Characterization of the Hydrologic Resources of San Miguel County, New Mexico, and Identification of Critical Data Gaps in Characterizing the Hydrologic Resources, 2011
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with San Miguel County, New Mexico, conducted a study to assess publicly available information regarding the hydrologic resources of San Miguel County and to identify data gaps in that information and hydrologic information that could aid in the management of available water resources. The USGS operates four continuous annual streamgages in San Miguel County. Monthly discharge at these streamgages is generally bimodally distributed, with most runoff corresponding to spring runoff and to summer monsoonal rains. Data compiled since 1951 on the geology and groundwater resources of San Miguel County are generally consistent with the original characterization of depth and availability of groundwater resources and of source aquifers. Subsequent exploratory drilling identified deep available groundwater in some locations. Most current (2011) development of groundwater resources is in western San Miguel County, particularly in the vicinity of El Creston hogback, the hogback ridge just west of Las Vegas, where USGS groundwater-monitoring wells indicate that groundwater levels are declining.
Regarding future studies to address identified data gaps, the ability to evaluate and quantify surface-water resources, both as runoff and as potential groundwater recharge, could be enhanced by expanding the network of streamgages and groundwater-monitoring wells throughout the county. A series of seepage surveys along the lengths of the rivers could help to determine locations of surface-water losses to and gains from the local groundwater system and could help to quantify the component of streamflow attributable to irrigation return flow; associated synoptic water-quality sampling could help to identify potential effects to water quality attributable to irrigation return flow. Effects of groundwater withdrawals on streamflow could be assessed by constructing monitoring wells along transects between production wells and stream reaches of interest to monitor decline or recovery of the water table, to quantify the timing and extent of water-table response, and to identify the spatial extent of capture zones. Assessment of groundwater potential could be aided by a county-wide distribution of water-level information and by a series of maps of groundwater potential, compiled for each individual aquifer, including saline aquifers, for which the potential for municipal use through desalination could be explored. A county-wide geographic information system hydrologic geodatabase could provide a comprehensive picture of water use in San Miguel County and could be used by San Miguel County as a decision-support tool for future management decisions.
Groundwater-Well Data of San Miguel County, New Mexico, 1970–2010
The hydrologic resources of San Miguel County, New Mexico, are increasingly relied upon to meet growing domestic, livestock, and agricultural needs. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with San Miguel County, conducted a study during 2010–11 to assess current publicly available information regarding the hydrologic resources of San Miguel County. As part of that study, groundwater-well data from wells located in San Miguel County were acquired from two sources: San Miguel County groundwater-well information archived in the State of New Mexico Water Rights Reporting System online database and groundwater-well information archived in the National Water Information System of the U.S. Geological Survey. The collected data provide information regarding depth to groundwater and depth of well completions in the context of physiographic features of the county.
Monitoring wells measured within the last 13 months can be viewed through the USGS Groundwater Watch network.
Comparison of recent streamflow to the historic record can viewed through the USGS WaterWatch network.
Current and historic groundwater sites operated by the USGS in San Miguel County
Site ID Site Name
353418105145601 16N.16E.33.143
352725105160901 14N.16E.08.321
353001105402601 15N.12E.28.233
354054105092101 17N.17E.20.222 Stock Well
354310105035801 17N.18E.07.234 Ranch Windmill
352949105144301 15N.16E.28.414
353146105144801 15N.16E.16.1444
353346105145201 15N.16E.04.242
353418105145601 16N.16E.33.143
351118104070501 11N.27E.09.333
351121105235001 11N.14E.12.44421
351544104022101 12N.27E.14.434
351553103483301 12N.29E.13.423
351809104204101 12N.24E.01.211
352747104294301 14N.23E.03.3333
353136104401101 16N.21E.13.324
353211104455001 15N.20E.12.443
353301105154501 15N.16E.05.434 (PROJECTED)
353318105025601 15N.18E.05.431
353438105013701 16N.18E.33.423
353441105150401 16N.16E.33.114
353643104055401 16N.27E.29.3
353657103535701 17N.28E.31.212
353715105045601 16N.17E.16.4
353748104533801 16N.19E.01.324
353902104045601 16N.27E.04.123
353917104110801 17N.26E.31.44
354103103535701 17N.29E.19.343
354155104325101 17N.22E.13.442
354537104500301 18N.20E.29.421
354553104523901 18N.19E.25.231
354643104074101 10N.26E.24.2133 Costa Ranch Windmill
354724105144601 18N.16E.16.22331
Current and historic streamgages operated by the USGS in San Miguel County
Site ID Site Name
07218700 Manuelitas Creek near Rociada
07220000 Sapello River at Sapello
07220100 Lake Isabel Canyon near Sapello
07220600 Sapello River near Watrous
07221500 Canadian River near Sanchez
07222000 Canadian River near Bell Ranch
07222500 Conchas River at Variadero
07223000 Bell Ranch Canal below Conchas Dam
07223300 Conchas Canal below Conchas Dam
07224500 Canadian River below Conchas Dam
08377900 Rio Mora near Terrero
08378500 Pecos River near Pecos
08379178 Tecolote Creek at Wright Canyon near El Porvenir
08379185 Wright Canyon at Mile 0.55 near El Porvenir
08379187 Tecolote Creek below Wright Canyon near El Porvenir
08379200 Tecolote Creek near San Pablo
08379500 Pecos River near Anton Chico
08380500 Gallinas Creek near Montezuma
08381000 Gallinas Creek at Montezuma
08382000 Gallinas River near Lourdes
08382500 Gallinas River near Colonias
Current and historic creststage gage sites operated by the USGS in San Miguel County
Site ID Site Name
07221600 Lagartija Creek Tributary near Sanchez
07222300 Trementina Creek at Trementina
07222800 Garita Creek Tributary near Variadero
08378000 Pecos River near Cowles
08379300 Tecolote Creek at Tecolote
08379550 Canon Blanco near Leyba
08379600 Pecos River Tributary near Dilia
08380300 Sandoval Canyon at Gallinas
08381700 Canon Piedra Lumbre near Las Vegas
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with San Miguel County, New Mexico, conducted a study to assess publicly available information regarding the hydrologic resources of San Miguel County and to identify data gaps in that information and hydrologic information that could aid in the management of available water resources. The USGS operates four continuous annual streamgages in San Miguel County. Monthly discharge at these streamgages is generally bimodally distributed, with most runoff corresponding to spring runoff and to summer monsoonal rains. Data compiled since 1951 on the geology and groundwater resources of San Miguel County are generally consistent with the original characterization of depth and availability of groundwater resources and of source aquifers. Subsequent exploratory drilling identified deep available groundwater in some locations. Most current (2011) development of groundwater resources is in western San Miguel County, particularly in the vicinity of El Creston hogback, the hogback ridge just west of Las Vegas, where USGS groundwater-monitoring wells indicate that groundwater levels are declining.
Regarding future studies to address identified data gaps, the ability to evaluate and quantify surface-water resources, both as runoff and as potential groundwater recharge, could be enhanced by expanding the network of streamgages and groundwater-monitoring wells throughout the county. A series of seepage surveys along the lengths of the rivers could help to determine locations of surface-water losses to and gains from the local groundwater system and could help to quantify the component of streamflow attributable to irrigation return flow; associated synoptic water-quality sampling could help to identify potential effects to water quality attributable to irrigation return flow. Effects of groundwater withdrawals on streamflow could be assessed by constructing monitoring wells along transects between production wells and stream reaches of interest to monitor decline or recovery of the water table, to quantify the timing and extent of water-table response, and to identify the spatial extent of capture zones. Assessment of groundwater potential could be aided by a county-wide distribution of water-level information and by a series of maps of groundwater potential, compiled for each individual aquifer, including saline aquifers, for which the potential for municipal use through desalination could be explored. A county-wide geographic information system hydrologic geodatabase could provide a comprehensive picture of water use in San Miguel County and could be used by San Miguel County as a decision-support tool for future management decisions.
Groundwater-Well Data of San Miguel County, New Mexico, 1970–2010
The hydrologic resources of San Miguel County, New Mexico, are increasingly relied upon to meet growing domestic, livestock, and agricultural needs. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with San Miguel County, conducted a study during 2010–11 to assess current publicly available information regarding the hydrologic resources of San Miguel County. As part of that study, groundwater-well data from wells located in San Miguel County were acquired from two sources: San Miguel County groundwater-well information archived in the State of New Mexico Water Rights Reporting System online database and groundwater-well information archived in the National Water Information System of the U.S. Geological Survey. The collected data provide information regarding depth to groundwater and depth of well completions in the context of physiographic features of the county.
Monitoring wells measured within the last 13 months can be viewed through the USGS Groundwater Watch network.
Comparison of recent streamflow to the historic record can viewed through the USGS WaterWatch network.
Current and historic groundwater sites operated by the USGS in San Miguel County
Site ID Site Name
353418105145601 16N.16E.33.143
352725105160901 14N.16E.08.321
353001105402601 15N.12E.28.233
354054105092101 17N.17E.20.222 Stock Well
354310105035801 17N.18E.07.234 Ranch Windmill
352949105144301 15N.16E.28.414
353146105144801 15N.16E.16.1444
353346105145201 15N.16E.04.242
353418105145601 16N.16E.33.143
351118104070501 11N.27E.09.333
351121105235001 11N.14E.12.44421
351544104022101 12N.27E.14.434
351553103483301 12N.29E.13.423
351809104204101 12N.24E.01.211
352747104294301 14N.23E.03.3333
353136104401101 16N.21E.13.324
353211104455001 15N.20E.12.443
353301105154501 15N.16E.05.434 (PROJECTED)
353318105025601 15N.18E.05.431
353438105013701 16N.18E.33.423
353441105150401 16N.16E.33.114
353643104055401 16N.27E.29.3
353657103535701 17N.28E.31.212
353715105045601 16N.17E.16.4
353748104533801 16N.19E.01.324
353902104045601 16N.27E.04.123
353917104110801 17N.26E.31.44
354103103535701 17N.29E.19.343
354155104325101 17N.22E.13.442
354537104500301 18N.20E.29.421
354553104523901 18N.19E.25.231
354643104074101 10N.26E.24.2133 Costa Ranch Windmill
354724105144601 18N.16E.16.22331
Current and historic streamgages operated by the USGS in San Miguel County
Site ID Site Name
07218700 Manuelitas Creek near Rociada
07220000 Sapello River at Sapello
07220100 Lake Isabel Canyon near Sapello
07220600 Sapello River near Watrous
07221500 Canadian River near Sanchez
07222000 Canadian River near Bell Ranch
07222500 Conchas River at Variadero
07223000 Bell Ranch Canal below Conchas Dam
07223300 Conchas Canal below Conchas Dam
07224500 Canadian River below Conchas Dam
08377900 Rio Mora near Terrero
08378500 Pecos River near Pecos
08379178 Tecolote Creek at Wright Canyon near El Porvenir
08379185 Wright Canyon at Mile 0.55 near El Porvenir
08379187 Tecolote Creek below Wright Canyon near El Porvenir
08379200 Tecolote Creek near San Pablo
08379500 Pecos River near Anton Chico
08380500 Gallinas Creek near Montezuma
08381000 Gallinas Creek at Montezuma
08382000 Gallinas River near Lourdes
08382500 Gallinas River near Colonias
Current and historic creststage gage sites operated by the USGS in San Miguel County
Site ID Site Name
07221600 Lagartija Creek Tributary near Sanchez
07222300 Trementina Creek at Trementina
07222800 Garita Creek Tributary near Variadero
08378000 Pecos River near Cowles
08379300 Tecolote Creek at Tecolote
08379550 Canon Blanco near Leyba
08379600 Pecos River Tributary near Dilia
08380300 Sandoval Canyon at Gallinas
08381700 Canon Piedra Lumbre near Las Vegas