Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Resources
Synthesizing binational data to characterize shared water resources is critical to informing binational management. This work uses binational hydrogeology and water resource data in the Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin (Basin) to describe the hydrologic conceptual model and identify potential research...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/2/134 |
| _version_ | 1797489702088998912 |
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| author | Andrew J. Robertson Anne-Marie Matherne Jeff D. Pepin Andre B. Ritchie Donald S. Sweetkind Andrew P. Teeple Alfredo Granados-Olivas Ana Cristina García-Vásquez Kenneth C. Carroll Erek H. Fuchs Amy E. Galanter |
| author_facet | Andrew J. Robertson Anne-Marie Matherne Jeff D. Pepin Andre B. Ritchie Donald S. Sweetkind Andrew P. Teeple Alfredo Granados-Olivas Ana Cristina García-Vásquez Kenneth C. Carroll Erek H. Fuchs Amy E. Galanter |
| author_sort | Andrew J. Robertson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Synthesizing binational data to characterize shared water resources is critical to informing binational management. This work uses binational hydrogeology and water resource data in the Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin (Basin) to describe the hydrologic conceptual model and identify potential research that could help inform sustainable management. The Basin aquifer is primarily composed of continuous basin-fill Santa Fe Group sediments, allowing for transboundary throughflow. Groundwater flow, however, may be partially or fully restricted by intrabasin uplifts and limited recharge. The shallow groundwater in the Rio Grande alluvium receives recharge from the Rio Grande and responds to changes in water supply and demand. About 11% of Rio Grande alluvial groundwater volume is recharged annually, an amount that is less than recent withdrawals. Potentially recoverable fresh to slightly brackish groundwater was estimated at 82,600 cubic hectometers in the U.S. portion of the Basin and 69,100 cubic hectometers in the Mexican portion. Alluvial groundwater geochemistry is governed by the evaporative concentration of the Rio Grande and agricultural diversions, whereas deeper groundwater geochemistry is governed by mixing and geochemical processes. Continued refinements to storage estimates, the water budget, and deep groundwater extent and geochemistry can improve estimates of sustainable use and inform alternative water sources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:21:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa7b5fbffdcc46028fdc80ed3cb9a602 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:21:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa7b5fbffdcc46028fdc80ed3cb9a6022023-11-23T15:43:24ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-01-0114213410.3390/w14020134Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water ResourcesAndrew J. Robertson0Anne-Marie Matherne1Jeff D. Pepin2Andre B. Ritchie3Donald S. Sweetkind4Andrew P. Teeple5Alfredo Granados-Olivas6Ana Cristina García-Vásquez7Kenneth C. Carroll8Erek H. Fuchs9Amy E. Galanter10U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USAU.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USAU.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USAU.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Denver, CO 80225, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Austin, TX 78754, USAInstituto de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Ciudad Juárez, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez 32500, MexicoWater Science & Management, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USAPlant & Environmental Sciences Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USAElephant Butte Irrigation District, Las Cruces, NM 88005, USAU.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USASynthesizing binational data to characterize shared water resources is critical to informing binational management. This work uses binational hydrogeology and water resource data in the Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin (Basin) to describe the hydrologic conceptual model and identify potential research that could help inform sustainable management. The Basin aquifer is primarily composed of continuous basin-fill Santa Fe Group sediments, allowing for transboundary throughflow. Groundwater flow, however, may be partially or fully restricted by intrabasin uplifts and limited recharge. The shallow groundwater in the Rio Grande alluvium receives recharge from the Rio Grande and responds to changes in water supply and demand. About 11% of Rio Grande alluvial groundwater volume is recharged annually, an amount that is less than recent withdrawals. Potentially recoverable fresh to slightly brackish groundwater was estimated at 82,600 cubic hectometers in the U.S. portion of the Basin and 69,100 cubic hectometers in the Mexican portion. Alluvial groundwater geochemistry is governed by the evaporative concentration of the Rio Grande and agricultural diversions, whereas deeper groundwater geochemistry is governed by mixing and geochemical processes. Continued refinements to storage estimates, the water budget, and deep groundwater extent and geochemistry can improve estimates of sustainable use and inform alternative water sources.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/2/134transboundarywater resourcesRio Grandeconceptual modelhydrogeologygeochemistry |
| spellingShingle | Andrew J. Robertson Anne-Marie Matherne Jeff D. Pepin Andre B. Ritchie Donald S. Sweetkind Andrew P. Teeple Alfredo Granados-Olivas Ana Cristina García-Vásquez Kenneth C. Carroll Erek H. Fuchs Amy E. Galanter Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Resources Water transboundary water resources Rio Grande conceptual model hydrogeology geochemistry |
| title | Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Resources |
| title_full | Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Resources |
| title_fullStr | Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Resources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Resources |
| title_short | Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos Basin: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Resources |
| title_sort | mesilla conejos medanos basin u s mexico transboundary water resources |
| topic | transboundary water resources Rio Grande conceptual model hydrogeology geochemistry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/2/134 |
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