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Hydrologic Characterization of the Upper Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, New Mexico Completed

By New Mexico Water Science Center May 21, 2015

The upper Rio Hondo Basin occupies a drainage area of 585 square miles in south-central New Mexico and comprises three general hydrogeologic terranes: the higher elevation “Mountain Block,” the “Central Basin” piedmont area, and the lower elevation “Hondo Slope.”

 

Upper Rio Hondo Map, USGS New Mexico Water Science Center
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Upper Rio Hondo Map, USGS New Mexico Water Science Center(Public domain.)

Project Objective:

To conduct a comprehensive study of the water resources of the Upper Hondo Basin (fig. 1) that will improve the knowledge about hydrologic characteristics and address the concerns of stakeholders having interests in the Basin’s water resources. These concerns include a water-resources component (effects of wildfire and groundwater withdrawals in the upper parts of the basin on streamflow, groundwater levels, and spring discharge), stream-aquifer interaction (recharge rates and groundwater age) and a water-quality component (effects of wildfire throughout the hydrologic system).

 

Data:

As part of this study, bimonthly water-level measurements were made in several wells located throughout the Upper Rio Hondo Basin.


Link to NWISWeb Groundwater Levels - Monitoring Wells

USGS Station ID

321959105360201 link

331948105350101 link

332005105400201 link

332051105383801 link

332144105411901 link

332228105383801 link

332230105310601 link

332234105152301 link

332247105383401 link

332329105164301 link

332343105362701 link

332347105355401 link

332355105270701 link

332402105282201 link

332413105400801 link

332437105170301 link

332437105265601 link

332446105264901 link

332527105345101 link

332529105340201 link

332538105402301 link

332552105373401 link

332558105384901 link

332611105375501 link

332638105382901 link

332641105394501 link

332643105362301 link

332644105365501 link

332655105361501 link

332710105372301 link

332723105363401 link

332932105225901 link

332937105314501 link

332953105313401 link

333009105373301 link

333030105294801 link

333040105411901 link

333058105373101 link

333107105341901 link

333149105302601 link

333154105341001 link

333156105315001 link

333229105361401 link

333238105223001 link

333259105213101 link

333340105310901 link

333523105283101 link

Below are publications associated with this project.

Water resources during drought conditions and postfire water quality in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, New Mexico, 2010-13

Stakeholders and water-resource managers in Lincoln County, New Mexico, have had long-standing concerns over the impact of population growth and groundwater withdrawals. These concerns have been exacerbated in recent years by extreme drought conditions and two major wildfires in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, located in south-central New Mexico. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with L
Authors
Lauren R. Sherson, Steven E. Rice
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

Hydrogeology, water resources, and water budget of the upper Rio Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, New Mexico, 2010

The upper Rio Hondo Basin occupies a drainage area of 585 square miles in south-central New Mexico and comprises three general hydrogeologic terranes: the higher elevation “Mountain Block,” the “Central Basin” piedmont area, and the lower elevation “Hondo Slope.” As many as 12 hydrostratigraphic units serve as aquifers locally and form a continuous aquifer on the regional scale. Streams and aquife
Authors
Michael J. Darr, Kurt J. McCoy, Gordon W. Rattray, Roger A. Durall
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center