 55-63,67,&9-71 01S 74H 24 21+4 OR. DIMMITT VLFL -H&.63 2-03 +4.31 -195.&1+ " -201.28 " 55-71 02S 71+H 11 222 TOP 0 THE HORLD FARMS VLFL -236.90 2-01+ -5.85 -1114.10 " -Z3&.90 71 55-63,&5-71 2'lN 12E 03 244 NORHAN GIlltlN VLFL -35.09 2-04 +3.18 -32.76 " -36.27 70 55-71 2'lN 13E 19 322 SAM YOUNG VLFL -154.15 2-03 +9.00 -146.01 " -1&3.15 70 55-&6,&8-71

3011 12E til 144 O. AtlDERSON VLFL -9.0& 2-04 +&.18 -9.0& 71 -15.29 57 55-71 30N 12E 12 334 UNKNOHN VLFL -16.95 2-03 -14.35 " -17.87 " 55-&5.71 30N 12E 24 422 H.P. CARTER VLFL -74.50 2-04 +.35 -&7.37 " -7&.&3 " 55-63.65-&6,68-71 30N 12E 35 221 e.E. TEETS VLFL -7.14 2-04 +24.07 -7.14 71 -47.34 57 55-71 31N HE 35 123 O.P. on, VLfL -151.35 2-04 +2Z.&0 -151.35 71 -173.95 TO 55-66,&6-71

Santa Fe Area, Santa Fe County

Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, is in north-central Santa Fe County, on the Santa Fe River at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The city has an average altitude of about 7,000 feet with the peaks of the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains rising to 13,000 feet.

In the Santa Fe area, as throughout most of the Rio Grande valley in New Mexico, men were diverting water from the streams for irrigation centuries before they began to record their history. The Spanish, arriving about 1610, improved the old Indian ditches and diversions, and by the early 17001s extensive irrigation Was practiced in the valley. There is very little irrigation along the Santa Fe River at present, however. Surface water, formerly used in agriculture, is now stored in reservoirs to supply the increasing domestic-municipal-industrial water requirements for the city of Santa Fe; a part of the municipal supply is obtained from wells.

The Tesuque Formation of middle Miocene to early Pliocene age is the prinCipal aquifer in the Santa Fe area. The formation consists of silt, sand, and gravel in varying proportions, assortment, compaction, and cementation. In general, wells yield sufficient water for domestic use only, although in some sections of the formation the sands are better sorted and less cemented and will yield, with proper completion, enough water for irrigation and municipal use. Periodic measurements of water levels in the Santa Fe area were begun in 1951 and have been continuous

T. 17 N,

T. 16 N.

o ,

EXPLANATION

-t39 o ri9.'47

Observation well

Decline H or rise {+l of water level, in feet,obove line; depth fo water, in feel below lond-surface datum, below line

2: :5 MILES , ,

~--_~------<----r----"----,-- - - -- - - - - - - ----, I : : I'§ I

: I I I I§J I I I I @J : I I I I I I I I-----+---+---I-------+-----!,- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - ---j

: I I I. I I I I

SANTA FE I , I

+ I A-::d

I I I I I I I : ,

r-- -1------'-- ---1------.., I I I I I I I I I .. 23.82 ! , I ': I 05i2ij ,

: ,---+----f,,-"====-t'+----jf-----I----tT7.e::.=---'r----+"7,L-l.lr-=,; =='-9'i~,~~) ~,~ --i 3;::; 2-23.'40 .1 ",I I

o -4.68 10 -1.39 I )

'ISEBASTIAN 1\ I

170.35 I 169.4 7 I I

-i~---;~~-t--~~~~~';r.~~:~1.2-8---=:t~~--~~~-------t---------t---------t~~~1~;~.:~~~/1'[; ----- ~~ . ! 252.53 49 ~2: 09 I, DE VARGAS II "\" 'PACHECOI o~ ~ 0 156,80 211.16

, : I I I RC/----i---,I''---j---+- -l-I----I------cl----+---+---+------t-------+ t- - - - - -1- - - --.,....I

I I I I§J ,I GRANT I I ® 1

/ L. : : 1 GRANT! @J :

1-----++,4---+-+----1----I-----+-----¥----+---+----+-----+--+ _..l_ - -- _.1 _ - J V ! i I

I I I I I I : I I

L-~~~ __ ~ ____ ~~--~----~~--~------L-----L---~~----i---L-------L-----R.SE, R,9E, R.lOE,

FIGURE 36,-- Change of ground-water level from February 1970 to February 1971 and depth to ground water in February 1971 in the Santa Fe area, Santa Fe County, N. Mex.

T. 17 N.

T. 16 N.

EXPLANATION

0- 6 .36

Observation well

Decline (-) or rise (+) of water levell

in feet, 1966-1971

,----,----,------,---,------,,- - - - - - - - - - - - - ,- - - -.., I : : IEl 1 1

: I I 1 IEl : @ 1 I I I @J : 1 I 1 1 I I I I 1----1----+----1----+------1"""\- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - ---I

: ! I I I , I

I I I I I

: 1 ~1' SANTA FE 1 .1 1....-- I 1 • I ···.-fl· 1

I----I----+---+---+----t~- -:f-c.. I ~-::d I ... I 1

· I I 1 • 1 1

a 2 3 MILES I I I L' ___ J-___ ~I ___ ~I I 1 1

r----- 4-----------1-------; 1 I 1 1 1 I Fe .. ' 1 I 1 1 1 ... ~ 1 I. 1 0-:>96 I

L,-__ -+ ___ -+'<-_··::::::::::::+· 1-__ +_. __ + ___ -+r::5".',""IV"'---'r __ -_7._0_8--1_~:.......-k1=-"'U _ i~.==: \L.~ -_: "+,96 .1 '·1 I

~ 0-13.98 jOISEBASTIAN } I /./@ 1 ,:\ 1

.. CI'Er:I~L~ j' .a.._~=1::~. ~~:1;~::1::::=-Jr---l----1-~-~8~.19~01-0O::--r2:<lT~/~:il -D~ ~:: 'I ~~\ I, (

I ~ ~~_ 1 @ .. ' I: I 1 I

1_---+---' -1.571 ...j I------+----,I---I------+----t----t------'fr- - - - - -j- - - --~ -G;A~:;T-n---"'r--+---,L.---,I---+- 1- 1 1 IEl '-.1 GRANT I I @ :

L.. : : : GRANTI @ I

I : I I-----!-+-I-i--+--,I---+----I----+------jl'-----t----+------'r-----t----t-~ - - - - - + ---- ~

1 I I 1 1 I I 1 1 I I I 1 L-_...L.J.-"---"-__ .L.J... ___ -=--'-=-___ L-__ ~L... ___ .L... ___ ...L... ___ _'_ ___ ::__:__=_-----'--..L _ J. _ _ _ _ L ____ _

R.8E. R.9E. R.lOE.

FIGURE 37.-- Change of ground-water level from February 1966 to February 1971 in the Santa Fe area, Santa Fe County, N. Mex.

SANTA FE AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN 79

since that time. Water levels which were measured in 17 wells in February 1971 (table 25) were compared with those made in February 1970 to construct figure 36_which shows the annual water-level change and the depth to ground water in February 1971. Several wells indicate large changes that probably are due to recent pumpage or nearby wells pumping during one of the measurements. Figure 37 was constructed by comparing water levels measured in February 1966 with those measured in February 1971.

Annual precipitation during the 5-year period 1966-70 averaged 0.98 inch above normal; the highest above-normal annual precipitation occurred in 1969 (5.80 inches above normal) and the lowest in 1970 (2.18 inches below normal). The annual precipitation totals and departures from normal, in inches, are as follows: 1966, 12.30, -1.46; 1967, 15.05, +1.29; 1968, 15.19, +1.43; 1969, 19.56, +5.80; 1970, 11.58, -2.18.

The Santa Fe area is included wi thin the Rio Grande Underground Water Basin declared by the State Engineer on November 29, 1956.

LOCATION NUHBER

l<;N OSE 25 111 15N 09E 33 344 16N DSE 12 131 16N DOE 17 221 16N 09E 01 311

16N 09E 02 121 l&N 09E 02 312 16N 09E 03 121 l&N O'3E 09 321 l(,N 09E 10 ,,, 16N 09E 11 112 17N 09E 27 441 17N 09E 32 321A 17N 0 '.IE 33 441 17N 09E 34 311

17N 10E 31 134 10N O'3E 25 113

TABLE 25.--HATER LEVELS IN THE SANTA FE AREA, SANTA FE COUNTY, N. HEX •• IN FEBRUAR.Y 1911, CHANGE FROM FEBRUARY 1970 TO FEBRUARY 1971, IN FEET. AND HIGHEST

AND lOIlEST R.ECORDED LEVELS H~ JAN. OR FEB., IN FEET R.EFERENCED TO LAND-SURFACE DATUM.

SOURCE: ANCH, ANCHA FORHATION; SNlF, SANTA FE GROUP; TSQU, TESUQUE FORHAlICtH VlfL, VALLEY FILL

OWNER SOURCE 71 WATER DATE CIIANCE HIGH YR LOH YR YEARS OF RECORD LEVEL

J. R. WEST ANCH -65.30 2-11 - .20 -65.10 70 -69.9511. " 61-71 J. R. IIEST VLFL -54.96 2-12 +31.84 -46.00 " -97.00 " 61-71 SANTA FE COUNTRY CLue ANCH -Z5Z.53 Z-17 +l. 26 -252:.93 71 -271.97 " 51,53-71 H. L. HAGERHAIl ANCH -67.12 2-11 -1.20 -65.20 65 -70.72 " 59-71 JOHN E. TIANO Tsau -lti9.47 2-18 -1.39 -153.83 " -169.47 " 58-60,HI-71

F. C. SAIiTAIlA TSQU -223.40 2-10 -25.73 -186.14 60 -223.40 " 57,59-62.66-71 C. A. JENKS TSQU -170.35 2-18 -4.ti6 -141.34 60 -170.35 71 57,59-71 GILBERT ORTIZ ANeH -39.4'3 2-17 +.2:9 -38.78 " -3'3.76 70 67-71 J.W. HILES Tsau _).56.60 2-18 -.49 -145.07 60 -157.00 " 59-GO,62-71

E.B. EGGER TSQU -211.16 2-18 +2.99 -153.21 58 -217. ;;5 " 57-100,102,64-71

J.N. EDDY TSQU -212.31 U. S. INDIAN SCHOOL TSQU -171.38

2-18 -7,89 -187. ~8A60 -212.H 71 59-71 2-110 -13.73 -110.25 " -171.;;8 71 52-]1

CATHOLIC CHURCH TSQU -39.81 CERRIlLOS-GAROEN CENT Tsau -al.D'l

2-17 -;;9. a 1 71 -;;9.81 71 71 2-10 -.44 ~199.43 " ~217.09 71 57 w 62,64-7i

COLLEGE OF SANTA FE ANCH -55.06 2-16 ·1.62 ·40.38 59 -55.06 71 !i7-71

GONZALO LUJAN SNTF -51.26 2-17 +23.82 -45.10 " -75.10 70 59-71 J. O. CROSBY SNTf -220.35 2-11 ~.65 -211.61 61 -220.35 71 61-71

A - WELL 8EING PUMPED.

80 ALBUQUERQUE-BELEN AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN

Albuquerque-Belen Area, Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties

The Albuquerque-Belen area extends along the Rio Grande in central New Mexico, from the Algodones in Sandoval County southward through Bernalillo and Valencia Counties to La Joya in northern Socorro County, a distance of about 70 miles. The valley is as wide as 5 miles in places, wi th mesas on the east and west rising above the valley floor. Valley altitudes range from 4,700 feet in the south to 6,600 feet in the north. The Sandia and Manzano Mountains to the east rise to nearly 11,000 feet.

The principal aquifer in the area is the Santa Fe Group which consists of sand, gravel, silt, clay, and volcanic rocks of Tertiary and Quaternary ages which occupy a structurally low area called the Rio Grande depression. In some places sediments, which are unconsolidated to loosely cemented, are more than 6, 000 fee t thi elL

The city of Albuquerque water system is supplied with water from about 75 wells that range in depth from less than 100 to as much as 1,440 feet. The municipal metered pumpage for Albuquerque in 1970 was 59,196 acre-feet, compared to 41,408 acre-feet in 1960 and 55,548 acre-feet in 1965. In addition to the water supplied by the municipal system, some businesses, industries, institutions, government installations, urban developments, urban families, and farms utilize private wells for water supplies. Total pumpage in the Albuquerque-Belen area in 1970 was estimated to be about 90,000 acre-feet.

Surface water and ground water were used to irrigate about 24,800 acres of cropland in the Albuquerque-Belen area in 1970 (Sorensen, table 41); all of the acreage is located in the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District which extends from Cochiti to the vicinity of San Marcial at the head of Elephant Butte Reservoir.

The Albuquerque-Belen area is included within the Rio Grande Underground Water Basin declared by the State Engineer on November 29, 1956.

Annual precipitation during the 5-year period 1966-70 averaged 8.47 inches at Albuquerque and 8.12 inches at Belen. Most of the precipitation occurred during the summer months in the form of heavy showers of short duration. The highest annual precipitation occurred at Belen in 1968 (11.16 inches) and the lowest, also at Belen, was 3.54 inches in 1970. Annual precipitation and departure from normal, in inches, for Albuquerque was as follows: 1966, 6.81, -1.32; 1967, 8.04, -0.09; 1968, 10.67, +2.54; 1969, 10.56, +2.43; 1970, 6.28, -1.85.

Periodic measurement of water levels by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the State Engineer began in the Albuquerque-Belen area in 1956. Water levels were measured in 33 wells in the area in January 1966 and 26 wells in January 1971. The 1971 water-level data are shown in table 26. Comparison of the measurements for January 1970 and January 1971 indicate that water levels rose in 9 wells and declined in 15 wells, with one well remaining at the same level (fig. 38). Most of the declines during the 5-year period 1966-70 occurred in city wells and wells adjacent to them at some distance from the Rio Grande (fig. 39).

ALBUQUERQUE-BELEN AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN 81

TABLE 2&.--WATER LEVELS IN THE ALQUQUERQUE-DElEU AREA, SANDOVAL, BERr4ALILLO, AHO VALENCIA COUNTIES, N. HEX 0, IN JANUARY 1971. CHAIIGE FRON JANUARY 1970 TO JANUARY 1911. IH FEET. AtlO HIGHEST

AND LOWEST RECORDED lEVELS IN JAN. Ol'! FEB., IN fEET REFERENCED TO lAIlD-SURfACE OATUN.

SOURCE: SHTF. SANTA FE GROUP; YLFL. VALLEY FILL

LOCATION f1HNER SOURCE 71 IIATER DATE CHANGE HIGH " LO' y, YEARS OF RECORD NUMBER LEVEL

"" DiE 2S '" FftANK HETZLER IIlH -4,42 1-1" -.36 -It,06 7D -5.<)9 57 56-71

"" OZE D6 1Z4 HR. GRUHSON IILfL -6.50 1-14 -.45 -6.05 7D -8.66 57 57-71 OSN OZE D4 211 C.R. NUCKOLS VlFl -5.911 1-14 -0. Q 1 -3.59 " -6.84 64 57-71 06' D2E " m TOME CHURCH VlFL -7.65 1-14 -.71 -6.<;14 7D -11.51 57 57-71

0" D2E 3D 313 A.R. STRADLING VLfL -1'1.06 1-14 .... 76 -1'3006 71 -21.34 64 57-71

D7N D2E 10 '" LOS LUNAS HOSPITAL SNTF -136.411 1~14 -.<:7 -135.66 " -136.1t1l 71 56-11 0" 02E " '" MR. MCGARRAH VLFL -6.1t3 1-14 -.14 -6.29 '" -G.Ol 57 57-71 DO" DiE D1 '" ISLETA PUEBLO StlTf -391t.05 1-13 +1.52 -3GIt .70 " -395.57 7D 57-63,65-71 DO" m D2 14' OASIL AOASKItl VLFL -6.76 1-13 -.35 -6.43 7D -6.67 " %-71 DON DJE " '" ISLETA PUEBLO SNn -290.99 i-i3 -.31 -265.04 57 -293.61 " 57-71

"" D2E 11 241A J.L. ROSS VLFL -8.ltlj 1-i3 +.56 -7.44 " -9.70 " %-71

"" m 15 124 J.P. HENSL EY SNTF -22.16 1-13 +1.6Z -22.76 71 -24.36 7D %-71 Oqll m J5 '" M.A. HARKNESS VLFL -7.13 1-13 +.57 -7.13 71 -11.14 " 56-71

"" m " '" CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE VLFL -19.17 1-11, -.51 -14.43 " -30.90 62 57-71

'" 02E " m CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE VLFL -19.92: 1-i3 -.04 -19.66 7D -2<:.21 " 56-71

,," OJE D1 114 EARL MONTGOMERY StlTF -279.86 1-14 -'-1.29 -2!>3.71 50 -279.8b 71 41,56-66.66-71 ,," OJE D7 '" U.S. IIIOIAN SCHOOL VLFL -21.94 1-13 +10.62 -16.60 50 -32.56 7D !>6-71 lOtl DJE "' '" BUR. OF INDIAII AFFAIR VLFL -22.32 1-13 -22.32 71 -22.32 71 71 10tl OJE 17 2J2 CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE VLFL -23.27 1-13 -.16 -17.60 " -23.27 71 !>7-71 10" OJE '" '" CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE VLFL -2!>.Ol 1-13 +1.14 -1G.54 " -26.15 7D 56-11

"' OJE " '" ALBERT G. SIMMS StlTF -207.16 i-1/+ -.!>6 -163.34 57 -207.16 71 56-63.65-71

"" m J1 '" CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE VLFL -16.66 1-14 0.00 -6.40 " -17.97 " 57-71

"' OJE JJ '" CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE VLFL -21.35 1-13 +1.22 -11.06 " -22.57 7D 57-71

'" "" 17 '" SAUOIA PUEBLO StlTF ~<:94.45 1-14 +1.06 -292.1!> " -<:95.51 70 57-11 1211 0" J2 '" SAtlOIA PUEBLO StlTF -575.16 1-14 -.76 -51>'3001 50 -564.46A " 57-71

1J" "" J2 1J3 THE CHRISTIAN OROS. VLFL -11.21 i-lit -.14 -7.75 " -13.31t " 56~11

A - WELL BEING PUMPED.

82

T

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T

" ,

T.

" "

T

" "

T

" ,

T , ,

T , "

T T ,.

T , "

T , ".

T. , ,

ALBUQUERQUE-BELEN AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN

R.)W. Rl E R.2 E R3 E RAE.

EXPLANATION

,,~ Ob<C(vaMn"all

Decti~e (-)O< ri .. (+) 01 ,,010' Ie-.-el, in f •• I, above line; doplh to wol.', ,n f •• 1 b.low land-<urloco dalum, belOw lin.

)

I \ALAMEOA GRAN

.L._$J!!'~ov"l coJnl) 1

5 L

---r1f.irM1iII~)- -- - -1--L-i I D_ I PAJARITO

I

I 0 M I

, LO DE PAD11LLA

GRANT I

----, G R A N I

I -- ---

J I

T

FIGURE 38.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and depth to ground water in January 1971 in the Albuquerque-Belen area, Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties, N. Mex.

ALBlX:jUERQUE-BELEN AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN

, " "

, " "

, " "

, 10

"

, , "

, , "

, , "

, , "

, , "

E XPLANAT I ON

CI +tOO

Ohservat,on,..11

Chan9C of "'ot •• Ift.o' JIlnycry 1966 to January 1971 In feel

I :1 ,.I-

I

I D_. I PAJARITO

I GRANT

I I HH

I' -=-F -=- -<).~~ ~ _+,oz&l\'''~I-----+---~

S LET A p

--. ---

GRANT I

BELENf 0 I

Jarales

Volenclc Counly Socc';o~

R.IW RlE Rn

GRA/iT

"

M

LO DE PADILLA I

GRANT I

-----

E G R A N I

I -----

1 I

1'1-:3£ fI-4 E

,

FIGURE 39.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Albuquerque-Belen area, Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties, N. Mex.

83

84 HOT SPRINGS AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN

Hot Springs Area, Sierra County

The Hot Springs area includes the general environs of the city of Truth or Consequences (formerly Hot Springs) located adjacent to the Rio Grande near the center of Sierra County.

Truth or Consequences is a health resort area utilizing hot mineral waters from artesian wells drilled into Magdalena Group of Pennsylvanian age and the lowermost strata of alluvium overlying the Magdalena Group. The occurrence of hot mineral water, which ranges in temperature from 980 to 1140 F, is limited to an ar.ea of about 130 acres. Nonthermal water for municipal use is obtained from wells completed in Tertiary and Quaternary deposits in Mud Springs Draw, about two miles west of Truth or Consequences.

Inasmuch as four of the eight existing observation wells in the area were destroyed during construction in 1970, the monitoring program was temporarily discontinued until suitable replacement wells could be found. Records from the Geological Survey recorder wells (14S.4W.4.122 and 14S. 4W.4.122A) were obtained for 1970.

An area of 38 square miles is included in the Hot Springs Underground Water Basin as declared by the State Engineer on April 15, 1935. The basin Was closed to further appropriation of mineral (thermal) artesian water on July 1, 1937, and to further appropriation of fresh (non thermal) artesian water on August 26, 1947. Parts of the basin, totaling about 1.5 square miles, were opened for appropriation of mineral water in 1947 and again in 1950. Appropriation of shallow non thermal water is permitted, principally to supplement surface-water-irrigation rights.

The Las Animas Creek Underground Water Basin, an area of about 75 square miles located about 20 miles south of the Hot Springs area, Was declared by the State Engineer on September 8, 1968.

Scattered irrigated cropland is located in the Hot Springs area and along some of the larger western tributaries to the Rio Grande such as the Alamosa, Cuchillo Negro, and Palomas Rivers and Las Animas Creek. Sorensen 1 s table 41 tabulates the irrigated cropland which utilized ground water or ground water and surface water combined during 1970 in the Hot Springs area; the acreage located along the western tributaries is included in "other areas" of the Rio Grande Basin.

Rincon and Mesilla Valleys, Sierra and Dona Ana Counties

The Rincon and Mesilla valleys lie along the Rio Grande and extend from near Caballo Reservoir on the north to the New Mexico-Texas State line on the south. The valleys vary in width from less than 1 mile to more than 5 miles.

Las Cruces, a city of about 36,000 population, is the center of the v~lleys! rich agricultural area. Fourteen miles northeast of the city and

RINCON AND MESILLA VALLEYS, RIO GRANDE BASIN 85

north of Organ is an Apollo Project installation where the National Aeronautics apd Space Administration conducts experiments in the space program. At the foot of the east slope of Organ Mountains is White Sands Missile Range where experiments with self-propelled missiles have been conducted since 1947. Operations at White Sands Missile Range and Apollo Test Site make substantial contribution to the economy of Las Cruces and nearby towns.

The main industry of the valleys is farming. About 65 percent of the total cropland is planted in cotton and alfalfa and about 15 percent in vegetables, mostly onions, lettuce, and chili. Pecan growing has been a major industry for many years in Mesilla valley, and together with graih crops, accounts for about 20 percent of the total cropland.

Irrigation with surface water has been practiced in the Rincon and Mesilla valleys since the middle 1800's. The Rio Grande Reclamation Project, which supplies water to irrigation districts in both New Mexico and Texas, was organized in 1906 as one of the first projects of the U.S. Reclamation Service. Water for irrigation in both states is stored in Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs near Truth or Consequences. When completed in 1916, Elephant Butte had a storage capacity of 2.64 million acre-feet and was the largest man made lake in the world, but due to siltation the capacity has been reduced to about 2.14 million acre-feet (1969).

In 1946, the Elephant Butte Irrigation District in New Mexico anticipated a shortage of surface water for irrigation in the valleys of the low inflow into Elephant Butte Reservoir. To relieve the expected shortage, ground water was considered for irrigation. During the period 1946-48, the Geological Survey in cooperation with the Elephant Butte Irrigation District made a study of the ground-water supplies of the area and the effect of large-scale pumping for irrigation upon the surface-water supply. Conclusions reached in the report, and materialization of an anticipated shortage of surface water, resulted in rapid development of ground water for irrigation. By 1948, 70 wells were in operation and by 1960 the number had increased to 1,337. The principal aquifer in the area is unconsolidated and partly consolidated alluvium of Quaternary age.

Sorensen (table 41) estimates that in 1970 there was a total of 105,230 acres of irrigated cropland in the two valleys that utilized ground water or ground water and surface water combined; 94,390 acres of the total were located within the Elephant Butte Irrigation District.

Bureau of Reclamation personnel have measured water levels at monthly intervals since 1946 in 49 test wells distributed throughout the Rincon and Mesilla valleys. Monthly measurements for these wells are tabulated in tables 27 and 28 for the year 1970. In 1957, the Geological Survey in cooperation with the State Engineer, established an observation-well network of 22 additional wells in the irrigated area to determine changes in water levels in irrigation wells. In January 1971, 11 of the wells were measured in the Rincon and Mesilla valleys (table 29). Eight wells, which were measured both in January 1966 and in January 1971, showed rises of water level ranging from 0.17 foot to 4.90 feet and 3 wells showed declines ranging from 0.71 foot to 1.53 feet

86 RINCON AND MESILLA VALLEYS, RIO GRANDE BASIN

Annual precipitation during the 5-year period 1966-70 averaged 9.36 inches with most of the precipitation occurring during the summer months in the form of heavy showers of short duration. Annual precipitation and departure from normal, in inches, for the State University station near Las Cruces Was as follows: 1966, 9.84, +1.83; 1967, 8.42, +0.41; 1968, 13.17, +5.16; 1969, 11.91, +3.90; 1970, 3.44, -4.57.

TABLE 27.--0EPTH TO \~ATER I N U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMAT! ON TEST WELLS, RINCON VALLEY, SIERRA AND DONA ANA COUNTt E5, N. HEX., 1970) IN FEET BELQIJ TOP OF CASING

(DEPTH TO HATER MEASURED BY U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION)

USGS USSR Location Well Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

No. No.

Sierra Countr

175.05\1.24.124 10 14.0 14.2 14.3 12.8 12.8 12.0 12.0 10.3 10. I 11.3 11.4 11.6

Dona Ana Countr

185.041,4,05.313 15.3 15.5 14.5 14.0 13,6 13.4 12.4 12.2 11.6 12.2 12.3 12.4

17.422 9 9.4 9.5 9.3 9.0 8.9 7.8 8.6 8.1 7.7 8.6 8.7 8.7

35.111 2 12.3 12.6 10.9 10.9 11.8 10.8 10.2 9.8 10. I 11.0 10.9 11.0

19S. 02\-1.08. JJ3 4 7.1 7.8 7.2 6.4 6.0 5.9 7.2 4.6 5.1 7.2 7.3 7.4

22.143 5 8.0 8.J 8.1 8.2 8.2 7.9 7.9 8. I 7.9 8.9 9.0 9.0

19.03~/.07. 1J 1 B 10.9 l1.J 11.9 11.0 10.7 0.8 9.5 8.8 8.7 9.6 9.5 9.4

09.413 3 7.2 7.5 6.7 5.8 5.2 5.3 5.1 4.7 5.0 6.3 6.5 6.6

13.1 J2 7 9.8 10.1 9.4 8.8 8.4 8.2 7.5 7.1 7.3 8.7 8.9 B.9

20S.021,,}.01.124 6 8.4 8.5 B.2 8.0 7.9 7.6 5.6 5.6 7.4 8. J 8.4 B.6

RINCON AND MESILLA VALLEYS, RIO GRANDE BASIN 87

rS(,5 l~C~, i<'o OL-'CC

~~S. It. '1.141 'i. I J\

t".I,)) ll. lid J:;. J4) 3".431,

"J$. l[ li",ll 16.!,l4 r.J)4

24~. n. B.4J1. 9.41)

H.Bl 11. 14! 2$. )Jl

2SS. 20. 1.411 :'.114

23.111 !'>. J:I1

2',-:;, )t.l".)!l n.321 ll. III

6.211 C.211 9.212

1,.112 n.212 ll. )44 n.4',) J~. 44l

:us. JI;. .1.111 'I."I.~

2E.Jll, 11.lll

<8". JCl1.JIl 1~.222 H.2B U,.2t,l,

1,9V.l ),')21>.1, ),"21,1) J,<)or,.4 1,'iH), j

l, 'I'Jd, ~

J,b)3.1 ),%4.2 J,1l8(l.8

j,"~1.4 J,~tO.I,

l.04Q.S 1,~!"'J,

J,il49.~

l,8)7.Q 3,tl4,.;' ),&17.\1 3,B19.~

),411.4 j,Ul~. S J,~lJ.l

J,ilOH.~

),611 .0 J,eo; .5 l.~O~. ~ l,JO).O 1, 7~1.0 J,7'Jl.D J, 1?1. 3 },nB

),Nlh.i)

J,191.:, l, 1{,~. 7 J, 111. 7

J,I~3.'! 1,IH.l J,n'i.n ), 14~.&

),1l4.0

nULl 2U ~·[>Hrtl 10 [>(,

Zh Railroad 2(>

'" 15 ::octh P(o,,<i>c' I~ Ll);cr

II Lao Cr,!"""

!~ ""O"e< U School 11 Did.,

lJ ~'olo"','

14 $~o!c

lQ C.1Cr""t~' ~"~Z1tV

-:.,~![> ,,,,,,,,,<

2, ~wu,"

7 D""~,, ('''0,"

l).1nlNt

14 ~.'<J" /, ll"cr"

17 '\",h,py J.MH"I

l Ih~!"""" 23 Throc Sal"," n "eri'H' 18 I'ri<~ RooLl 30 1'0<» n 11el:,,,)" 1I C,rp'\cll )9 HlLi> 5<h'0)

29 ,\nt)."") l~ 1.""""~)1

1 Ca""d B"[d~c 1 Old L" U"lOn

J7 n"rdorl~"d 1& 11.lde JJ nu!hcrr) 3) l'ontoy"

urn!:.\\' Of RECL\:I.\TIO" TEST 'JELLS, ;'r.S1LLA VALLE" n~:;rco, I'; l'JlO, IIi fEU IlEW:; 1~\1;D-5rRF,\Cr. [l,\TL~'

.Ton.

ilL) ;.; U 1).4

lJ.9 14.8

11.0 0.0 '1.0 U.~

14. l B.2

10.8 '-0 ,. , .. ,

11.7 H.l

lO.9 .. , 0.' •• 0

l).l 14.3

1l.2 ,.0 0.1 7.;

13. , 14.l

9.2 'I.', 9.9 ?~ B.$ 12.0 U.I 11.1 12.4 12.1 ~.I 5.? 4., 5.1 I",

10.5 ... 1.1 '.0

11.0 H.I

,., U )., U

11.3 n.1>

,., .. , '.0 ,.,

10.3 12.9

8.6 8.3 B,l 11.0 10.0 \0.0 4.) 3.~ 4.0

Ill.S ILl 9.~ 10.6 1O.~ 10.~ 9.~ 9.2 11.) 11.6 '!.I 11.0 11.2 10.1 9.~ 1.9

9.<; 9.> 3.7 9.1 9.1 3.9 a.1 3.1 10,; 10.9 S.B 10.1 10.0 'I.~ '1.4 3.9 11.1 10.7 11.4 10.? 9.$ 9.5 10.0 9.1

3.9 ').1 8.) 7.8 7.0 J.B 5.5 3.4 !l.1I 13,0 11.l) 11.0 11.3 In.! 10.4 10.4 3.1. 9.1l 8.7 8.4 n.l 7.8 ~.4 0.3

10.1 10.'i n.! 10.5 9.9 8.1 7.& 7.3

•• 0 e.o

7.2 8.1

0.0

1.7 1.9 8.2 B.,

10.0 IO.~ 7.3 7./, I.ll 7.8 (,.4 4.6 /,.2 {,.4 \,1 ).4 3. 7 ~.~

'.0 '.0 ,., , .0

,., .., '.0 7.0

'.0

U 7.S

0.'

,., ..,

7.0 ,., 0.' '.0 ,., L' .., /,.0 B.5

0.0 ,.) 0.0 ,.)

'.0 ,., e .• ,.e

J.7 .., e.' 5.1

J.B '.0 0.;

5.9

!S.l &.2

,.,

S~P"

0.; ,., ,., 7.6

10.!> 12.2

.., 10.0 ,.,

~.2 10.1 b.$ 0.;

"

, ..

o. ) ,., ,.) U

10.3 12.5

Pee.

9.1 ;., 0.' 0.>

10.9 12.1

B.o B.7 ,., 10.5 .. , 10.1 10.2

6.1l 1>.1

9.2 9.4 9.4 6.4 3.1 9.9 ~.l a.b 9.9 Q.4 9.7 10.0

lO.6 10.6 ll.l

,.> ;'.1 (,.0 11.4 11.4 1\.1 7.4 7./, B.O 9.1 9.1 9.3

'-,

;., ;.0

'.0 ;., '.0 )., ,., ,.) 0.0

0.; 6.7

i.1 7./, i.7 a.1 9.7 10.0 7.1 7.9 7.0 7.2 3.9 4.2 5.9 6./, 4.0 1,.4 9.1 9.4

TABLE 29.--HATER LEVELS IN THE RINCON AND MESILLA VALLEYS, SIERRA AND DONA ANA CDUNl!ES, N. HEX., IN JANUARY 1971, CHANGE FROM JANUARY 1970 TO JAtIUARY 1971, IN FEET, AND HIGHEST

18' 18S 19S

'" 21S

LOCATIOtl ~lUHBER

17 211 3& 322 35 322 11 413 24 324

US OlE 06 2U 22S 01E 26 411 US OlE 27 411 2:3S 01E OJ 422 23S 0110 ~4 313

2:4S 02E 18 2:43

ANO LOWEST RECORDED lEVELS IN JAN. OR FEB., Itl FEET REFEREtlCEO TO LANO-SURFACE DATUH.

OWNER

UNKNOWN UNKNOWN HAYNER RANCH HAYNER RANCH CUNNINGHAM FARMS

V.A. GARCIA H. WORTHHEIM ESTATE J.W. TAYLOR C.E. NICH ALEX LUCERO

UtlKUOWlI

SOURCE

VlFL VLFl VLFL VlFl VLFl

VlFL VLFl VLFl VLFL VLFL

VLFl

SOURCE; VlFL, VALLEY FIll

71 WATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR LOW YR YEARS OF RECORD LEVEL

-10.{la -1&.86 -11.91 -7.93

-11.81

-11.01 -13.28 -13.63 -13.H -1&.06

-13.75

-.06 -1.11 -3.31

+.16 -.89

-1.U!: - .17 -.34 -.88 +.71

-9.49 flO -15.33 66 -8.60 70 -6.55 6'0 -7.'04 63

-9.89 70 -13.03 63 -11.25 63 -9.58 67

-14.72 63

-14.00 -16.92 -11.93 -8.53

-15.576

58 57-67,69-71 65 57-67,70-71 56 57-62,64-71 65 57-71 64 57-71

-13.33 67 57-71 -22.58 56 57-71 -20.95 56 57-71 -18.23 56 !>7-71 -19.27 56 57-71

-12.54 61 -17.50 56 57-67.69-71

B - WELL PUMPED RECENTLY.

88 GRANTS-BLUEWATER AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN

Grants-Bluewater Area, Valencia County

The Grants-Bluewater area is in the Rio San Jose valley of north-central Valencia County adjacent to the northeast flank of the Zuni Mountains. Grants, the principal town, is the trade center for the nearby communities of Milan, San Rafael, and Bluewater. Altitudes range from about 6,300 feet to about 6,800 feet in the developed part of the area.

Early settlers in the Grants-Bluewater area irrigated by diverting a part of the flow of Bluewater Creek into community ditches. The BluewaterToltec Irrigation District was organized in 1923 and by 1927 the district built Bluewater Dam, which was intended to impound surface water to irrigate about 9,000 acres of project land that extended from the mouth of Bluewater Canyon to near Grants. Surface water proved to insufficient to supply all of the project lands and because of this, ground-water sources were investigated. In August 1944 the first successful irrigation well was drilled, and by 1954 a total of 28 irrigation wells were in operation. The State Engineer, on May 15, 1956, declared the Bluewater Underground Water Basin, which encompassed an area of 269 square miles.

The San Andres Limestone and the Glorieta Sandstone of Permian age are the principal aquifers tapped by irrigation and industrial wells. Some domestic and stock wells obtain water from Quaternary basalt flows and alluvium. Water fro~ the aquifers is hard but is considered satisfactory for domestic and industrial uses. The San Andres Limestone and Glorieta Sandstone crop out along the northeastern flank of the Zuni Mountains and dip northeastward. The top of the San Andres is about 800 feet below land surface 6 to 7 miles north of Grants, and is more than 3,000 feet beneath the surface in the Ambrosia Lake area, about 20 miles north of Grants.

The principal source of ground-water recharge is precipitation upon the outcrop area of the formations. Leakage from Bluewater Reservoir and from the irrigation canal system contributes to the ground-water body in the vicinity of the town of Bluewater as evidenced by the sudden rise in ground-water levels when surface water is released.

According to Sorensen (table 41), there were about 5,580 acres of irrigated cropland utilizing surface water and ground water in 1970, all lying within the boundaries of the Bluewater-Toltec Irrigation District except for a small area south of San Rafael. About 4,100 acre-feet of surface water and about 3,100 acre-feet of ground water were diverted for irrigation.

The program of measuring water levels in observation wells in the Grants-Bluewater area began in 1946. Water levels have been measured annually since 1947, and a recording gage has been maintained on well l2N.llW.9.22l since 1946. Twenty seven wells are measured in January 1971 and data for these wells are shown in table 30. The annual net changes in ground-water storage from year to year are determined by comparing the water levels measured each January or February. The largest water-level changes were recorded in wells near Bluewater Creek and Toltec Creek, which is in t.he area of heaviest pumpage and fastest recharge (see figs. 40-41). Water

, " N

, " "

, , 0

"

, 9

"

, a N

GRANTS-BLUEWATEI$ AREA, RIO GRANDE RASIN

~; I \ / ~ [.;

\/~~ ,0/ 124.311 ;'

" .....::M ~wCICr- 9t.14 132.01 , ., ~ <;). ... .;...,,~ .... <?,. II / _411

" -, _517 ,';;: ~

~ -o~~~~ -mHJ Q llG.46

~-~ / / 'l!i:ro

.\i~ Toltec ~J;_;j.(i '/ @

11m ~£ _1.7<\ 7970

7'I.4C

~ \' ~ ~ 3L2~

h~ ~ANTS

---V ~

EXPLANATION 1~ " 3~~(; I:---.

Obscrvallon well Son ReI oel~- ';" ~ @

Decline H Q' rise (+l of waler level, ~ -----; In fent,o~o'Jc line,depth 10 woler, ~ ,n feel below lond-surfnee do1um, " below hnc ...:::..!!

'Oro \ ~ " McCarl1S

, , , 3MILES

~ , , , , ~6 \ ." 028.44

@ ~

, ' (

I I ,

"'- i I I I -

"" ~ I

"" )

RI2W R IIW RIOW R9W Raw

FIGURE 40.-- Change of ground-water level from February 1970 to January 1971 and depth to ground water in January 1971 in the Grants-Bluewater area, Valencia County, N. Mex.

--'"

89

90

T

" N

T 10 N

GRANTS-BLUEWATER AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN

I \

EXPLANATION

o Obs~ryalioo woll

v Change of wolor level February 1956 10 January 1971 In feel below

land- surface datum.

o I 2 lMiLES ~, ~, ~, ---',

4.15

Son Rafael p.

®

( /

I

.RtQW

/ U

""'~ANTS

-.or

R9W

-zi ,I 19

m

0" .. U9

FIGURE 41.-- Change of ground-water level from February 1966 to January 1971 in the Grants-Bluewater area, Valencia County, N. Mex.

McCorlys

-,j[l

'-

GRANTS-BLUEWATER AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN 91

levels declined on an average of 0.45 foot during the year 1970 and 0.65 foot per year during the 5-year period 1966-70.

Precipitation during the 5-year period 1966-70 averaged 9.91 inches, which is near normal.

LOCATION NUMBER

"'" "'" "' m 10" "" as 3Z2 10" "'" as m 10N 07H " 210 10" 08H " m

'"" 09" 21 m 10" 09" 21 '" ,"N 09" " '" HIN 09W " m 10N 09W " '" 10H lOW " 331 10N lOW " 333A 11N lOW "' 211 1111 lOW "' 3J3 UN 10il 06 111

UN 10il "' 221 11N lOW " 121A 1114 lOW 27 '" 12t-l lOti 20 333A llN lOti 21 2"

12N lOW 27 3J3 UN lOti " '" 12N 111t "' 221 12:N 11H "' '" 12N 11N " '" 12N I1t1 15 '" 12N UN 25 '"

TABLE 30. --HATER LEVELS IN THE GRANTS-BLUEWATER AREA, VALENCIA COUllTY, ll. HEX., IN JAllUARY 1971 > CHANGE FROM FEBRUARY 1970 TO JAl/UARY 1971, III FEET, AND HIGHEST

AND LOHEST RECORDED LEVELS IN JAIL OR FEB., III FEET REFERENCED TO LAND-SURFACE DATUM.

SOURCE: CLSD, CHINLE SAND; GLRT, GLORIETA; TLVT, TERTIARY LAVA AND TUFF; SAYO, SAN ANDRES-YESO; SAtM, SAN ANDRES LUlL; VLFL, VALLEY FILL

OWNER SOURCE 71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR CO" YR LEVEL

DONAHUE VLFL -62.75 1-11 -7'3.78 47 -65.42 53 LAGUNA-ACOMA RESER. VLFL -55.4'1 1-11 t.40 -55.109 71 -67.49 " LAGUNA-ACOMA RESER. VLFL -52.50 1-11 +1.16 -52.5(1 71 -60.05 " LAGUIIA ItlDIAII RESER. VLFL -6.10 1-11 -8.10 " -11.73 " A.T. AND SAHTA FE VLfl -20.99 1-11 +.27 -20.911 71 -22.33 61

StONEY GOTTLIEB VLFL -41.&S· 1-11 -.29 -47.35 69 -50.33A " SIDtlEY GOTTLIEB VLFL -45.56 1-11 -.26 -43.S6 " -45.91 61 SIDNEY S. GOTTLIEB CLSO -16.79 1-12 -.25 -16.46 " -21.53 " ROBERT GOTTLIEB TLVT -8.91 1-12 -.34 -8.17 61 -9.16 " SIDNEY S. GOTTLIEB GLSO -23.7'.l 1-12 -.4£:. -21.90 " -25.94 os

MONICO MIRABAL SALH -28.44 1-11 +.31 -22.19 " -28.75 70 NABOR HIRABAL SALH -lDl.4£:. 1-11 +.18 -95.75 .. -102.GIt 70 J. CHURCH SALH -89.70 1-11 -1.1£:. -57.97 " -92.91 " DOH CHEHICAL CO. SALH -8£:..35 1-12 -2.16 -81.30 .. -91.91t " SALVADOR HILMi SALH -94.17 1-12 +2.07 -73.75 " -103.05 " A.R. CARD SALt! -79.70 1-11 -1.73 -54.49 " -67.10 " LEE HONOSI1 SALH -74.46 1-11 -£:.4.30 " -78.1l2 " GRANTS BLUEWATER T. SAltl -31.25 1-11 -3.41 -19.66 " -36.22 " MIACOtlDA COPPER CO. SALH -118.41B' 1-12 -4.11 -112.14 67 -124.30 " T .A. MORRIS AND SOH VLFL -76.46 1-12 +5.62 -76.48 71 -69.17 " DEAN STANLEY SALK -104.50 1-11 -3.91 -90.96 " -110.67 " A.R. CARD VLFL -98.93 1-11 -2.911 -69.23 " -98.93 " UNKNOWN SALK -155.83 1-12 -154.08 69 -155.83 71 GEORGE ROWLEY SAYO -121t.36 1-12 -1.99 -99.01 so -13".50 " DUANE BERRYHILL VLFL -90.71t 1·12 -.31 ·66.10 " -101.16 " EDHARD FREAS GLRT ·132.01 1-12 +6.13 ·102.34 so -11t9.4" S7 HOMESTAKE HINING CO. SALH -150.84 1-1l -5.17 -124.50 " -156.00 "

A WELL BEING PUMPED.

YEARS OF RECORD

46-67,69,71 63-71 &3-&7,&9-71 63-67,69,71 52-71

50,57-71 50,55-71 58-11 4£:.-71 57-£:'£:',&8-71

52-71 55-£:.6,£:.8-11 1t£:.-71 58-62,64-71 1t£:.-52 , 54-65,69-71

1t6-71 53-69,71 53-71 57,60-71 56-71

58,60-67,69-71 44,46-11 68-69,71 46-71 49-71

46~63,1)5·71 41)-71

B - WELL PUMPED RECENTLY.

Noria-Strauss Area, Dona Ana County

The Noria-Strauss area is about 25 miles southwest of Las Cruces, along the east base of the East Potrillo Mountains and about 6 miles north of the Mexican border. Farming development started in 1956 when an irrigation well was drilled to depth of 580 feet. When tested, the well yielded 440 gpm with a draw down of 64 feet; the well was used to irrigate 35 acres of chili and tomatoes. The water is considered good for irrigation and domestic use, containing less than 100 mg/l sulfate, 25 mg/l chloride, and total dissolved solids of 645 mg/l.

From 1956 to 1961 five more irrigation wells were drilled and used to irrigate about 300 acres, mostly to supply feed for a turkey farm in the area. The turkey farm was abandoned in 1964 and most irrigated acreage was abandoned.

In 1957 and again in 1962, the Geological Survey in cooperation with the State Engineer inventoried all existing wells and recorded water levels. Some of the wells have since been measured annually; data are listed in table 31.

92

LOCATtCtl NU'l~EP

27$ 02H 2~ 111 l~S 011< 06 ,2~

i'~<: 01\, Of P3

NORIA-STRAUSS AREA, RIO GRANDE BASIN

TAftLr 3l.--HHE' LEvrLS Hl THE 'WHA-ST~~US~ A~EA, DONA ,,'i~ COlJtHY, N. MEX., P1 ,JM1V~"Y 1<171, SHANGE FR(K JA"UARY 1'170 TO J~NLA'<Y 1''11. IN FEU, Ali[} HIGHSST

Allt' l')H~ST {":COROSa lEVEL'S Pl JA'~. OR fH' •• !tl rEO ,,"~EqEt,Crl) TO L'NC-SURFACE UqUM.

SCURCE " htlT~R DATE '::HANG( HIGH " ''" Ye H~PS LEVEL

oe R~cr'w

JF."U'S neIAS PlJ~"'1 ~L VA"'El "UElE'1 ~LVAPEZ

HSIJ f'LSN PL S~

-:loo. 'l2 1-21 + 1. ~3 -360.7<; " -31;2.3C " ~2-~&,o8-71

-2')3 .26 1-21 f.74 -27~.l? " -2'14.2'-> 03 ">2-11 -3J".71 1-21 ~. 4'1 -304.63 " -1flS.'l6 02 62-71

LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN

The Lower Colorado River basin in New Mexico comprises some 11,000 square miles, slightly less than 10 percent of the State's total area. Geographically, the region consists of four major tributary drainage basins that head in New Mexico and flow westward into Arizona; there all flows eventually enter the Colorado River below Lees Ferry, the dividing point between the Upper and Lower basins of the Colorado River. Only one stream heading in New MexiCO, the Gila River, is directly tributary to the master stream; the others drain either to the Gila or to the Little Colorado River, the main stem of which does not extend beyond Arizona.

The four principal sub-basins of the Lower Colorado River basin in New Mexico (fig. 1) are those of the Little Colorado River tributaries (5,150 square miles), San Francisco River (1,900 square miles), Gila River (3,500 square miles), and San Simon Creek (220 square miles). The San Francisco and Gila River basins, and to a lesser extent the Little Colorado River basin, contain perenially flowing streams, and most water used in irrigation in the Little Colorado and San Francisco drainages is diverted from surface sources. Most of the acreage in the Gila River valley receives water from surface and underground sources combined. Except for runoff from storms, San Simon Creek basin in New Mexico contains no surface water and all irrigation utilizes ground water.

Three declared underground water basins of the State Engineer (Gila-San Francisco, San Simon, and Virden) lie wholly or in part within the Lower Colorado River drainage in New Mexico (fig. 2). Areas in the Gila River and San Simon Creek drainages are included in the Statewide water-level-monitoring program (frontispiece).

Gila River Valley, Grant and Hidalgo Counties

The Gila River valley in southwestern New Mexico is a part of the Lower Colorado River Basin and extends from the upper Gila River area in the Gila Wilderness to the New Mexico-Arizona line in the Virden valley. The river's mainstem normally is perennial from its source to the Arizona State line, but diversions for irrigation result in reaches of the river being dry during the summer, especially near the towns of Cliff, Gila, and Virden. Principal tributaries to the Gila River in New Mexico are Beaver, West Fork, Middle Fork, Sapillo, Mogollon, Duck, Mangas, and Blue Creeks.

GILA RIVER VALLEY, LOIVER COLORADO RIVER BASIN 93

Surface-water irrigation in the Gila River valley dates from the late 1870's. The absence of storage facilities renders surface supply for irrigation unreliable, and in the late 1920's irrigators in the Virden valley began to develop wells to supplement surface supplies. On December 5, 1938, the State Engineer assumed jurisdiction over the development of ground water in the region immediately upstream from the Arizona State line by declaring the Virden Valley Underground Water Basin, comprising about 19 square miles. On October 20, 1960, the State Engineer assumed jurisdiction over development of ground water throughout the drainage basins of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and San Simon Creek in New Mexico. The Gila-San Francisco Underground Water Basin encompasses the Gila River drainage area above Virden valley and all of San Francisco River drainage in New Mexico, an area of 5,659 square miles.

The United States Supreme Court decree in Arizona vs. California, dated March 9, 1964, defines the amount of water that New Mexico can use for all purposes from both the surface and underground water sources of the Gila, San Francisco, and San Simon systems. It further required that New Mexico bring such uses within the court-ordered limits by March 9, 1967. Installation of metering devices for diversions, of both surface water and ground water, began in 1967. Flumes were installed on 48 surface-water diversions and flow meters were installed on 60 wells; amounts taken from about 113 other small diversions are estimated.

About 30,000 acre-feet of surface water and 295 acre-feet of ground water were diverted to irrigate 3,725 acre~ of land in the Cliff-Gila area during 1970. Not all of the surface water diverted is applied to the land because more water is diverted than is needed and the surplus spilled back into the river.

According to Sorensen (table 41), about 380 acres of irrigated cropland in the Virden area utilized ground water only and 2,860 acres utilized surface water supplemented by ground water in 1970.

Water levels in representative wells have been monitored in Virden valley since 1959, and since 1962 in the Buckhorn-Cliff-Gila area. Waterlevel changes in both areas are directly related to the flow in the Gila River. Data for measurements made in January 1971 are listed in table 32.

San Simon Creek Valley, Hidalgo County

San Simon Creek, a major tributary of the Gila River in Arizona, heads in the Peloncillo Mountains in southwestern New Mexico. Only the easternmost portion of the drainage area is in New Mexico, and here there are no perennial streams. Development of ground water for irrigation began about 1949 near Rodeo, and had expanded to about 35 wells irrigating 2,900 acres by October 1960 when the appropriation and development of ground water was brought under the jurisdiction of the State Engineer with declaration of the San Simon Underground Water Basin.

The United States Supreme Court decree in Arizona vs. California includes the San Simon Creek valley. In the decree, irrigation is limited

94 SAN SIMON CREEK VALLEY, LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN

TABLE 32.--!lATER LEVELS IN THE GILA IUVER VALLEY. GRAUl AND HIDALGO COUNTIES, ". HEX •• III JAtIUARY 1'071, CHANGE FROH JANUARY 1970 TO JANUARY 1971, III fEET. AND HIGHEST

AIm LOIlEST ~ECOROEO LEVELS HI JMI. OR FEB •• '" FEET REfERENCED TO LAND-SURfACE DATUM.

SOURCE: GILA. GILA COtlGLOHERATE; VLFL. VALLEY FILL

CLIFF-GILA AREA

LOCATION OlINER SOURCE " ~ATER' DATE CHANGE HIGH YR lOW YR YEARS OF RECORD NUHBER LEVEL

14S lSH " 213 CLEE CRUHBLEY GILA -53007 1-(18 -It. 11 -39.44 " -57.09 " 62-71 ii,S laW " '" JASPER SOSSAMAN GILA -32.67 1-06 -3.18 -2<;.25 " -36.13 " &2-71 1SS 17H 27 J12 PACIfIC HESTERN LANO VLFL -5.17 1-0 <; -.14 -It.4& " -5.36 " &2-71 15S 1711 " '" J.F. OICKERSON VLFL -6. {lO 1-06 -\..10 -7.40 " -a.50 " 62-71 15S '" " 44211. JAI'ES B. HORN VLFL -12.00 1-08 +.07 -11.65 65 -12.49 " 62-71

15S 1714 " m PACIfIC I/ESTE~N LAtlD VLFL -26.24 1-06 -. &4 -5.06 " -26.24 71 62-11 1% 1714 " 34Z MOORE GILA -47.80 1-06 -.76 -39.22 " -47.60 7l 62-71 15S laW " m L.R. SPIRES VLFL -12.36 1-08 -2.06 -8.40 " -17.09 " 02-71 1;;:S 181l " '" C.E. o DOHtlELL VLFL -11.24 1-08 -.77 -9.21 68 -11.80 " 62-71 17S U.W " '" JOHN HCMILLEtl VLFL -20.09 1-05 -1.35 -16.15 65 -23.22 " 62-71

'" m " m TOWN OF SIL VE~ CITY GILA -210.90 1-05 -.50 -263.00 " -270.90 7l 45,57-71 '0$ 15W " "Z W. W. WOODWARD GILA -3£.5.16 1-08 -1.~2 -334.79 " -36£..as " 57-71 18S 15W " Z34 FLYItlG A RAUCH GILA -58.05 1-04 ·0.14 -51.91 '" -64.60 " 54-71

'" m LO '" PHELPS DODGE CORP. GILA -249.40 1-08 -243.84 " -24<).62 " 54,57-69,71

VIRDEN VALLEY

LOCATIOtl Ol/UER SOURCE 71 14A TER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR LO' YR YEARS OF RECORD tlUMBER LEVEL

'" '" " 340 A.E. JAC09SEtl VLFL -14.13 1-2:0 -.35 -<).19 " -14.13 7l 59-71 18S m " 4J2 O.F. S\lAFFORD VLFL -29.21 1-20 +.02 -26.91 " -2'3.<;3 " 59-71 19S '"' " 113 FLOYD JOHNS VLFL -14.62 1-20 -.85 -11.74 " -16.08 " 5<)-71 !OS 21H OJ '" JONES, CLOUSE, JENSEN VLFL -11.11 1-2:0 +.16 -9.2:4 " -11.90 " 59-71

to 2,900 acres in any 1 year and to a total consumptive use for all purposes of 8,220 acre-feet in any 1 year or 72,000 acre-feet in any 10 consecutive years. By 1968, pump diversions for uses other than domestic and livestock were metered, and diversions reported to the Interstate Stream Commission~ About 1,863 acres were irrigated with a diversion of 5,370 acre-feet of water in 1969 and 1,652 acres were irrigated with a diversion of 4,080 acrefeet in 1970.

The program of measuring water levels in selected wells was begt.U1 iJ..l. 1957 and was expanded in 1968. Water-level measurements made in 16 wells in January 1971 are listed in table 33.

In general, water levels in the San Simon Creek valley tend to decline, except during years in which precipitation is above normal during the growing season. Several wells which were allowed to stand idle during 1970 showed substantial rises in water level.

PreCipitation at Rodeo was about normal during the 5-year period 1966-70, except for the year 1967 during which exceptionally large amounts were recorded in September (5.0 inches) and December (4.77 inches).

TAaLE :>3.--HATER LEVELS It< THE SAN SIMON CREEK VALLEY, HIDALGO COUIITY, tI. HEX., Itl JANUARY 1911, CHANGE FROM JANUARY 1<)7a TO JANUARY 1971, IN FEET, AtlD HIGiiEST

AtlD LOIlEST RECORDED LEVELS Itt JAN. OR fEB., Itl FEET REFE~Ej,CEO TO LAND-SURFACE OATUM.

S:lURCE: SLSN, aOLsot\ DEPOSITS

LOCATION OHtlER SOURCE " HATER DATE CHAIIGE HIGH YR LO' YR YEARS OF RECORD NUMaER LEVEL

l1S llll 07 '" E.J. BAG~ELL aLSN -9'3.09 1-19 -1.70 -95.01> " -99.09 " 66-11 21S 21W 31 311 SMITH AND BEITOGLIO aLSH -157.72 1-19 -.61 -153.10 " -1511.47 " 62:,1>4-(;, 6,70-71 2:75 21\1 32 '" C. HOGGETT aLStl -&9.18 1-1'3 -.25 -611.93 '" -63.20 " &6-11 27S 21H 32 m c. HOGGETT BLSN -15.12 1-19 +.117 -11.75 " -75.99 '" 68-71 27S 22i1 01 '" RICHEttS eROS. 6LSti -136.34 1-1'3 -3.32: -130.54 " -138.34 " &11-71

lOS '" " m C.L. JOHtlSTON BLSN -112.62 1-1'3 -1.23 -110.88 " -112.62 " 66-11

'" '" " '" E.A. HERRELL 6LSti -10&.92 1-19 -.34 -106.58 '" -12:3.02 " &0-11

'" '" J1 1JJ ROSALIO ALBA SLSN -131.6ll 1-1'3 +4.14 -131.60 71 -15'3.28 " 66-11

'" 2lH " JJ3 ROSALIO ALBA BLStI -151.04 1-19 -.64 -150.40 '" -158.25 " 60-11

'" "" " m c. HOGGETT BLStI -122.11 1-19 +.63 -12:2:.11 71 -143.40 " 60-71

20S llH J6 m B.M. LINES 6LSN -134.06 1-19 +4.11 -134.06 " -141.44 " 66-11 2as 22H J6 m c. MOGGETT aLSN -139.53 1-19 -.43 -13'3.10 '" -163.55 " 60-71 29S 2114 01 JJJ WAL TER TURtlER BLSN -163.91 1-1'3 -131.48 " -16<).65 " 51-&'3,11 29S 2214 11 '" BILL RICHARDS 6LStl -15'1.45 1-19 -.05 -131.82 " -160.10 " 58-11 2QS 22H 11 '" BILL RICHAROS 6LSH -165.88 1-19 -136.60 " -166.62 ." 51-61,69,71

29S 2211 12 1JJ CURTIS ROARK BLSH -164.07 1-19 -.92 -163.15 '" -164.07 71 68-71

ANIMAS BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS 95

SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

The Southwestern closed basins of New Mexico consist of all or parts of four basins of interiqr surface-water drainage located in the extreme southwestern corner of the State (fig. 1). In general, surface drainage does not follow distinct channels in the basins; rather, runoff from precipitation spreads across the lowlands as sheet flow terminating in shallow playas. All four basins extend across the international boundary into Mexico. The area (U.S.) of the four basins aggregates some 8,420 square miles, about 7 percent of the State's total area.

Ground water for irrigation has been developed extensively in Mimbres basin, and to a large but lesser extent in the Animas, and Playas basins. Ground-water levels in six areas of intensive development in the Southwestern closed basins are monitored on a continuing basis: three in Mimbres basin, two in Animas basin, and one in the Playas basin. Appropriation and use of water in five of the six areas of intensive use have been brought under control of the State Engineer (fig. 2).

Animas Basin, Hidalgo and Grant Counties

Animas basin in Hidalgo and Grant Counties in southwestern New Mexico includes upper and lower Animas valley and Lordsburg valley. Upper (southern) Animas valley is drained by ephemeral Animas Creek. In the lower (northern) part of the valley, Animas Creek does not follow a defined channel but spreads across the valley floor toward playa lakes in the northern part of the lower valley. There is no defined surface drainage in Lordsburg valley. In both Animas and Lordsburg valleys, ground water is obtained from wells completed in gravelly and sandy beds of alluvium that form the basin floor; the alluvium is probably several hundred feet thick. The ground-water reservoir is bounded by the Animas and Pyramid Mountains on the east, the Peloncillo Mountains on the west, and the Burro and Summit Mountains to the northeast and northwest, respectively.

Animas Valley

A farming development based on irrigation with ground water was begun on a large scale in Animas valley in 1948. The Animas Valley Underground Water Basin of 205 square miles Was declared and closed to further appropriation by order of the State Engineer on May 5, 1948. The basin was extended and the extension closed on February 23, 1956. The present declared area is 426 square miles. According to Sorensen (table 41) there were about 14,890 acres of irrigated cropland utilizing ground water in the valley during 1970. According to computations based on electric-power records, the amount of water pumped annually was 2.26 acre-feet per acre in 1965; this would indicate that 31,640 acre-feet were pumped in 1970.

Precipitation at the Animas weather station was below the long-term normal every year during the 5-year period 1966-70, except 1967 when it was 4.68 inches above normal. The year with the lowest precipitation was 1970 with 6.38 inches, 2.61 inches below normal.

96 ANIMAS BASIN, SOlITHI'lESTERN CLOSED BASINS

The water-level monitoring program, started in 1948, was continued through 1970. Water-level measurements were made in 46 observation wells in the Animas valley in January 1971 (table 34). These measurements were used to prepare annual and 5-year water-level-change maps (fig. 42 and fig. 43). Net annual declines of water level from January to January have occurred each year in nearly all the irrigated area. The magnitudes of the declines are related to the quantity of water pumped, the spacing of the wells, and the amount of precipitation received during the pumping season. The greatest declines coincide with the center of the more heavily pumped areas.

Lordsburg Valley

Lordsburg valley part of Animas basin. Animas valley. A low valley to the south; basin to the east.

is a northwest-trending valley in the northeastern The valley drains northwestward to playas in northern

alluvial divide separates Lordsburg valley from Playas the Continental Divide separates the valley from Mimbres

A farming development based on ground-water irrigation Was begun in 1955 in the northern part of the valley. Lordsburg Valley Underground Water Basin, an area of 329 square miles, Was declared by order of the State Engineer on November 18, 1960.

In 1961 about 1,480 acres were under irrigation in the valley; by 1965, 5,700 acres Were irrigated. Sorensen (table 41) estimates that there were 9,890 acres of irrigated cropland utilizing ground water in Lordsburg valley during 1970.

Precipitation at Lordsburg during the 5-year period 1966-70 averaged 0.32 inch above normal. The highest annual precipitation (13.63 inches) during the period was recorded in 1966; the lowest (6.25 inches, 3.85 inches below normal) was recorded in 1970.

The program of water-level measurement, begun in 1956, Was continued through 1970. Water-level measurements were made in 17 wells in January 1971 (table 35). Water levels declined an average of 1.80 feet during 1970 and 17.31 feet during the 5-year period 1966-70. The largest declines were recorded in wells near the western edge of the irrigated area (fig. 44 and fig. 45).

Playas Basin, Hidalgo and Grant Counties

Playas basin is east of Animas valley and is bounded by the Animas Mountains on the west and the Apache Hills, Sierra Rica, and scattered low mountains on the east. The northern boundary is the Continental Divide, a low alluvial divide which separates the Playas basin from Lordsburg valley to the north. The south end of the basin, near the international boundary, is closed topographically by a low divide extending westward from the Alamo Hueco Mountains to the Whitewater Mountains.

LOCATION NUMBER

2JS 2011 25 '+22 23S 2011 31 333 23$ 2011 36 4"~ 24S 2011 01 ~22 2"$ 2: OH 01 ~~ ..

2"S 2011 1 .. 21 .. 24S 2011 1<) ...... 2"S 2011 3" 1, .. 1, 2"S 2011 35 21'+ 2"S 21W 12 223

2<;S 1911 07 344 2'5S 2011 06 l11A 25S 20H II ll3 20;$ 2011 13 21311. 20;$ 20W 15 211

25S 2 OW 16 333 2'>S 2011 20 1'+28 2<;S 20W 2 .. 313 2'>S 20W 25 314 2"iS 2011 25 1,1,411.

2'>$ 2011 26 344 2<;S 20W 27 .. 34 25S 20W 34 34411. 2'>5 20W 35 24111. 25S 20W 35 343

26S 1911 31 333 26S 20W 02 344 26$ 2011 05 33411. 26S 2011 08 "34 26S 2 OW 0<) .. 4 .. A

2r,S 20H 10 3 .... 11. 26S 2011 14 242 26S 2011 15 1,4 .. 2&S 20W 23 1,338 2&S 20W 26 "22

26S 2011 29 1'+2 27S l<)H 1<) 433 27S 1911 20 31,3 27S 1911 20 .. 33 27S 1911 34 114

27S 2011 12 ...... A 27S 20W 21 222 28S 19W 15 .. 3311. 211S 1911 1& "42 28S 19W 17 212

28S 19W 20 2 ....

ANI.lIlS BASIN, SOUTffiVESTERN CLOSED BASINS

TABLE 34. __ \>lATER LEVELS IN THE "NUIAS VALLEY, HIDALGO COUNTY, N. I-lEX., III JAlilJARY 1971, CHANGE FRon JANUARY 1970 TO JANUARY D71, III FEET, AND HIGHEST

AllD LOI'IEST RECORDED LEVELS 1Ii JAil. OR fEB., IN fEEr REfEREIKED TO LAliD-5URfACE DATut-l.

SOURCE: BLSt1, BOLSON DEPOSITS

97

OW/lER SOURCE 71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR LOW YR YEARS OF R£CORO

KERR CATTLE CO. UNKNOWN fRED KERR: FRED KfRR FRED KERR

KERR CATTLE CO. R.f. MACaW ELMER L. I(ERR ELMER L. KERR J.R. GRAHAM

FOLK T .11. HCCANTS T.H. HCCANTS GEO. WRIGHT HAX OEVILtlRIS

T.H. MCCANTS BAER FAR~S JUNDT AND RUDIGER IHCHWS BROS. RICHINS eROS.

W. VECK S.D. HRIGHT W.A. TYLER H. VECK II. VECK

LUTHER EDWARDS R.H. WAMEL O.A. LEE J.E". WfATHERBY MRS. H.K. HOO~

S.O. WRIGHT R.M. WAHEL CRABTR££ VINA E. Oil. VIS KAT£ WASHBURN

KATE WASHBURN MASSEY FARMS fELIX GAUTHIER B.R. ME"OLUl ROY AOflHS

MRS. EOliA CURRY ADOOLINE HILL GARLAND JOHflSOU UNKNOWN LEONARD TYLER

U.S. GOVERtmOlT

BLSN BLS/l 8LSN BLSN eLSN

tlLSN BLSN BLSN BLSII 8LSN

BLSN SLSN BLSN BLSN BLSN

BLSII BLSII BLSN BLSN BL$II

SLSN BLSII SLSN BLSN BLSN

IlLSIl BLStl flL$/1 BLSII BLSU

SLSN IlLSN BLSN BLSII BLSN

BLSN BLSN BL$N BLSII SLSN

IlLSN BLSII BLSN BLStI flLSII

BLSN

LEVEL

-4J.15 -34.43 -55.{11 -14.82 -46.60

-0.2~

-10. &5 -48.09 -3'J.52 -46.'J6

-50.64 -92.18 -59.41 -10.10 -72.12

-79.112 -94.63 -<)0.58

-103.51 -120.22

-<)6.'JJ -<)11.05

-102.22 -10&.99 -112.21

-129.<)0 -103.15 -95.23

-102.15 -121.76

-96.01 -113.25 -121.70 -126.94 -135.06

-<)1.54 -165.67 -155.6J -164.12 -207.aOA

-144.02 -133.53 -2JO.l0 -220.27 -21'3.29

-273.30

1-20 1-20 1-20 1-21 l-olo

1-21 1-21 1-20 1-20 1-20

1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20

1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20

1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20

1-1<) 1-20 1-20 1~20

1-20

1-20 1-1<) 1-20 1-1<3 1~1<)

1-19 1-19 1-19 1-19 1-19

1-1<) 1-19 1-1<) 1-19 1-1<3

-.24 +1.51

-12.51

-1.02 +.44 +.28

+. 20

-1.91 -.94 +.80

+3.21 +O.'ll

-J.05 -3.27 -2.45

-5.16

-1.69 -9.114

-2.00 -3.10

-.31

-4.17

-.92

-1.00 -1.47 -2.54 -2.06 -1.73

-31.64 50 -J1.18 50 -3J.85 51 -14.a2 11 -2<).<)8 49

-11.2" 71 -10.65 71 -25.67 51 -18.0& 49 -46.86 67

-34.4" 59 -73.09 64 -23.&6 4'0 -70.10 71 -23.66 4<)

-57.14 55 -64.211 52 -45.30 49 -53.54 49 -97.61 60

-50.87 4<) -52.7284'0 -'J4.73 61

-106.<)<) 71 -104.47 62

-84.23 49 -66.48 49 -68.511 53 -&2.37 4'l -72.84 49

-01.19 61 -80.10 ~<)

-63.00 ~9 -117.41 66

-7<).31 50

-"9.53 49 -133.41 49 -132.12 50 -131.29 50 -169.33 55

-6.62 -112.0" '>4 -2.48 -<)8.83 55 -.67 -213.37 50

-220.27 71 -204.27 60

-43.15 71 48-67,5<)-71 -37.36A 51 48-11 -55.81 71 51,53-63,65-61,69-71 -42.37 51 51,11 -S2.85A 62 48-67,71

-23.14 -"1.87 -48.09 -3<).96 -47.24

-50.64 -<)2.16 -59.41 -70.10 -72.40

-79.82 -94.63 -91.46

-106.72 -129.14

&3 411-63,71 50 48-60,71 71 51-71 70 411-71 70 57-71

71 ,9-64,66-71 71 63-71 71 48-71 71 71 70 48-71

71 55-71 71 52-71 70 48-71 70 46-71 70 59-11

-96.93 71 48-71 -98.05 71 48-71

-102.50 &<) 61-11 -106.<)9 71 71 -113.'l9 68 62-71

-131.73 68 48-11 -103.15 71 48-64,67-71

-<)5.23 71 5J-68,71 -107.91 65 46-71 -122.33 66 46-11

-<)6.01 -113.25 -121.70 -126.94 -136.14

71 61-71 71 46-69,71 71 46-11 71 6£:" 71 611 48-71

-91.54 71 46-60,70-71 -165.67 71 46-71 -165.63 71 49-71 -164.12 71 49-62,&7-71 -207.8011. 71 55-71

-152.33 69 53~71 ~145.30 69 55-71 ~232.90 6<) "9-71 -220.27 71 71 -215.29 71 &0-66,71

1-19 -3.02 -25&.088';0 -273.30 71 £08-57,59-68,70-71

A WELL BEING PUMPED. B - WELL PUI~PED RECENTLY.

TA8LE 35.--WATER LEVELS HI THE LOROSBUR:G VALLEY. GRANT AND HIOALGO COUNTIES. N. HEX., !tJ JANUAI'H 1971.

LOCATIot< !lUMBER

22S 1811 20 241 22S 1011 34 224 24S 16W 08 344 24S 1f>W 31 222 24S 16t1 31 422

24S 17W 01 3 .. 4 24S 1111 03 4"4 24S 17H 05 144 24S 17W 0& 433 24S 171l 09 113

24S 1711 11 Z"Z 24S 17W 11 344 24S 17W 14 4 .. 2 24S 171-1 17 422 24S 17t1 24 124

24S 17W 2" 3 .. l 24S 17H 25 244

CHANGE fROH JANUARY 1970 TO JAIIUARY 1971, HI f£ET. AND HIGHEST AND lOWEST RECORDED LEVELS IN JAN. OR FEB., III fEET REFEREt.CED TO LAIIO-SURFACE DATUM.

OIlIlEIl

GLEtiN SflUHHAY THOMAS BARR UNKNOWN LEO RUZICKA L£O RUZICKA

CHASE MCREYNOLDS REX KIP? R£X KIPI' B. f. I1ASSELL REX KIPI'

AL8ERT JOttES RAY GORDON E.W. RICHENS REX KIPI' JOHN KIP? AND BROS.

KIPP BROS. UNKNOWN

SOURCE

BLSN BLSII BLSN BLSN BLSN

BLSN BLSN BLSN 8LSN BLSN

BLSN BLSU BLSN 8LStl SLSN

BLSN BLStl

S~URCE; eU;N. BOLSON DEPOSITS

71 hATER DATE CHAIIGE LEVEL

-177.22 -127.30 -176.73 -150.75 -139.32

-111.26 -74.3£0 -99.76

-163.07 -10 0.10

-113.51 -73.90

-1011.09 -138.87 -129.16

-3.911 -1.38 -2.55 -1.32

+.40 -2.£02 -4.44 -2.72 -3. ,,0

-1.01 -.38

+6.81 -3.82 -2.90

HIGH YR

-145.14 61 -95.2<) 61

-166.60 67 -12a.59 65 -124.49 &5

-107.13 66 -67.19 55 -68.10 56

-1"0.52 65 -76.62 65

-25.22 71 -73.52 70 -117.19 56

-10<).1& 66 -23.25 71

LCW YR YEARS Of RECORD

-177 .22 -127.30 -176.13 -1'>0.75 -139.32

71 61-6<),71 71 61-66,66-71 71 6&-71 71 65-71 71 65-71

-114.10 &8 &&-71 -7'+.34 71 65-71 -99.76 71 55-71

-163.07 71 65-&0,70-71 -100.10 71 65-71

-113.51 71 64-71 -115.51 6" 56-71

-114.90 70 56-58,60-71 -138.117 71 65-71 -129.16 71 &2-71

-129.15 -4.a6 -20.33 71 -129.16 71 62-71 -137.33 -.98 -15.34 71 -137.33 71 &5-71

98 ANIMAS BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

~ - ;:/ -'''''/ i\ ," I 2ffJ' -"

-' "~ Pi> .,,--

rik".j, K" ~;"" .,; , . I® 'J ".",'

J 1\" ( "

~~ I@) '-, . 1/ -"' ..

I" .'\ I) ","

\ =i ,. IY/ ,

-- '" II \\.<, I-- I ' • , "

0 1-'" I---- ~ /' "

.,...y ( ;:;; ~ ,~ -,

'.-., . "V II \ \ :\ /' ,,'\ I

, / .'"" '""",, '''''- ( 1)',;1\ II /"

I, \ '< ,.Y, }, L / " "\ -'~ ~'iI

,) '; \ '---- \: I, i"" !"'" -,," !" / ~ 1\1,/

/ <~/ 1----'8 ~' / "/ 'l, i:':,~ ~\C

I, '", I ( ( '- -- ~'I; ''''~ \ "- '",,, "",,

/-' ----- \>'"

: , ,

" r'-, ! V-I@) I" \" / ~

" "'0 If ) ,

f\ It' t \ \ ) ) ,"~ .. [,-'" • If I'---

.-,' 0 1

EXPLANATION I' , --

I" Ob, .. >."oo ".11

Chorge 01 wolor 1.,.1 J"""'1 1~70 10 JO""",yI971 ;n leol 1-

" . ------,~ -, i

LIM ,",,,,>1"9" 1+1' l) II to .. II"! •• I,lnl."ollloot

-- II ~ , , , , '""" , 1119 w

FIGURE 42,-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Animas valley, Hidalgo County, N. Mex.

ANIMAS BASIN, SOUTffiVESTERN CLOSED BASINS

'" , '" , '\

. j.d'.

R~IW RZQW f!J9 VI

FIGURE 43.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Animas valley, Hidalgo County, N. Mex.

99

T 2 2 ,

-" 20

I , 5

l 4 s

5 T

2 S

I , s

100

,

I

~~,

I , I

v::--VI

I

I

!

,

I I I

ANIlV"lAS BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

,

~ / S V@ EXPLANATION

@ i".- I : "- / I " I;~~~

'. I Ob~crvGtlon well

-..... ij7.2i"

I "-1"',

Decline!-)"r rise (+) of woter level,

'. @ , in fecl,obove lincldeplh to water, , in fect below lond-surface datum,

/ -~,gn below line

/' ~ In~o"

LORDSBURG ,-/' /' " --

/@

,~

"" " " ,

~ 0 , +", ,

"'",

~~ ~ @ /~ /~ @, ,

"" I -4.44

-2-42 H~i ~ " 91HG "'f434 iii:vi -2.12 -3liO _~ -1,Ot! 16i07 ,,,. _ 111.51 =n "" ~i~

!16.13

-362 I 1~.07 +661 0::0 100m" <.> 8 ,

-2,~O I ~ ~H-I 'J I" ~t z c ~

I T. 0

.....::Jill..0 , il~: -L32

39.~

, I

I , , I

I I

i I I I

I

I RI9W RI8W I,

40 R 17W

FIGURE 44.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and depth to ground water in January 1971 in the Lordsburg valley, Grant and Hidalgo Counties, N. Mex.

~ 3 MILffi

, , -, "'" "'"

I ,

I

R !6W

,,-20'

2 T

2 S

-" 20

T 2 S ,

4

T 2 S 5

T 26 S

. '. ~

// V

, , I I i

I

.

I i

ANIMAS BASIN, SOUTffiVESTERN CLOSED BASINS 101

, ,

i'.. I I i

@ @3l /@ EXPLANATION

.""-. : ~ II

<:I -3,53

Obs~rvglic!> well . ~ ....... 0

I Change of water level January 1966 -19.GO

10 January 1971 In feci

", @ , , . ~

, . 0

./ """" -22.N

LORDSBURG

""" /' /' '" ~

V@ , ~ ,

~ 0'<0 0 , , ~ MIU:~ .... , , ,

""" ~h~ @

@~ , ~

-19,,49 -=; , -lo.Z4 -~36

-19.oG -I47G

>!> "'" +1161

-29.71 "\" I """ -12.65 8 8 i _1704° 0 i ' (!II l- i -1 040 .J

t z • • ,

Q " , • Q

-1M3 I

-12.74 I

: I

I

.-11 , I

i

i ; I

I RI9W

, R.17W R.16W.

FIGURE 45.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Lordsburg valley, Grant and Hidalgo Counties, N. Mex.

~

,,-20'

102 PLAYAS BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

Surface drainage in the upper (southern) Playas valley is to the nor~heast into the Hachita valley through a gap between the Little Hatchet and Big Hatchet Mountains. Lower (northern) Playas valley is separated from the upper valley by an inconspicuous alluvial divide extending from the Animas Mountains on the west to the Little Hatchet Mountains on the east, and surface drainage is northward to playas in the central part of the valley. The ground-water body underlying upper and lower Playas valleys is believed to be continuous, and the Playas Valley Underground Water Basin, declared in 1956, includes lands in both surface-water drainage basins. The declared basin embraces some 515 square miles, divided about equally between the upper and lower Playas valleys.

Sorensen (table 41) estimates that there were 6,040 acres of irrigated cropland utilizing ground water only in the Playas basin during 1970.

Water levels have been measured periodically in the Playas valley since 1948. Water-level measurements made in January 1971 (table 36), when compared with those made in January 1970, indicated only small changes except in isolated instances probably caused by recent or nearby pumpage (fig. 46). Several wells showed significant rises during 1970, mostly because of cessation of pumpage from the well or wells in the immediate area due to farms being abandoned. Water-level changes in wells measured both in 1966 and 1971 show that the water level rose in 12 wells and declined in 7 wells. Wate" levels rose more than 6 feet in two wells which had been abandoned, in the northern end of the upper valley, while nvo wells in the heavily pumped southern end of the upper valley recorded declines of more than 10 feet (fig. 47).

TABLE }6.--WATER LEVELS It< THE PLAyAS BASIN, HIDALGO COUNTY, ". HEX •• W JAflUARY 1<l71, CHANGE FRO~ JANUARY 1<l7ij TO JANUARY 1971, HI FEET, AND HIGf'EST

AND LOWEST RECORDED lEVELS IN ..lUi. OR FEB •• IN FEET REHIlE/ICEO TO LAND-SURFACE DATUM.

SOURCE: SLSN. BOLSON CEPOSITS

LOCATION DlmER SOURCE 71 HATER DATE CHANGE HIGH " '" YR YEARS OF RECORD NUMBER lEVEL

30S 1611 07 333 MRS. BOIIBY H. KILLIAN SLSN -64.5<) 1-1<) +. 36 -<;3.85 " -64,<)7 '" 56,58-&2,6£>-71 30S 1611 11 331 EUGENE HCCARTHY SLStl -51.82 1-19 -5.21 -40.94 51 -51.Be: 71 51-64,66-71 30S 16U 14 211A M. T. EVERHART, 'R. etSIl -41.19 1-19 -+1.30 -39.58 " -59.15A 57 54-62,64-67.70-71 30$ HW 16 2,.,. C.A. SOGGS SLSN -"".1& 1-21 -.34 -37.92 " -47.70 " 50- 55,57-&2,66-71 30S HH 20 33311. H.C. AND J.s. SEtWETT BLSN -59.77 1-19 +.11 -,.7.67 &3 -59.66 70 61-71

30S l&W 21 412 A.C. GILLESPIE BLSN -4".55 1-19 +1.1(1 -,.4.55 71 -46.65 " 46,53-71 30S 16H 26 334 ". GimES ~EL BLSN -52.52 1-19 -1.20 -46.03 " -&1.12 54 49-50,5"-71 30S 16W (!6 424 ". GROfSSEL BLSU -54.15 1-19 +3.0" -51.9& " -60.01 54 5"-11 30S 16W 29 4(!2 ". GROE'iSEL IlLSN -52.72 1-19 -.03 -,.3.65 "' -59.51 54 48-63,57-71 31S IMI 15 3 .. ,. BENIIETT AIID LA ROCK BLSII -53.52 1-19 -.0,. -52.15 " -69.02 " 55-71

JiS 15H 26 333 U-8AR RANCH 8LSN -39.09 1-19 -.35 -20.39 " -,.2:.27C 65 55-65,66,70-71 31S 1511 33 343 U-SAR RANCI1 BLSN -"5.21 1-19 t.12 -45.21 " -55.93 " 55-67,69-71 32S I6H 0" 133 U-SA!!: RAUCI1 8LSII - .. 6.,.6 1-21 -.26 -46.22 70 -55.37 " &5-71 32:S 16H 09 333 u-eA!!: RANCH 8LSII -6".65 1-21 -.8,. -64.01 70 -n.26 " &5.67-71 32S 1&H 16 333 U-SAR RANCH SLSN -&6.5,. 1-21 -1.15 -57.39 '" -75.60 " 65-71

32S 1611 19 333 C.O. FREEHAU 8LSU -69.06 1-2:1 "11.12: -71.14 " -100.16 70 53-63,65-67,69-71 32S HW 2:0 333 U-8AR RAHCI-! 8LSN -64.74 1-21 +.95 -75.65 " -91.4" " 61-63,65-71 32S 16W 29 333 U-SAR RM-Iel-! 8LSN -95.77 1-21 -2.59 -66.54 " -99."1 " 61-64,66-71 32S 1&11 30 m c.c. EDHARDS BLSN -96.39 1-21 -2.56 -85.51 54 -97.86 " 52:-71 32:S 16H 32 333 U-BAR RANCH BLStl -117.32 1-21 -3.17 -105.23 " -12:7.90 " 57.<;9-&5,67-71

32S 17H 36 133 U-8AR RANCH 8LSN -125.25 1-21 +13.30 -115.73 " -138.5<; 70 61-66,68-71 33S HW as 222 U-SAR RANCH SLSN -142.07 1-21 -2.01 -132.64 " -143.50 " &2-6<;,67,70-71 33S 16H 06 ""4 U-SAR RA ~CI-! 8LSti -15".11 1-21 +1.48 -130.30 61 -155.59 " 61-71 33S 16H 07 2"" U-SAR RA~CH 8LSN -171.22 1-21 +.36 -157.70 " -171.60 " 6,.-71 33S 17H 12 331 U-BAR RANCH BLSN -166.50 1-21 -165.60 " -168.10 " 65-69.71

A - WELL BEING PUMPED. C - NEAR8Y WELL PUMPING.

, " ,

PLAYAS BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

EXPLANATION

Q ~o!.;~Oc Ob~orvalion .. ~Il

Docilne H Of rl~e (tl of "",Ie, I"'ei, In feet,above HM; doplh 1Q "elor, in Ic.! b~I"" land-sur/aco datum, below llno

',-, _.Li _-,',--,5 tAli ..

/' /'

'\

--

~'2! -,-,

1/

1/

/

/ I

.J-. .L_....J, __ _

FIGURE 46.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 and depth to ground water in January 1971 in the Playas basin, Hidalgo County, N. Mex.

103

-104

; , , ,

,. , s.

,. " S.

,. , S.

,. , ,

,. 0

s.

PLAYAS BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

R.IGW. f!1!iW r- ----.T-- --------r----~,-'-'-7----r-

(" ,. f' ';'

'"'" I "', ~% I

" • E){PLAtlAT10N

~ Q-IOO --- i .r- 'i

OburvQ~on"ell i !I g Ct>gnQ~ of "Ote. levol Jcn~ary 1966

10 January 1971 in feol

t" II

0 , , ~"Iln

/ , ,

V / / -Z78

+L12 °H.~1

V- +! SO c I -''1 I' .••

• 511 :::Y

f-- '-.

" c .~

---,/

1---' '---" ~., <-

... HIO ~>' f--C ..y~ ... "\.., i ..~ ~

il . .,- / "0" / r4/NS

.. 3.00

"- ./ / ~l,U

.. $.62

£!J2 +M~

r--- .. ~ / / "~I.lO .5.G4

L _u

II _II GO If ~ /' t---~

• _H1H - /' o '\ ( f t

~ , ~

r 1"-:; -1£0<:;>--1---'" ~r..ql"'s

/ \ I

"'~ ""-$TAn 'i \ ~I -",

"0 f.o<:, :rING " 1-0. if

""1-$

---.---- --- '---- --.- Y~!!i?_J!t!.E..s_ ---- ._- ------I-J_L_ MEXICO

FIGURE 47.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Playas basin, Hidalgo County, N. Mex.

MIMBRES BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS 105

Mimbres Basin, Dona Ana, Grant, Luna, and Sierra Counties

Mimbres basin, lying principally in Grant and Luna Counties, is a topographically closed drainage area of some 4,515 square miles. Mimbres River, principal surface drainage of the area and only stream worthy of the name in the Southwestern closed basins, is perennial from its sources in the Black Range and Mimbres Mountains to a point about 20 miles north of the city of Deming; here it flows across wide desert plains where the water is absorbed into the beds of sand and gravel that form the valley floor. Surface flows of the Mimbres River were completely developed for irrigation by 1900.

Mimbres Basin in Grant County

That part of the Mimbres basin which lies in Grant County is, in the main, high mountainous terrain. Irrigation is limited to small tracts in narrow valleys along the upper Mimbres River, the Gila River, and their tributaries. Irrigated cropland in 1970, according to Sorensen (table 41), consisted of about 140 acres utilizing water only and about 640 acres utilizing surface water and ground water combined.

Most of the water for municipal and industrial uses in the Grant County industrial complex is provided by wells, though some collection galleries and cisterns also are utilized. Ground water is pumped from wells near Silver City for municipal and industrial uses, primarily for the Silver City-CentralBayard-Hurley-Santa Rita industrial complex. Most wells are finished in bolson deposits or in the Gila Conglomerate. Kennecott Copper Corporation obtains surface water from a storage reservoir on Whitewater Creek, an intermittent tributary of Mimbres River, for use in its operations at Santa Rita and Hurley.

Water levels were measured in 11 wells in January 1971, mostly located in well fields for the towns of Silver City, Bayard, Central, and Tyrone. Data for these wells are listed in table 37.

Nutt-Hockett Area

Clearing of ranch land and drilling of irrigation wells in the extreme northeastern part of Luna County began in 1955. Farming began on the Tom Hall Hanch southeast of the community of Nutt, locally referred to as the Nutt-Hockett area. The Nutt-Hockett Underground Water Basin, embracing some 133 square miles, was declared by the State Engineer in August 1961.

Irrigated acreage increased steadily from about 770 acres in 1960 to 1,700 acres in 1965. During the period 1966-70 a considerable increase in development occurred, and in 1970 Sorensen (table 41) estimated that there were 10,190 acres of irrigated cropland utilizing ground water only. Cotton, tomatoes, and green chili are the principal crops. The additional development occurred, primarily, because of the ready market for tomatoes and green chili in nearby Las Cruces when a cannery was established there.

106 MIMBRES BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

Measurement of water levels, started in 1961, was continued through 1970 with 14 wells being measured in January 1971 (table 37). During the 5-year period 1966-70, water levels declined in every well measured with declines ranging from 6.23 feet to 28.57 feet and averaging 21.65.

Spalding-Deming-Columbus Area

Ground-water development for irrigation began in 1908 in the area around Deming and in the Lewis Flats area about 12 miles east of Deming. From 1951 to 1954 development in the area increased with the addition of the Columbus, Red Mountain, and Franklin areas. The Mimbres Underground Water Basin was

declared by the State Engineer in July 1931 and extended in 1942, 1956, 1960, 1969, and 1970. Total declared area presently is about 3,379 square miles and embraces the area refered to as Spalding-Deming-Columbus in this report. The pumping of some deep artesian wells that tap a confined or semi-confined aqUifer causes declines in wells a few miles away which penetrate the same aquifer at shallower depths. The State Engineer has restricted depths of artesian wells in several areas to a maximum of 230 feet.

The ground-water reservoir is recharged mainly by runoff from the nearby mountains onto the permeable beds of valley fill forming the valley floor. Water levels have declined steadily, with only minor exceptions, since measurements began in 1939, indicating that the amount of water pumped in'the Spalding-Deming-Columbus area exceeds recharge to the groundwater reservoir and that water is being pumped from storage.

Sorensen (table 41) estimated that in 1970 there were 50,290 acres of irrigated cropland utilizing ground water only in the Spalding-DemingColumbus area.

Average annual precipitation at Deming during the 5-year period 1966-70 WaS 8.08 inches, 0.76 below normal. The highest annual precipitation for the period was 9.30 inches in 1968; the lowest annual was 6.66 inches in 1970.

Declines of more than 6 feet were recorded in areas southwest of Deming and south of Columbus during 1970 (fig. 48 and fig. 50). Several isolated areas recorded small rises generally involving only one or two wells. During the 5-year period 1966-70 water levels declined more than 12 feet in the same area southwest of Deming and in a small area west of Red Mountain (fig. 49). The largest water-level decline recorded in the State for the 5-year period, more than 30 feet, occurred in a small area southwest of Columbus (fig. 51).

Water levels were measured in 119 wells during January 1971 in the Spalding-Deming-Columbus area; data are presented for these wells in table 37.

MIMBRES BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS 107

TABLE n.--I/ATER LEVELS IN THE MIHBRES SASIN, DONA ANA, GRAIIT. LUNA, AND SIERRA COUlillES. II. HEX., IN JANUARY 1'H:I., CHANGE FROM JAIIUAR'f 1970 TO JAnUARY 1971, IN FEET, AND HIGHEST

LOCATION IIUHBEI!

18S 131>1 11 4"-" 18$ 13H 12 1139 165 1311 14 ZZ1A 185 1311 11, 244 18S 131/ 15 434 15S l"H 30 3210

HIS iSH 36 422 1<JS 13>1 2'3 421 20S 111l 07 334 20S 1111 1<) 111 lOS 111l 30 113

LOCATION NUW1ER

lllS {ISH 3D 322 lOS 05H 31 334 205 0511 l2 3'<4 20S 05H 32 4!t4 20S 05H 34 111

20S 01511 35 132 :US 05H 05 344 215 O<;iH 05 444 21S DSH 06 131 21S 05H 06 444

21S 051<1 DB 444 21S 051i 26 133 215 OSH 34 120 21S 0511 lit Itltlt

LOCATION NUMBER

21S 11H 13 1t110 21S 1111 20 1t21 21S l1H 2:9 2:J3 21S l1H 35 310

22S 0911 31 32:2: 22S 0911 31t 1t31t 22S 1111 02 210 2:2S 1111 13 1ll 22S 1111 13 221

22S 1111 23 222 US 1111 21t 211 23S a 61i 26 131B 23S 0811 26 24U 2~S 061i 33 212

23S 081i 34 211 2~S 0614 3'7 23JA 23S 091i 07 240 2~S 09H 31 110 24S 071i 09 111A

24S 07H 10 111 24S 071i 11 111 24S 0711 12 111 24S 07H 13 212A 24S 071i 13 311

24S 011'1 1~ 331 2~S 01H 21 222a 24S 071i 26 113 2~S 061i 07 311 2~S 06\1 06 121A

2~S 06~ 29 211 24S 0911 01 222 24S 0'011 06 431A 24S O'OW 07 331A 24S O'OW 15 221A

24S 0'011 1'0 111 24S 0'011 22 311 24S Q'OH 23 322 24S 09101 29 211 24S 091'1 31 121

AUO LOIIEST RECORDED LEVELS IN JAN. OR fEB., IN FEET REFERENCEO TO LAN[-SURfACE DATUM.

SOURCE: BLSN, BOLSON OEPO~ITS; lLVT, TERTIARY LAVA AND TUfF; GILA, GILA COtlGLOMERATE

OIiNER

THOMAS FOY CITY Of eAYARD CITY Of SA YARD KEUNECOTT COPPER CORP TOI/tl Of CEUTRAL TOWN OF SILVER CITY

PACIFIC HESTERft LAtm J.L. HCCAULEY TOVREA RANCH KENNECOTT COPPER CORP KENNECOTT COPPER CORP

OWNER

LEONARD FARMS LEONARO FARMS LEONARD FARMS LEONARD FARHS LEONARD FARHS

LEONARO FARHS LEONARD fARMS LEONARD FARMS LEOIIARO FARMS LEOUARO FARHS

LEONARD FARMS LEctlARO FARMS LEONARD FARMS II.A. IIIIIOER

OWNER

PERRIN HARVIll HOODY T.K. YATES STATE OF N. HEX.

P.O. TORRES RANDOLPH FRAIIKS STATE OF HEll MEXICO STATE OF NEW MEXICO STATE OF NEH MEXICO

STATE Of NEW MEXICO STATE OF !fEll 11EXICO C. H. LEWIS N.N. MC CRARY /I..H. CEBALLOS

GLENN E. FOX G.X. HC SHERRY P.O. TORRES SCHAVER ANO LINDAUER SMYER SROS

G. D. HA TfIELO J.L. PERRItl R. AN~ A. VIRAMONTES JOSEPH MICHAEL VIRAMONTES

C. At1D R. MILLER SILL JARVIS BILL BIRCHFIELD A.A. KEELER J.E. RHODES

A.R. BOt1D TOliN OF DEMING II.G. JONAS F.II. GU/I.OERRAHA JOE LUTONSKV

FRAUCIS L!GOCKY JOE HRNA JAHES W. OQUALOSOt1 JOE HEPVOL R. EGGLESTOt1

SOURCE

GILA GILA

GILA GILl\. GILA

GILA GILA BLSN BLSt1 BLSll

SOURCE

SLSll BLSN BLSN BLSN BLSII

aLSN BLSt1 BLSII BLSII BLSU

SLSIl BLSII SLStl BLSt1

SOURCE

BLStl BLSN BLSll BLSN

BLSN SLStl BLSll BLSt1 BLSN

BLSII BLSN BLSll BLSt1 BLSll

BLSIl BLSt1 BLSU BLSt1 BLSN

SLSll BLSt1 BLSU BLSN BLSN

BLStl BLSN SLSN BLSN BLStl

BLSN BLSN SLSN BLSN BLSN

BLSN BLSN BLSU BLStl BLStl

HIMBRES BASH! III GRANT COUNTY

71 IIATER DATE CHANGE HIGH YR LOW YR VEARS OF RECORO LEVEL

~61.60 ~95. '05 ~81.38

~59.50 -180.65 -353.70

-433.74 -106.54 -102.89 -113.53 -164.40

1-06 1-06 1-06 1-06 1-07 1-11

1-11 1-07 1-07 1-07 1-11

-11.95 -13.00

+6.06

-.07 +7.60 -1.33

NUTT-HOCKETT AREA

11 WATER DATE CHANGE LEVEL

-81.00 -68.72 -94.22

-107.02 -130.9~

-135.95 -107.55 -124.17 -91.19 -9&.23

-128.45 -12'0.58 -137.2~

-14&.35

1-22 1-16 1-16 1-22 1-22

1-22 1-25 1-25 1-25 1-25

1-25 1-25 1-25 1-25

-1.65 -6.80 -8.2:7 -3.77 -1.08

+13.21 -5.22 -4.10 -&.29

-11.93

-4. e9 -2.44 -2.36 -l.10

SPALOING-OEHING-COLUHSUS AREA

-50.5111.50 -61.60 -55.10 50 -95.95 -49.65 51 -81.38 -46.41 54 -59.50

-168.93 56 -160.65 -302.70 56 -359.76

11 48-50,52,54-71 71 46-61,66-71 11 51,53-62,11 7i 54-11 71 54-66,71 10 54-62,64-61,70-71

-401.9l 59 -433.74 71 5'0-69,71 -105.44 &7 -114.62 56 54-71

-55.65 59 -102.69 7i $7-65,67-66,70-71 10 55,57-71 -5Z.39 55 -lZ1.13

-14'0.71 55 -164.40 71 55,57-71

HIGH YR LOW VR YEARS OF RECORD

-46.31862 -61.011 71 U-71 -54.69 5S -88.72 11 59-11 -62:.80 63 -'04.22 71 61-71 -76.35 1)2 -107.02 71 61-71

-100.95 65 -130.94 11 65-71

-125.55 &1 -149.H; 10 6~-66,70-71

-61.08 62 -101.55 71 61-66,&8-71 -96.57 &3 -124.17 71 61-&5,66-71 -59.62 G2 -91.19 71 61-71 -63.2'0 G3 -96.23 71 61-66,58-11

-102.06 Gl -112.21 G5 -122.34 65 -133.00 65

.,128.45 -12.9.'76 -131.20 -1106.35

71 61-11 71 65-71 11 64~11 71 E4-65,67-71

71 hATER DATE CHANGE HIGH 'iR LOll YR VEARS OF RECORD LEVEL

-57.15 -51.46 -53.37 -31.65

-1311.&0 -186.05 ~39.12

-79.38 -83.2'0

-59.16 -61.59 -64.73 -66.40 -61.92

-59.74 -7S.;HS

-118.62: -11~.48

-87.99

-100.'7'7 -94.<)7 -'02.57 -74.70 -95.67

-94.65 -81.76 -85.96 -64.21 -72.61

-79.118 -80.68

-118.11 -lZ0.49 -111.47

-'l3.6e -133.11 -117.18 -136.65 -1310.35

1-19 1-19 -.56 1-19 .2.51 1-19 +1.25

1-19 1-28 1-1'0 1-19 1-19

1-26 1-26 1-26 1-28 1-28

1-21 1-21 1-20 1-20 1-21

1-21 1-21 1-21 1-21 1-21

-3.22 -1.73 -2.6<)

-1.16 -1.51 -4.68 -.68 +. 41

-2.73

-1.81 -.ao -. a1 -.40

-.04 -1.62 +.~7 -.33 +.07

+.38 ~.79

+2.06 -.07

+4.11

-1.86 -3.83 -2.70

-57.15 11 ~4'O.02 60 -53.37 71 -16.76 32

-126.83 61 -175.68 G1 -21.44 102 -5'0.66 32 -66.71t 32

-47.43 102 -74.62 50 -49.04 53 -50.69 49 -53.72 59

-30.15 32 -51.94 63 -97.06 40 -75.36 40 -36.22 47

~2:a.7J 41 -74.69 39 -B6.17 60 -65.60 52 -6'0.97 39

-16.06 liS -77.90 66 -69.59 43 -7 Z.30 511 -63.46 60

-66.56 60 -54.69 104

-104.50 62 -92.65 53 -64.65 48

-72.82 40 -69.50 105 -90.11 58

-112.80 56 -109.56 60

-60.79 &6 66,71 -59.74 68 &0-11 -57.66 62 60-64,66-68,10-71 -~1.73 62 31-71

-138.&0 11 61-66,66-69,71 -166.90 69 61-69,11 -42.42 &2 31-71 -79.36 71 31-71 -83.29 71 31-11

-61.03 62 30-71 -63.31 65 46-11 -65.72 66 50-66,70-11 -69.40 67 49~71 -65.81 67 56-11

-60.08 67 31-71 -75.37B 71 63-67,69,71

-124.7'0 10 100-71 -114.48 71 40-60,62-69,71 -89.47 70 46-71

-100.55 11 100-51,53,61-71 -<)9.55 67 39-61,&3-11 -92.57 71 55-71 -74.70 71 52,54-71

-106.04C 62 39-63,65-67,71

-99.15C 57 40-65,G8-71 -61.76 71 66,70-11 -86.43 70 41-46,51-71 -64.Z1 11 58-11 -72.&6 70 60-11

-19.86 70 60-66,68,10-71 -'OO.41a 60 102-50,52-63,65-66,70-11

-123.60 67 61-71 -123.12 66 53-60,62-66,611-71 -111.47 71 48-11

-108.13 61 40-11 -141.1I7C 57 45-67,69,71 -117.16 71 58-71 -136.85 11 58-G6,68-71 -134.35 71 60-11

SEE fOOTNOTES AT ENO OF TAIlLE.

108 MIMBRES BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

TASLE 37.--WATER LEVELS IN THE I1II'18RES BASIN. DONA ANA, GRANT, LUNA, AIlO SIERRA COUNTIES, N. HEX., IN JANUARY 1<)71, CHANGE FRON JANU~RY 1<)70 TO JANUARY 1971, IN FEET, AND HIGHEST

LOCATION NUH8ER

245 OQH 33 113 24$ 09H 35 J31A 24$ lOll 03 4118 24$ 1011 Zl 211 24$ 11H 01 311

24$ 1111 06 .. 10 .. 24S l1H 11 211 24S 11t1 12 211 ZitS 11W 12 324 24$ 11H 13 311

24$ illl 14 122 24$ l1H 14 311 24$ till 15 312 245 1111 24 Hi 24$ 11101 26 231

24S 1iH 29 112 24$ 11\1 33 222 20;$ 116H 02 111 2'>S 0611 OJ 111 2<;$ OIiW 04 111

<,<;$ O&H 05 111 ZSS 06W 07 211 2SS 06'1 08 112A 2<;$ 06W 09 111 255 0611 15 nz 25$ 06H 16 111A 2<;S 116H 17 111 25S 11711 01 122 25S 07H 02 '+44A 2'5S 0801 07 '+22

Z5S 0911 06 131 25S 119W 12 311A 25S II'lH 15 231 25S 0901 24 222A 2"S O'lW 25 111A

25S 11911 28 221 25S II'lH 30 212A 25S 0911 35 211A 25S !nil 13 412 2'5S lOW 36 111A

25S 1111 11 121 26S 0 ew 30 112 2f>S 09W 112 221 26S O'lW 0'+ 331 26S 09W 29 111

26S 1011 01 311A 26S :I. Oil 13 321 26S lOW 25 211 27S 07W 30 311A 27S 0811 00 111

27S 08w 15 131 27S 08W 18 I2iA. 27S DOli 25 231A 27S 08W 27 412 27S 0 OW 32 440

27S 0811 35 113 27S 0011 35 122 27S O'lH 111 431 27S 10H 14 334 27S lOW 15 411

28S 11711 116 H1 28S 0711 09 411 2~S 0711 19 220 28S 071i 28 124 211S oaw 02 111

20S 1I0W 24 111 26S oaw 25 211 28S 0001 25 311 20S oow 2e- 122 2as 11001 36 '+11

2'1S oow 112 111 2'1S 09W 119 421 295 09W 17 111 2"lS O"lW 17 222 2"lS 1 011 07 443

29S lOW 09 111 2"lS 1 011 10 212 2"lS 10H 11 2Z2 29S lOW 14 222 29S lOW 15 111

AND lOHEST RECORDED lEVELS HI JAN. OR FEB •• III FEET REfERHCED TO LANe-SURFACE DATL/H,

SOURCE: BlSN. eOLSON DEPOSITS; TLIIT, TERTIARY LAVA AND TUFF; GILA, GILA CONGLOMERATE

SPALOItIG-OEHIIlG-COLUH6US A~EA

JOEL HESTAND CARLOS ALBA A.M. AND a.L. SPEIR f.f. HURT J.D. SHITH

UNKNOWN RAYMOND COH!NGAS UNKNOWN LEE PALAYO S.C. PHILLIPS

CHARLES wALDROP CHARLES WALDROP CLIVER RUE BUSH HACRID S.C. PHILLIPS

HARK TfRRY J.H. PATTERSON C. H. JOHNSm" JR. E.C. ROSS H.O. OOUGLAS

CLAUC HCOONALO H. C. TELLES J. H. SHANKLIN JOE E. MORRISON UNKNOWN

L.C. IHLLIAHS VON GLAHN fARMWG CO. CLAUDE HIZER SILL SIRCHFIELD O.B. HC CONATHY

JAMES YATES R.J. SISHOp C. H. PAULK GONZALES AND PACHECO VICTOR I(OENIG

A.P. H(' BRIDE ERNEST "A~SH L.V. KOENIG LEON HURST G.G. GUAOERRAHA

SOB WILCOX S.A. BONO TOH R. TAYLOR R.E. SHYER HILSet' AND HORTMAN

FRANKLIN AND THARP CARROL SCOTT HILSON AND WORTHAN ERNEST IRWIN LORENZO CEBALLOS

HILARIO LOPEZ JAMES KEELER CLAUDE IRWIN UNKNOWN M~S. THELMA INHON

..J.R. GIBSON HRS. M.'t. GISSON I.G. eU~NS JOE ANO FRANK HER vAL JOE AND fRANK UERVAL

E.L. BRAHLEY PAUL J. GUAHE G.G. GUAOERRAHA LEON TELLES JIH GIP.SOti

L.G. GUAOERRAHA LOUIS P. QUESOA H.R. HEHLEY G. ESPINOSA H.R. HEMlEY

DICK IfARHON OARLENE HOPPE~ H. ANO G. RANCH H. AND G. RANCH H. R. JOHNSON AND SON

IRHIN S"ITlER W.R. JOHNSON AND SON SPIKES aROS. GORE AllO IlILSURtl RALPH ..JOHIlSON

SOURCE

SLSti 8LStI BLSU 8LSN BLStI

BLSN BLStl eLSN eLStl SLSN

BLSN 8LSN aLSN SLSN eLSN

BLSN BLSN 8LSN SLStl eLSN

IllSN 8LSN eLSN eLSN BLSN

BLSN eLSN aLSN BLSN 8LSN

eLSN 8LSN BLSN €'LSN eLSN

eLSN eLSN eLSN eLSN BLSN

SLSN BLStl eLSN BLSN BLStl

flLStl IlLSN eLSt! BLSN SlSN

eLStl BLSN aLSN SLSN ~LStl

IlLSN SLSN eLSN SLSN eLSN

BLSN SLSN BLSN BLSN eLSN

SLSN IlLSN SLSN SLSN BLSN

BLSN BLSN flLStl eLSN BLStl

BLSN eLSN TLVT TLVT TLVT

71 HATER DATE CHA/ICE LEVEL

-139.16 -12~.3G -113.68 -112.30 -1~9.24

-165.85 -159.06 -163.60 -163.76 -161.02

-175.02 -160.60 -147.21 -130.56 -126.94

-127.40 -11~.96 -32.06 -39.41 -9~.63

-116.69 -09."l3 -33.93 -9~.OO

-23.68

-96.41 -78.05 -90.35 -64.36

-102.65

-134.30 -117.95 -127.20 -102.72 -103.2a

-127.43 -128.02

-911.53 -125.59 -100.93

-116.12 -43.70 -79.41 -96.99 -56.92

-99.96 -76.~3

-65.63 -109.60

-46.68

-75.53 -113.85 -9~.02

-84.60 -267.32

-110.57 -73.51 -35.30

-109.66 -110.62

-10~.50

-142.57 -136.70 -127.73

-93.09

-9 O. 02 -71.76 -73.17 -911.82 -19.54

-74.39 -345.08 -298.32 -305.21 -21Z.-34

-226.97 -230.20 -257.25 -221.50 -116.6~

1-21 1-21 1-20 1-21 1-20

1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20

1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20

1-21 1-21 1-21 1-27 1-27

1-27 1-27 1-27 1-26 1-27

1-27 1-27 1-22 1-28 1-28

-Z.76 -.30

-1.90

+1.10 -2.62 -2.07 -1.09 -1.90

+2.20 +1.35 -3.20 -2.08 -1.39

-1.40 -1.55 +1.73 +5.40 -1.26

-.15 +. 06

-2.24 -1.41 -3.34

-1.01 -1.41

-3.69 -2.37 -.~O -.67

-2. ~8

-1. 90 -4.78 -2.07 -6.09 -5.13

-.51 -.91

-1.26 -1.52 -.87

-2.12 -1.11 -.5~

+3. so -5.58

-2.97 -.12

+3.01 -3.25 -1.5'+

-'+.86 -'+.06 -.12 -.99

-1.03

1-27 +3.70 1-21 1-26 1-27 +19. ,,2 1-26 -4.19

1-27 1-27 1-27 1-27 1-27

1-27 1-27 1-27 1-27 1-27

-3.22 -5.92 -5.22 -4.39 -.48

-6.32 -6.15

+13.32 -7.98

-11.15

-1.06 -2.53 -2.63 -2.43 -6.75

HIGH YR

-110.64 59 -03 .O~ 52 -75.34 ~2

-69.61 ~2 -10Z.96 52

-159."5 65 -108.41 52 -150.71 63

-96.53 51 -95.48 52

-107.66 52 -111.93 54 -110.63 54

-61.05 52 -67.68 54

-114.66 60 -92.79 60

-1.29 53 -4.05 53

-66.64 53

-70.63 53 -66.13 53 -14.77 62 -&5.48 53 -10.60 65

-73.15 62 -6~.67 53 -69.99 53 -72.10 54 -02.60 60

-118.75 65 -95.05 61 -96.25 5 e -52.15 46 -73.50 57

-96.4'+ 58 -'l2.40 55 -58.65 51 -77.56 50 -63.69 60

-76.22 61 -37.23 61 -39.69 41 -52.28 ~1 -55.06 69

-11'+.43 62 -65.23 60 -56.10 60 -49.10 55 -25.66 54

-32.90 S3 -73.48 65 -73.54 62 -57.60 63

-220.90 54

-31.08 54 -21.10 53 -30.61 54

-105.04 65 -105.77 65

LOW YR YEARS Of RECORD

-139.16 -12~.311 -117.97 -112.30 -149.24

71 59-71 71 52-53,55-71 67 40-11 71 41-69,71 71 51-71

-166.95 10 64-71 -159.06 71 51-71 -163.66 71 63-71 -163.76 11 51-71 -161.02 71 52-11

-177.22 70 51-71 -162.15 70 54-71 -147.211 611 54-71 -130.58 71 52-71 -131.50 66 54-11

-127.40 71 60-71 -114.96 71 60-71 -33.99 66 52-71 -44.81 10 52-71 -96.18 64 52-71

-116.69 71 52-66,68-71 -89.99 70 '53-71 -47.43A 67 61-68,70-71 -94.00 71 53-71 -23.68 71 65-71

-96.41 -82.27 -90.35 -84.36

-102.65

11 61-71 70 53-71 71 53-69,71 71 52-11 71 60-71

-134.30 71 65-71 -117.95 71 61-71 -127.20 71 58-71 -102.72 71 ~6-51,53-71 -103.28 71 57-71

-127.43 71 58-71 -128.02 71 55-71 -98.53 71 50-71

-125.59 11 50-71 -100.93 71 60-71

-89.33 68 61-68,70-71 -43.70 71 61-71 -79.~1 71 -O.~O-60.66-71

-800.60 61 41-46,48-63,65,68-71 -56.92 71 69-71

-99.96 71 62-71 -79.84 69 60-67,6"l-71 -55.63 71 60-71

-113.10 70 55-71 -48.66 71 5~-57.59-71

-75.53 71 52-60,70-71 -83.85 11 65-71 -99.311 69 61-71 -84.50 71 63-66,66-71

-267.32 71 54-65,67,69-71

-80.57 71 5'+-71 -73.51 11 52-GO,70-71 -36.89 65 54-71

-109.66 71 55-71 -110.62 11 65-71

-51.56 59 -108.20 70 5~-71 -57.16 54 -154.67 69 54-69,71 -56.35 54 -155.17 69 5~-67,69,71 -12.12 53 -149.48 69 52-71 -~9.26 58 -93.09 11 57-71

-48.19 55 -25.62 53 -27.79 53 -69.73 59 -18.19 69

-63.47 65 -319.31 66 -264.72 63 -269.35 63 -16Z.55 65

-200.15 65 -220.'+4 66 -234.56 56 -205.24 61 -157.17 61

-90.02 71 54-71 -71.76 71 53-71 -73.17 71 53,55-71 -96.82 71 57-71 -32.45 61 54-71

-74.39 -3~5.06 -311.64 -305.Z1 -212.34

71 &5-67,69-71 71 66-71 70 63-71 71 63-71 71 65-71

-226.97 71 &5-71 -230.20 71 f>!;-71 -257.25 71 55-66,66-71 -226.70 69 &1-71 -176.6'+ 71 61-&6,66-71

A WELL BEING PUMPED. 1:1 WELL PUMPED RECENTLY. C NEARBY WELL PUMPING.

RIIW RIOW, R,7W R6W

\/ N PACIFIC

SoUTHER U. S, HWY 70 AND ao

1"- 1 I (~

1\ ) ,>

o ':: Mrs. t

:51--11----+- --+- +\--+/, /~I--t-I/I'-flI/_o_+7"/--j,4)11++-+lI_o +-+--J--i S \ I ' / }--' \...--,.,.,."

EXPLANATION oR

Observation well

l \ \ "'~I'-- ,\1 \ ~ '-' -, 11 ( R indicates well equipped

with woter-stage recorder)

-----1-------. Line showing decline(-jor rise (+) of woter

in feet) interval 1 foot.

o , 3 , 5 MilH

FIGURE 48.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Deming area of Mimbres basin, Luna County, N. Mex.

T 24 $,

'0-

~

T 25 S

-

f--+-+--+----+- -, I-~,-l---I L o I 2 3 4 5 Miles

L' _L' --"~-"_-"---"

FIGURE 49.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Deming area of Mimbres basin, Luna County, N. Mex.

I

.lL ;I i I\,\:~'J 1\

EXPLANAtiON o

Observation well

Line showing rise (t-)or decline {-)of woter level in feet i Interval I foot

o , 5 MILES ,

FIGURE 50.-- Change of ground-water level from January 1970 to January 1971 in the Columbus area of Mimbres basin, Luna County, N. Mex.

,

I 26 S

I 27

, s

I 28 s

,

--I

I , I

I I----j- :--

29 B' S_L_:-;-~ 'RIIW

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--'----- -2_________. "--- - _4 ..

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interva I 2 feel.

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t ,

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" ~ , "~ •

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-

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=1- \\\\'\\ I .-'. - Q _. --- ------r-r --1--~[ ill:'~'-".i-~Mt~ -±- >~ - _1- ---'-0-''''- -- '- -- -_ ",-,,- ---'--.- -- -,,- ~> ___ I __ -RIOW R9W Raw R.7W R6W. R.5W.

FIGURE 51_-- Change of ground-water level from January 1966 to January 1971 in the Columbus area of Mimbres basin, Luna County, N. Mex.

113

IRRIGATED CROPLAND ACREAGE IN NEW MEXICO, 1970

by

Earl F. Sorensen

State Engineer Office

The major river basin areas in New Mexico used in river basin studies under the direction of the U.S. Water Resource Council and in the New Mexico State Water Plan differ somewhat from the arrangement of the basins outlined on figure 1. The nine surface-water drainage basins shown on figure 1 have been re-assembled into the six basin areas outlined and named on figure 52. Re-assembly of the nine basins results in the six basins being defi~ed as follows: 1) the Arkansas-White-Red River Basin includes the Arkansas River basin (areas 1-1 through 1-6) and Red River basin (area 2-1) of the Southern.High Plains; 2) the Texas-Gulf Basin includes areas 2-2 and 2-3 of the Southern High Plains; 3) the Pecos River Basin is the same in both instances; 4) the Rio Grande Basin includes areas 5-1 through 5-3 of the Rio Grande basin, all of the Central closed (areas 4-1 through 4-4) and Western closed basins (areas 6-1 and 6-2) together with areas 9-2 through 9-4 of the Southwestern closed basins; 5) the Lower Colorado River Basin, enlarged to include area 9-1 of the Southwestern closed basins, includes all areas west of the Continental Divide and south of the boundary between the Lower Colorado and San Juan River basins in New Mexico; and 6) the Upper Colorado River Basin includes the same areas as the San Juan River basin (areas 7-1 and 7-2) . Data presented in this section (Irrigated cropland acreage in New Mexico, 1970) are referenced to the six major river basin areas.

The year 1970 was about a normal year for most New Mexico farmers and ranchers. During the first nine months, streamflow was near or above the median in all except the southwestern part of the State where it was generally below the median. During the last three months, streamflow generally exceeded the median except in the Gila River system where it was deficient. In areas where ground water was used for irrigation, crops received essentially a full water supply.

114

c .;;; 0 ro ~ ., .~ a:: 0

"0 0 ~

0 "0 u ~

~ 0 .J

IRRIGATED CROPLAND IN NEW MEXICO, 1970

a-I

ARKANSAS AIVCR BASIN

I_I, CANA01 .... N RIVER

1_ 2, PURGATOIRE RIVEP

1_ 3, ORY CIMARRON RIVE.FI

1_ 4, CARRIZOZO CREEK

sq .... ,'-"s

1.~.056

90

'"0 2:;00

I • 5, NORTH CANAa''''N "I.IVER 1.040

I.e, CARRIZO CREEK 1.950

IQ..nL_ l!.,9615

GOUTHE:RN HIGH PLA!NS

2_1, REO RIVER

:2-2. BRAZOS RIVCR

2_3. LEA PLATEAU

TOT",,,,

PECOS RIVER BASIN

3- I. PECOS RIVER

65.

720

4,766 6,143

25,922

n------><l!<-f Rio Grande Basin

" !, ,! :: I

, "

, ' " :' , , ': " :' "

" ,! " "

" Il' ,: , , , :' "

,.AG'N

A,.UI: ... e 'N

GQ_ ""L!:S

CENTRAL CLOSED BASINS

-4 _" ESTANCIA SASIN

4-2 • .JOANAO ... DEL MJERTO

4_3. TULAROSA E'ASIN

4_4, SAt..T BASIN

RIO GRANDE BASIN

5_1, RIO GRANDE

15_2. COSTILLA CI'IEEK

5_~. 1'110 SAN ANTONIO

2.220

3,47!>

6,540

:2,370

1460S.

25,390

230

2.0 TO.AL 25 seo

WESTEI'IN CLOSf:O BASINS

6_1. NORTH PLAINS 1,000

6_2, S .... N .l\GUSTIN PLAINS 1,9615 2.965

" ,! " :11 , " "

, "

,

..... OIN

SAN .JUAN RIVER 0ASIN

7 _ I, SAN JUAN RIVER

7_2. N .... VAJO RIVER

9,495

245

,""""-_co,,. 7'" 0

\..OWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN

0_1, LITTLE COLORADO RIVER 5.310

0_2, SAN F"RANCISCO RIV€R 1.905

13_3, GILA RIVER 3,490

9_4, SAN SIMON CREEK 220

!',00"",--_2-'1 O. 92 5 SOUTHWESTERN CLOSED BASINS

9_1, ANIMAS DASIN 2,430

IlI-:2,MIMBAES BASIN 4.410

9_3, PL, .... yAS BASIN

Q_4, W .... MEL BASIN

TOTAL

GTA"'£ TO ...... 1...

I ..... 1 GI

070 8 ..... 20

121,666

FIGURE 52. -- Maj or river basins in New Mexico.

r V> 0 0 u !:

" CJ

IRRIGATED CROPLAND IN NmV MEXICO, 1970 115

Four tables and one additional figure were prepared for this section. In generaL, most agricultural data in New Mexico are compiled and published on a county basis rather than for a specific area or drainage basin; tables 38 and 39 were compiled after this fashion. Table 38 shows the development of irrigated cropland in New Mexico counties from 1940 through 1970. The acreage amounts shown for 5-year intervals 1940 through 1965 were compiled by agencies credited in the footnote of the table and were assembled from the best data available. Acreage figures for 1969 and 1970 were compiled by the State Engineer Office and are based on court decrees, adjudications, hydrographic surveys, etc. The acreages for 1969 and 1970 are also based in part on results of a cooperative program between the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey and the New Mexico State Engineer Office. Under this program, aerial photography is acquired for areas where data are generally lacking and for areas where irrigated acreage is expanding rapidly. After the photos are obtained, the procedure to determine irrigated acreage is as follows: 1) control points are located on the photos and on topographic quadrangle sheets after which base maps at a scale of 5 inches equal 1 mile are prepared; 2) outlines of probable irrigated areas are projected from the photos to the base maps; 3) the photos and the base maps are field checked to determine areas irrigated and the source of irrigation water; and 4) the base maps are returned to the office and areas planimetered to determine the amount of irrigated acreage.

Some confusion may exist in terms used to describe acreages of irrigated land. As used herein, the term "cropland" or "irrigated cropland" includes the sum of irrigated acreage of planted crops, diverted acreage, and idle or fallow acreage; the terms also mean that such acreage was developed and that irrigation works existed to apply water to the land. Details of planted irrigated acreage, and diverted, idle, and fallow acreage may be found in "New Mexico Agricultural Statistics," a series published annually by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Statistical Reporting Service, and in another annual series entitled "New Mexico Agriculture," published by the New Mexico State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Only the total irrigated cropland acreages are discussed in this section and the reader is referred to the above-mentioned series for details of acreages that make up the totals.

Table 38 shows that between 1940 and 1970, irrigated cropland more than doubled (from 553,200 to 1,256,130 acres). Between 1965 and 1970, the irrigated cropland increased by about 19 percent (from 1,054,560 to 1,256,130 acres). Since 1965, most of the increase in irrigated cropland acreage resulted from expanded use of ground-water sources in Curry, Roosevelt, Hidalgo, and Luna Counties. The use of combined surface- and ground-water sources increased in the middle Rio Grande, Elephant Butte, and Carlsbad areas (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects); however, the total irrigated cropland acreage in these areas remained essentially constant.

Table 39 shows the source of water supply for the 1970 irrigated cropland. The acreage served by surface water only, ground water only, and by surface and ground water combined is tabulated for each New Mexico county and for the State. The totals of table 39 are the same as shown in the 1970 column of table 38.

TABLE 38.--ACRES OF IRRIGATED CROPLAND, INCLUDING IDLE, FALLOW, AND DIVERTED ACREAGE I-'

IN NEW MEXICO, BY COUNTY, 1940-70. I-'

'" Year

County 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1969 1970

Bernalillo 20,600 18,900 34,600 25,700 10,900 12,600 13,240 13,240 Catron 2,600 2,000 2,200 2,200 1,900 2,400 2,200 2,200 Chaves 72,600 83,300 89,200 94,100 97,600 100,400 105,730 105,730 Colfax 31,300 30,600 32,500 23,000 31,000 33,200 33,200 33,200 Curry 0 0 3,000 74,000 87,000 145,000 187,900 190,000

H De Baca 3,300 3,900 4,300 4,300 5,600 7,600 9,190 9,790 :<>

:<> Dona Ana 76,500 73,200 86,000 90,400 90,800 91,700 98,310 98,310 H

Eddy 57,700 67,800 70,100 69,500 73,800 68,800 78,000 78,000 &; >-l

Grant 7,500 6,300 8,000 9,400 7,000 10,300 7,760 7,760 tTl tJ

Guadalupe 3,200 3,000 3,100 3,400 3,300 3,300 3,830 3,830 ()

Harding 0 0 100 100 2,100 2,000 5,120 6,270 5 Hidalgo 3,000 2,900 12,000 17,200 21,200 28,600 35,230 35,230 'U

Lea 3,200 3,900 73,000 77,000 100,000 100,000 101,500 101,500 !;: Lincoln 4,800 3,400 5,900 6,200 4,600 4,400 4,100 4,600 e Luna 11,700 16,000 25,800 33,500 37,000 40,600 67,140 68,460 H

Z McKinley 4,000 3,500 3,500 3,500 3,300 5,400 5,440 5,290

~ Mora 21,300 14,700 19,900 15,000 15,460 15,460 15,460 15,460 Otero 4,600 8,800 11,700 9,000 14,300 16,300 14,900 15,120

~ Quay 200 700 32,600 34,000 32,700 37,900 49,100 48,290 ~

Rio Arriba 35,600 29,900 36,800 34,000 38,900 41,500 38,860 39,220 H ()

Roosevelt 11,300 14,500 30,000 50,000 62,000 76,000 103,700 103,700 0

Sandoval 18,600 15,800 19,400 15,000 15,000 15,000 17,050 15,200 I-'

San Juan 34,800 33,500 42,300 42,500 47,600 50,500 52,000 50,000 <.0 .., San Miguel 15,000 20,100 18,000 15,000 11,400 11,400 12,900 12,380 0

Santa Fe 10,400 6,100 6,100 11,000 9,900 13,000 15,730 15,400 Sierra 4,800 5,100 5,200 5,200 7,000 7,400 8,840 8,840 Socorro 13,300 11,400 17,200 15,200 12,300 11,900 16,200 16,500 Taos 37,100 25,100 36,000 35,100 36,800 35,400 40,860 40,980 Torrance 1,400 1,500 7,100 17,000 15,000 15,200 33,330 33,330 Union 5,800 3,700 6,700 5,400 9,200 15,700 32,980 35,000 Valencia 37,000 31,400 25,700 32,000 34,300 35,600 44,680 43,300

State total 553,200 541,000 768,000 868,900 938,960 1,054,560 1,254,480 1,256,130 Source: 1940 65 acreage compiled by U.S. Soil Conservation Service; Agricultural Economics Department, New

Mexico state University; and the New Mexico State Engineer Office. 1969 and 1970 acreage compiled by the New Mexico State Engineer Office.

IRRIGATED CROPLAND IN NmV MEXICO, 1970 117

Table 40 shows 1970 irrigated cropland acreage by source of water supply in the six major drainage basins in New Mexico. A more detailed breakdown,~by specific areas, of cropland acreage irrigated with ground water only and with surface and ground water combined is presented in table 41; however, no detailed areal breakdown of acreage irrigated with surface water only is included in this section. The acreage amounts for tables 40 and 41 were compiled from data in county files of the state Engineer Office where the acreage for specific areas is identified. Data in the county files also identify the source of water used to irrigate specific areas within counties.

Figure 53 shows location of lands irrigated in 1970 with ground water, surface water, and ground and surface water combined. The outlines of six major drainage basins currently used for planning purposes are also shown on this figure.

118 IRRIGATED CROPIAND IN NEW MEXICO, 1970

TABLE 39.--IRRIGATED CROPIAND ACREAGE AND SOURCE OF WATER IN NEW MEXICO COUNTIES, 1970.

Source of water

County Surface only Ground only Surface & ground Total*

Bernalillo 10,020 360 2,860 13,240 Catron 1,640 180 380 2,200 Chaves 9,840 80,640 15,250 105,730 Colfax 33,200 0 0 33,200 Curry 0 190,000 0 190,000 De Baca 6,070 3,720 0 9,790 Dona Ana 0 7,510 90,800 98,310 Eddy 15,390 42,150 20,460 78,000 Grant 2,500 2,650 2,610 7,760 Guadalupe 3,400 430 0 3,830 Harding 0 6,270 0 6,270 Hidalgo 0 32,370 2,860 35,230 Lea 0 101,500 0 101,500 Lincoln 1,200 500 2,900 4,600 Luna 6,480 60,680 1,300 68,460 McKinley 5,090 200 0 5,290 Mora 15,460 0 0 15,460 Otero 3,140 9,480 2,500 15,120 Quay 38,890 9,400 0 48,290 Rio Arriba 38,810 140 270 39,220 Roosevelt 0 103,700 0 103,700 Sandoval 14,490 30 680 15,200 San Juan 50,000 0 0 50,000 San Miguel 12,230 150 0 12,380 Santa Fe 6,280 8,320 800 15,400 Sierra 920 3,540 4,380 8,840 Socorro 2,200 850 13,450 16,500 Taos 35, llO 5,870 0 40,980 Torrance 0 33,330 0 33,330 Union 4,830 29,870 300 35,000 Valencia 29,500 410 13,390 43,300

State total 346,690 734,250 175,190 1,256,130

*Includes crops irrigated in 1970 and the idle and fallow lands in crop rotation.

TABLE 40.--ESTIMATED CROPIAND ACREAGE OF IRRIGATED AREAS IN MAJOR DRAINAGE BASINS IN ~I MEXICO, 1970.

Surface water Ground water Surface and

Basin only only ground water Total

Arkansas-White-Red River 95,580 64,420 300 160,300 Texas-Gulf 0 367,020 0 367,020 Pecos River 45,180 136,690 38,310 220,180 Rio Grande 147,000 136,900 131,570 415,470 Upper Colorado River 51,230 0 0 51,230 Lower Colorado River 7,700 29,220 5,010 41,930

State total 346,690 734,250 175,190 1,256,130

IRRIGATED CROPLAND IN NEW MEXICO, 1970 119

TABLE 41.--ESTIMATED CROPLAND ACREAGE OF IRRIGATED AREAS UTILIZING ~ GROUND WATER IN MAJOR DRAINAGE BASINS IN NEW MEXICO, 1970.

Basin

Arkansas-White-Red River Curry County (part )l/ Harding County Quay County (part)~/

Near Logan Near Nara Visa Near Porter

Union County Basin total

Texas-Gulf Curry County (part) Lea County (part)~/ Roosevelt County (part)i1

Portales Valley Causey-Lingo area

Basin total

Pecos River Roswell-Artesia area Rio Hondo Valley, Lincoln County Rio Penasco Valley Carlsbad Underground Water Basin

Carlsbad Irrigation District Curry County (part) De Baca County Lea County (part) Quay County (part)

House area Roosevelt County (part) Other areas

Basin total

Rio Grande Sunshine Valley

Ground water only

23,000 6,270 5,280

(1,540) (760)

(2,980) 29,870 64,420

166,800 98,600

101,620 (90,620) (11,000) 367,020

115,960 300

o 6,780

o 200

3,720 2,900 4,120

(4,120) 2,080

630 136,690

Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Hot Springs area

5,870 o

420 Elephant Butte Irrigation District

(EBID)~/ Outside EBID, Dona Ana & Sierra

Counties Grants-Bluewater area Estancia Basin Salt Basin

o

10,100 o

41,510 5,150

Surface and ground water

o o o o o o

300 300

o o o o o o

14,500 3,400

700 19,710

(15,130) o o o o o o o

38,310

o 24,800

50

94,390

740 5,580

o o

120 IRRIGATED CROPLAND IN NEW MEXICO, 1970

TABLE 41.--ESTIMATED CROPLAND ACREAGE OF IRRIGATED AREAS UTILIZING GROUND WATER, 1970 (Concluded).

Ground water Surface and Basin only ground water

Rio Grande (concluded) Tularosa Basin

Tularosa-Alamogordo area§! Carrizozo area

Grant County (part)!! Mimbres Basin area

Luna County (part)~ Mimbres Basin area

Hidalgo County (part)Q/ Playas Valley

Nutt-Hockett area Spalding-Deming-Col~mbus area Other areas

4,530 0 (4,330) (2,500)

(200) (300) 140 640

(140) (640) 730 1,300

(730) (1,300) 6,040 0

(6,040) 0 10,190 0 50,290 0

1,930 1,270 Basin total 136,900 131,570

Upper Colorado River

Lower Colorado River Gila River system in Catron & Grant

Counties Animas Valley Lordsburg Valley Virden Valley San Simon Creek area Other areas

Basin total

0 0

960 2,150 14,890 0

9,890 0 380 2,860

2,900 0 200 0

29,220 5,010

State total 734,250 175,190

Footnotes

General note -- The acres given in this table represent the irrigated cropland acreage that received part or all of its supply from ground-water sources as conditions existed in the 1970 crop year .

.!:/Total acreage in Curry County was 190,000 acres. ~Total acreage in Quay County was 9,400 acres. 3/Total acreage in Lea County was 101,500 acres. i/Total acreage in Roosevelt County was 103,700 acres. ~Includes 4,340 acres of suspended lands that were irrigated.

~/Includes 2,000 acres of the Tularosa Community Ditch Corp. that may be irrigated by both surface- and ground-water supplies.

!!Total acreage in Grant County was 2,650 acres irrigated from ground water only and 2,610 acres irrigated from surface- and ground-water sources.

~Total acreage in Luna County was 60,680 acres irrigated from ground water only and 1,300 acres irrigated from surface- and ground-water sources.

Q/Total acreage in Hidalgo County was 32,370 acres irrigated from

ground water only and 2,860 acres irrigated from surface- and ground-water sources.

IRRIGATED CROPLAND IN NEW MEXICO, 1970

".-rI~--

1~):':~Zl AREAS IRRIGATED

WITH GROUND WATER

EXPLANATION

1\'\'\\'\\'\"1"[01\ ) I)'Jllill ll ,'-. AREAS IRRIGATED

WITH SURFACE WATER

121

~ 'AREAS IRRIGATEO

WITH SURFACe:: AND GROUNO WATER

FIGURE 53.-- Lands in New Mexico irrigated with ground water, surface water, and ground and surface water combined, 1970.

".

",

".

122 BIBLIOGR4.PHY

Papers and Publications Pertaining to Ground Water in New Mexico Published or Released to the Open File in 1970, with Additions from 1961-69

Bhappu, R. B., Fair, J. H., and Wright, J. R., tive to mining and milling of molybdenum:

1967, Waste problems rela-22nd Industrial Waste

Conf., Purdue Univ., p. 575-592

Borton, R. L., 1961-67, Chloride content of water in selected wells finished in the San Andres Formation, 1959-67: N. Mex. State Engineer, 18 maps.

Busch, F. E., 1970, Ground-water levels in New Mexico 1968: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file report, 77 p.

1970, Annual water-resources review, White Sands Missile ----~R~a~n~g~e~,~1~9~69: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file report, 41 p.

Chavez, E. A., 1968-70, Chloride content of water in selected wells finished in the San Andres Formation, 1967-70: N. Mex. State Engineer, 7 maps.

Clark, R. E., 1964, New Mexico water resources law: Univ. N. Mex. Div. Govt. Research, 93 p.

Cooper, J. B., 1970, Summary records of supply wells and test wells in the Post Headquarters area, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file report, 202 p.

Doty, G. C., and Cooper, J. B., 1970, Stratigraphic test well T-14 Post Area, White Sands Missile Range, Dona Ana County, New Mexico: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file report, 33 p.

Galloway, S. E., 1967, Saturated thickness of post-Mesozoic deposits, Portales valley, Roosevelt County, New MexiCO, January 1962: N. Mex. State Engineer Map RO-5, 1 sheet.

Kelly, T. E. 1970, Saline ground-water resources of the Rio Grande drainage basin (abs.), in 6th Am. Water Resources Conf., Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 26-30, 2 p.

Kelly, T. E., Myers, B. N., and Hershey, L. A., 1970, Preliminary report on the saline ground-water resources of the Rio Grande basin--a pilot study: Office of Saline Water Research and Devel. Prog. Rept. No. 560, 71 p.

Koopman, F. C., Basler, J. A., and Lappala, E. G J 1970, Investigation of a water supply near Encino, New Mexico, in relation to nearby high-energy detonations, 1969: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file report, 42 p.

Lansford, R. R., 1970, Irrigation crop requirements for crop production in the Roswell Artesian Basin, in Proc. 15th Ann. N. Mex. Water Conf., Water Resources Research Ins~, N. Mex. State Univ., p. 79-91.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 123

Lyford, F. P., 1970, Test wells T-15, T-16, T-17, T-18, and RC-3, White Sands lVlissile Range, Dona Ana and Sierra Counties, New Mexico: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file rept., 46 p.

____ ~~~~~--.1970, Water supply well SRC-2, Stallion Range Center, White Sands Missle Range, Socorro County, New Mexico: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file rept., 26 p.

McLean, J. S., 1970, Objectives of a current study of saline ground water in the Tularosa Basin, New Mexico, in Proc. 15th Ann. N. Mex. Water Conf., Water Resources Research lnst., N. Mex. State Univ., p. 95-100.

1970, Saline ground-water resources of the Tularosa Basin, --::0---::-:---:'--"

New Mexico: Office of Saline Water Research and Devel. Prog. Rept No. 561, 128 p.

Mercer, J. S., and Cooper, J. B., 1970, Availability of Gallup-Tohatchi area, McKinley County, New Mexico: open-file report, 182 p.

ground water in the U.S. Geol. Survey

Mercer, J. W., and Lappala, E. G., 1970, Geophysical studies of alluvial valleys in western Mora County, New Mexico: U.S. Geol. Survey openfile report, 69 p.

Mourant, W. A., and Shomaker, J. W., 1970, Reconnaissance of water resources of De Baca County, New Mexico: N. Mex. State Bur. Mines and Min. Res. Ground-Water Rept. 10, 87 p.

New Mexico State Engineer, 1970, Delineated areas of water-level decline in the ground-water reservoir in a part of Curry County, New Mexico, 1969: N. Mex. State Engineer Map CU-IO, 1 sheet.

1970, Delineated areas of water-level decline ------1~·n--~t7h~e--g-r~o~unc~d~-W~a~t~e~r=-=r~e"servoir, Portales valley, Roosevelt County,

New Mexico, 1969: N. Mex. State Engineer Map RO-13, 1 sheet.

____ -;;;--, __ -----;:~,.-.,,__::--:;-_1970, Twenty-ninth biennial report of the State Engineer of New MexiCO, 1968-70: N. Mex. State Engineer, 114 p.

Spiegel, Zane, and Couse, I. W., 1969, Availability of ground water for municipal-industrial uses, in Taos Unit of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation San JUan-Chama Project-,-Taos County, New Mexico: N. Mex. State Engineer open-file rept., 22 p.

Taylor, A. M., 1967, Geohydrologic investigations in the Mesilla Valley, New Mexico: N. Mex. State Univ. M. S. thesis, 130 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, Change in ground-water level in deposits of post-Mesozoic age in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, Portales valley, Roosevelt County New Mexico: N. Mex. State Engineer Maps RO-G, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 6 sheets.

_______ --:--:-:-_______ --,-1967, Change in ground-water level in deposits of post-Mesozoic age beginning of 1942 to end of 1951, and beginning of 1952 to end of 1961, Portales valley, Roosevelt County, New Mexico: N. Mex. State Engineer Maps RO-3 and 4, 2 sheets.

technical report 39 new mex/~o j'qnhl h, n,w merit:o...15. three rivers area (1957) 16....

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