Analysis of ground-water data for selected wells near Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1950-95

Ground-water-level, ground-water-withdrawal, and ground-
water-quality data were evaluated for trends. Holloman Air Force
Base is located in the west-central part of Otero County, New
Mexico. Ground-water-data analyses include assembly and
inspection of U.S. Geological Survey and Holloman Air Force Base
data, including ground-water-level data for public-supply and
observation wells and withdrawal and water-quality data for
public-supply wells in the area.

Well Douglas 4 shows a statistically significant decreasing
trend in water levels for 1972-86 and a statistically significant
increasing trend in water levels for 1986-90. Water levels in
wells San Andres 5 and San Andres 6 show statistically significant
decreasing trends for 1972-93 and 1981-89, respectively. A
mixture of statistically significant increasing trends,
statistically significant decreasing trends, and lack of
statistically significant trends over periods ranging from the
early 1970's to the early 1990's are indicated for the Boles wells
and wells near the Boles wells. Well Boles 5 shows a
statistically significant increasing trend in water levels for
1981-90. Well Boles 5 and well 17S.09E.25.343 show no
statistically significant trends in water levels for 1990-93 and
1988-93, respectively. For 1986-93, well Frenchy 1 shows a
statistically significant decreasing trend in water levels.

Ground-water withdrawal from the San Andres and Douglas wells
regularly exceeded estimated ground-water recharge from San
Andres Canyon for 1963-87. For 1951-57 and 1960-86, ground-water
withdrawal from the Boles wells regularly exceeded total
estimated ground-water recharge from Mule, Arrow, and Lead
Canyons. Ground-water withdrawal from the San Andres and Douglas
wells and from the Boles wells nearly equaled estimated ground-
water recharge for 1989-93 and 1986-93, respectively. For 1987-
93, ground-water withdrawal from the Escondido well regularly
exceeded estimated ground-water recharge from Escondido Canyon,
and ground-water withdrawal from the Frenchy wells regularly
exceeded total estimated ground-water recharge from Dog and
Deadman Canyons.

Water-quality samples were collected from selected Douglas,
San Andres, and Boles public-supply wells from December 1994 to
February 1995. Concentrations of dissolved nitrate show the most
consistent increases between current and historical data. Current
concentrations of dissolved nitrate are greater than historical
concentrations in 7 of 10 wells.