Streamflow in the Tularosa Basin, New Mexico, infiltrates
into alluvial-basin aquifers at or near mountain fronts. Streamflow
at or near mountain fronts is a substantial component of potential
recharge to these aquifers. Streamflow response from
precipitation differs substantially between the streams
draining the Sacramento Mountains on the eastern side of the basin
and those draining the San Andres Mountains on the western side.
Mean annual streamflow at mountain fronts that is available
for potential recharge to the Tularosa Basin was estimated using
two regional regression methods. The method for estimating mean
annual streamflow using basin-climatic characteristics was
applied to 46 subbasins in the Tularosa Basin. Drainage areas for
the subbasins ranged from 0.87 to 157 square miles, and mean annual
precipitation ranged from 11.80 to 24.89 inches. Mean annual
streamflow to the basin is estimated to be about 95 cubic
feet per second or 68,800 acre-feet using the basin-climatic
characteristics method. The method for estimating mean annual
streamflow using channel-geometry characteristics was applied to 12
subbasins in the Tularosa Basin. Of the 46 basins, 31 had drainage
areas less than 20.7 square miles and 3 had active-channel widths
less than 15 feet, which were outside the ranges used to develop
the regression equations.
