Hydrologic Studies in the East Mountain Area of Bernalillo County, NM Active
Recent expansion of suburban development and population growth in the Sandia Mountains of eastern Bernalillo County, NM (East Mountain Area, EMA), has led to increased residential and commercial construction and increased demands on available water resources. Information about the spatial and temporal variability of water resources is needed for continued population and economic growth.
USGS scientists have developed the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) evapotranspiration (ET) estimation model. ET estimation enables the quantification of other components of the water budget, such as recharge, which is critical to understanding sustainable water use.
Approach
- Collect precipitation and snow survey data (2001-present)
- Collect micrometeorological and soil data (2013-present)
- Collect continuous data from wells and springs (2005-present)
- Make data available in ADAPS
- Collect and analyze remote-sensing ET data, calibrate SSEBop model, and use SSEBop to create ET mapping products for the EMA
Objectives
Improve understanding of the amount and spatio-temporal variability of water resources in the EMA by:
- Monitoring precipitation, micrometeorological data, snowpack depths, and groundwater data
- Developing regional ET estimates
- Overview
Recent expansion of suburban development and population growth in the Sandia Mountains of eastern Bernalillo County, NM (East Mountain Area, EMA), has led to increased residential and commercial construction and increased demands on available water resources. Information about the spatial and temporal variability of water resources is needed for continued population and economic growth.
USGS scientists have developed the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) evapotranspiration (ET) estimation model. ET estimation enables the quantification of other components of the water budget, such as recharge, which is critical to understanding sustainable water use.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsBase Map, New Mexico Water Science Center(Public domain.) Approach
- Collect precipitation and snow survey data (2001-present)
- Collect micrometeorological and soil data (2013-present)
- Collect continuous data from wells and springs (2005-present)
- Make data available in ADAPS
- Collect and analyze remote-sensing ET data, calibrate SSEBop model, and use SSEBop to create ET mapping products for the EMA
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsLansat ET, New Mexico Water Science Center(Public domain.) Objectives
Improve understanding of the amount and spatio-temporal variability of water resources in the EMA by:
- Monitoring precipitation, micrometeorological data, snowpack depths, and groundwater data
- Developing regional ET estimates