Karst Aquifers: Roswell Basin Aquifer Active
The Roswell Artesian Basin consists of an eastward-dipping carbonate aquifer overlain by a leaky evaporitic confining unit, overlain in turn by an unconfined alluvial aquifer. This aquifer provides habitat for several federally listed endangered invertebrate species. Decades of intensive pumping have caused substantial declines in hydraulic head in the aquifer.
The Roswell Artesian Basin consists of an eastward-dipping carbonate aquifer overlain by a leaky evaporitic confining unit, overlain in turn by an unconfined alluvial aquifer. The carbonate aquifer is artesian to the east but under water-table conditions in the western outcrop area.
Water-producing zones in the carbonate aquifer rise stratigraphically from north to south and from west to east. Some wells may penetrate as many as five water-producing zones. Secondary porosity is developed in vuggy and cavernous limestone, solution-collapse breccia, and solution-enlarged fractures. Recharge occurs by direct infiltration of precipitation and by runoff from intermittent losing streams flowing eastward across a broad area east of the Sacramento Mountains.
During the initial development of the artesian aquifer, many wells flowed to the surface and high volume springs fed the Pecos River. Decades of intensive pumping have caused substantial declines in hydraulic head in the aquifer, and by the mid-20th century it was estimated that withdrawals exceeded recharge. Most down-gradient flow is intercepted by irrigation wells in the Artesian Basin. Mineral content of the water rapidly increases in an eastward direction. Chloride concentrations range from about 15 mg/kg in the unconfined area to as much as 7,000 mg/kg in an artesian well east of Roswell, N.M. Chloride concentration also increases with depth. The freshwater-saltwater interface migrates westward during periods of low rainfall.
The carbonate aquifer provides habitat for several federally listed endangered invertebrate species: the Roswell springsnail (Pyrgulopsis roswellensis), Koster's springsnail (Juturnia kosteri), and Noel's amphipod (Gammarus desperatus) are listed as endangered and the Pecos assiminea (Assiminea pecos) is listed as endangered with critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). These four invertebrates occur at sinkholes, springs, and associated spring runs and wetland habitats. They are found at one site in Chaves County, New Mexico, and Pecos assiminea is also found at one site in Pecos County, Texas, and one site in Reeves County, Texas.
Featured Studies and Datasets
Aquifer-scale studies and the datasets they produce are a key component to understanding how karst aquifers behave, and the quality of water within them.
- Hydrologic Characterization of the Upper Rio Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, NM — A study of the aquifers in headwater recharge areas to the Roswell Artesian Basin including an evaluation of the role of the San Andres Formation. Several caves, including the Fort Stanton Cave and Snowy River Passage, are located in this study area.
Additional Information
Additional information can be found here: Hydrologic Characterization of the Upper Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Below are other science projects associated with karst aquifers.
Karst Aquifers
Karst Aquifers: Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer
Karst Aquifers: Basin and Range and Bear River Range Carbonate Aquifers
Karst Aquifers: Colorado Plateau Karst
Karst Aquifers: Edwards Balcones Fault Zone Aquifer
Karst Aquifers: Edwards-Trinity Plateau Aquifer
Karst Aquifers: Upper Floridan and Biscayne Aquifers
Karst Aquifers: Madison Aquifer
Karst Aquifers: Midwest Paleozoic Carbonate Aquifers
Karst Aquifers: New England Karst Aquifers
Karst Aquifers: Ozark Plateau Karst Aquifers
Karst Aquifers: Roswell Basin Aquifer
Karst Aquifers: Pacific Northwest Pseudokarst Aquifers
- Overview
The Roswell Artesian Basin consists of an eastward-dipping carbonate aquifer overlain by a leaky evaporitic confining unit, overlain in turn by an unconfined alluvial aquifer. This aquifer provides habitat for several federally listed endangered invertebrate species. Decades of intensive pumping have caused substantial declines in hydraulic head in the aquifer.
The Roswell Artesian Basin consists of an eastward-dipping carbonate aquifer overlain by a leaky evaporitic confining unit, overlain in turn by an unconfined alluvial aquifer. The carbonate aquifer is artesian to the east but under water-table conditions in the western outcrop area.
Water-producing zones in the carbonate aquifer rise stratigraphically from north to south and from west to east. Some wells may penetrate as many as five water-producing zones. Secondary porosity is developed in vuggy and cavernous limestone, solution-collapse breccia, and solution-enlarged fractures. Recharge occurs by direct infiltration of precipitation and by runoff from intermittent losing streams flowing eastward across a broad area east of the Sacramento Mountains.
During the initial development of the artesian aquifer, many wells flowed to the surface and high volume springs fed the Pecos River. Decades of intensive pumping have caused substantial declines in hydraulic head in the aquifer, and by the mid-20th century it was estimated that withdrawals exceeded recharge. Most down-gradient flow is intercepted by irrigation wells in the Artesian Basin. Mineral content of the water rapidly increases in an eastward direction. Chloride concentrations range from about 15 mg/kg in the unconfined area to as much as 7,000 mg/kg in an artesian well east of Roswell, N.M. Chloride concentration also increases with depth. The freshwater-saltwater interface migrates westward during periods of low rainfall.
The carbonate aquifer provides habitat for several federally listed endangered invertebrate species: the Roswell springsnail (Pyrgulopsis roswellensis), Koster's springsnail (Juturnia kosteri), and Noel's amphipod (Gammarus desperatus) are listed as endangered and the Pecos assiminea (Assiminea pecos) is listed as endangered with critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). These four invertebrates occur at sinkholes, springs, and associated spring runs and wetland habitats. They are found at one site in Chaves County, New Mexico, and Pecos assiminea is also found at one site in Pecos County, Texas, and one site in Reeves County, Texas.
Featured Studies and Datasets
Aquifer-scale studies and the datasets they produce are a key component to understanding how karst aquifers behave, and the quality of water within them.
- Hydrologic Characterization of the Upper Rio Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, NM — A study of the aquifers in headwater recharge areas to the Roswell Artesian Basin including an evaluation of the role of the San Andres Formation. Several caves, including the Fort Stanton Cave and Snowy River Passage, are located in this study area.
Additional Information
Additional information can be found here: Hydrologic Characterization of the Upper Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, New Mexico.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with karst aquifers.
Karst Aquifers
Karst terrain is created from the dissolution of soluble rocks, principally limestone and dolomite. Karst areas are characterized by distinctive landforms (like springs, caves, sinkholes) and a unique hydrogeology that results in aquifers that are highly productive but extremely vulnerable to contamination.Filter Total Items: 13Karst Aquifers: Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer
The Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, which underlies more than 500 square miles in south central Oklahoma, is the principal water source for approximately 39,000 people in several cities in the region. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated the aquifer's eastern portion as a Sole Source Aquifer, a mechanism to protect drinking water supplies in areas with limited water supply.Karst Aquifers: Basin and Range and Bear River Range Carbonate Aquifers
In the Basin and Range, bedrock is present in the uplifted blocks of the mountain ranges and beneath fill in the valleys. While some of this bedrock is relatively impermeable, fracturing may enable groundwater to circulate through the rock, enlarging and increasing the size and number of pathways for water movement. This can ultimately produce a permeable water-yielding unit.Karst Aquifers: Colorado Plateau Karst
In northern and central Arizona, the Kaibab Limestone and its equivalents are karstic. North of the Grand Canyon, subterranean openings are primarily widely spaced fissures, while south of the Grand Canyon, fissures are more closely spaced and a few shallow caves are present.Karst Aquifers: Edwards Balcones Fault Zone Aquifer
The Edwards aquifer is the most transmissive of all the aquifers in Texas and Oklahoma, with large discharges from springs and from flowing and pumped wells. This aquifer demonstrates karst features such as springs and in-stream sinkholes, as well as endangered species.Karst Aquifers: Edwards-Trinity Plateau Aquifer
The Edwards-Trinity aquifer, located in the Trans-Pecos and the Edwards Plateau areas, is composed of relatively flat-lying rocks that are generally exposed at the land surface. This aquifer is generally recharged by precipitation; water is mostly unconfined in the shallow parts of the aquifer and is confined in the deeper zones.Karst Aquifers: Upper Floridan and Biscayne Aquifers
Covering approximately 100,000 square miles of the southeastern United States, the Floridan aquifer system (FAS) is one of the most productive aquifers in the world. The FAS is the primary source of drinking water for almost 10 million people, with nearly 50 percent of all water withdrawals being used for industrial purposes and agricultural irrigation.Karst Aquifers: Madison Aquifer
The Madison aquifer underlies eight states in the U.S. and Canada. It is an important water resource in the northern plains states where surface water supplies are limited and population is increasing. Declining water levels are a major issue for many of the communities that rely on this aquifer.Karst Aquifers: Midwest Paleozoic Carbonate Aquifers
The porosity of carbonate and dolomitic units in Midwest Paleozoic rocks has been enhanced by dissolution, and in many areas these rocks have undergone extensive karst development. This aquifer demonstrates karst features such as disappearing streams, springs, and caves.Karst Aquifers: New England Karst Aquifers
The New England Karst Aquifers feature crystalline limestones and marbles, narrow fissures, and some small caves.Karst Aquifers: Ozark Plateau Karst Aquifers
The Ozark Plateaus aquifer system consists of two aquifers, the Springfield Plateau aquifer and the Ozark aquifer, and an intervening confining unit. The system consists of mostly of carbonate rocks that are Cambrian through Mississippian in age.Karst Aquifers: Roswell Basin Aquifer
The Roswell Artesian Basin consists of an eastward-dipping carbonate aquifer overlain by a leaky evaporitic confining unit, overlain in turn by an unconfined alluvial aquifer. This aquifer provides habitat for several federally listed endangered invertebrate species. Decades of intensive pumping have caused substantial declines in hydraulic head in the aquifer.Karst Aquifers: Pacific Northwest Pseudokarst Aquifers
Pseudokarst features such as lava tubes, fissures, open sinkholes, and caves, are extensive in some regions of the west. Some of the largest regions with this type of pseudokarst are located in the Pacific Northwest, including the Snake River area of Idaho, part of the Columbia Basalt Plateau in Washington and Oregon, and in the lava fields of northeastern California.