Groundwater Isotopes in the Sonoyta River Watershed, USA-Mexico: Implications for Recharge Sources and Management of the Quitobaquito Springs
Groundwater resources in the southwestern United States are finite and riparian and wetland areas are vulnerable to aquifer overdraft and unregulated groundwater use. Environmental isotopes and water chemistry were used to distinguish water types, recharge mechanisms, and residence time along severa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/12/3307 |
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| author | Hector A. Zamora Christopher J. Eastoe Benjamin T. Wilder Jennifer C. McIntosh Thomas Meixner Karl W. Flessa |
| author_facet | Hector A. Zamora Christopher J. Eastoe Benjamin T. Wilder Jennifer C. McIntosh Thomas Meixner Karl W. Flessa |
| author_sort | Hector A. Zamora |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Groundwater resources in the southwestern United States are finite and riparian and wetland areas are vulnerable to aquifer overdraft and unregulated groundwater use. Environmental isotopes and water chemistry were used to distinguish water types, recharge mechanisms, and residence time along several reaches of the Sonoyta River and Quitobaquito Springs located near the U.S.-Mexico border. Areas located upgradient from the Sonoyta River, such as the Puerto Blanco Mountains and La Abra Plain, are supported by local recharge which corresponds to water from the largest 30% of rain events mainly occurring during winter. For Quitobaquito Springs, the δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>2</sup>H values are too low to be derived from local recharge. Stable isotope data and Cl/SO<sub>4</sub> mass ratios indicate that the Sonoyta River supplied Quitobaquito Springs through flow along a suggested fault system. Based on these results, Quitobaquito Springs flow could be diminished by any activity resulting in increased groundwater extraction and lowering of water elevations in the Sonoyta River regional aquifer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:35:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e37dec8bd954f33ac79a3af6a79d646 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:35:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e37dec8bd954f33ac79a3af6a79d6462023-11-20T22:12:25ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-11-011212330710.3390/w12123307Groundwater Isotopes in the Sonoyta River Watershed, USA-Mexico: Implications for Recharge Sources and Management of the Quitobaquito SpringsHector A. Zamora0Christopher J. Eastoe1Benjamin T. Wilder2Jennifer C. McIntosh3Thomas Meixner4Karl W. Flessa5Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USADepartment of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USADesert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85745, USADepartment of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USADepartment of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USADepartment of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAGroundwater resources in the southwestern United States are finite and riparian and wetland areas are vulnerable to aquifer overdraft and unregulated groundwater use. Environmental isotopes and water chemistry were used to distinguish water types, recharge mechanisms, and residence time along several reaches of the Sonoyta River and Quitobaquito Springs located near the U.S.-Mexico border. Areas located upgradient from the Sonoyta River, such as the Puerto Blanco Mountains and La Abra Plain, are supported by local recharge which corresponds to water from the largest 30% of rain events mainly occurring during winter. For Quitobaquito Springs, the δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>2</sup>H values are too low to be derived from local recharge. Stable isotope data and Cl/SO<sub>4</sub> mass ratios indicate that the Sonoyta River supplied Quitobaquito Springs through flow along a suggested fault system. Based on these results, Quitobaquito Springs flow could be diminished by any activity resulting in increased groundwater extraction and lowering of water elevations in the Sonoyta River regional aquifer.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/12/3307groundwaterspringsenvironmental isotopestransboundary watershedSonoyta River |
| spellingShingle | Hector A. Zamora Christopher J. Eastoe Benjamin T. Wilder Jennifer C. McIntosh Thomas Meixner Karl W. Flessa Groundwater Isotopes in the Sonoyta River Watershed, USA-Mexico: Implications for Recharge Sources and Management of the Quitobaquito Springs Water groundwater springs environmental isotopes transboundary watershed Sonoyta River |
| title | Groundwater Isotopes in the Sonoyta River Watershed, USA-Mexico: Implications for Recharge Sources and Management of the Quitobaquito Springs |
| title_full | Groundwater Isotopes in the Sonoyta River Watershed, USA-Mexico: Implications for Recharge Sources and Management of the Quitobaquito Springs |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater Isotopes in the Sonoyta River Watershed, USA-Mexico: Implications for Recharge Sources and Management of the Quitobaquito Springs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater Isotopes in the Sonoyta River Watershed, USA-Mexico: Implications for Recharge Sources and Management of the Quitobaquito Springs |
| title_short | Groundwater Isotopes in the Sonoyta River Watershed, USA-Mexico: Implications for Recharge Sources and Management of the Quitobaquito Springs |
| title_sort | groundwater isotopes in the sonoyta river watershed usa mexico implications for recharge sources and management of the quitobaquito springs |
| topic | groundwater springs environmental isotopes transboundary watershed Sonoyta River |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/12/3307 |
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