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D. W. Wilkins

Publications and source records attributed to D. W. Wilkins.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Summary of the Southwest Alluvial Basins Regional Aquifer-System Analysis in parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas

The Southwest Alluvial Basins Regional Aquifer-System Analysis in parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas consists of 22 alluvial basins along and adjacent to the Rio Grande. Geochemistry, recharge, and ground-water quality in the San Luis Basin in Colorado, and the Albuquerque-Belen, Socorro, and Mesilla basins in New Mexico are described. Ground-water flow systems were simulated in the San Luis, Albuquerque-Belen, and Mesilla basins.

Professional Paper↗

Chemical analyses of ground-water samples from the Rio Grande Valley in the vicinity of Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 1993 through January 1994

A study was conducted to investigate general ground-water- quality conditions and contaminant locations in the Rio Grande Valley in the vicinity of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Water samples from 36 observation wells in 12 well nests were analyzed. The well nests are located along three roads near the Rio Grande--two well nests near Paseo del Norte, five well nests near Monta?o Road, and five well nests near Rio Bravo Boulevard. The water samples were collected from October 19, 1993, through January 18, 1994. Water-quality types by major-ion composition were calcium bicarbonate (found in most samples), sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and calcium sulfate chloride. Nutrients were detected in all but one sample. Ammonia was detected in 34 samples, nitrite in 4 samples, and nitrate in 17 samples. Orthophosphate was detected in 31 samples. Organic carbon was detected in all samples collected. The trace elements arsenic and barium were detected in all samples and zinc in 31 samples. Fourteen samples contained detectable copper. Cadmium was detected in one sample, chromium in two samples, lead in four samples, and selenium in two samples. Mercury and silver were not detected.

Open-File Report↗

Description of geophysical-log data base for boreholes and wells in and adjacent to the Albuquerque Basin, New Mexico

Digital geophysical logs for boreholes and wells in and adjacent to the Albuquerque Basin area have been entered into a data base established by the New Mexico District of the U.S. Geological Survey and documented as of September 1994. The logs were digitized from paper or mylar copies or were collected as digital data during the logging of boreholes and wells. The location of these boreholes and wells with digital geophysical logs is shown in a map. The 1,020 logs and the types of logs for the 186 sites are listed in a table.

New Mexico↗

Ground-Water Hydrographs and 5-Year Ground-Water-Level Changes, 1984-93, for Selected Areas In and Adjacent to New Mexico

A cooperative observation-well monitoring program was begun in New Mexico in 1925 between the U.S. Geological Survey and the New Mexico State Engineer Office. The majority of the wells are located in New Mexico; however, a few are in Texas east of Curry and Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and in Colorado along the Rio Grande. The program presently includes 22 wells equipped with continuous water-level recorders and 34 monitoring areas in which selected wells are measured periodically, usually every 5 years, to record changes in ground-water levels. These monitoring areas are those where ground water is used in large quantities for irrigation, municipal, or industrial purposes. Water-level data and water-level changes computed from these data are used to determine areas of ground-water-level rises and declines. This information is necessary for management of ground-water resources in New Mexico. Included in this report are hydrographs of ground-water levels obtained from 22 wells equipped with continuous water-level recorders and maps of ground-water-level changes computed for a 5-year period in each of 34 monitoring areas. Well locations and ground-water-level data for a 5-year period are listed in tables for each monitoring area. Where available, plots of annual precipitation data for climatological stations within or adjacent to each monitoring area are included.

Open-File Report↗

Characteristics and properties of the basin-fill aquifer determined from three test wells west of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico

Three test wells were drilled west of Albuquerque; two are on the mesa west of the city, the third well is near the Rio Grande flood plain, west of the river. Test well 1, was drilled to a depth of 1,204 ft. Transmissivity of perforated intervals in the alluvial zone (980-1121 ft) ranged from 3.1 to 3.9 ft sq/day, and horizontal hydraulic conductivity from .02 to .03 ft/day. Vertical hydraulic conductivity of the semiconfining layer between the alluvial and volcanic zones is estimated to range from .00031 to .0031 ft/day. Transmissivity of the volcanic zone (1139-1179 ft) is about 81 ft sq/day, and horizontal hydraulic conductivity is about 2.0 ft/day. Dissolved-iron and manganese concentrations exceed recommended constituent limits for a public water supply. Vertical flow is upward; the potentiometric surface in the volcanic zone is about 2 ft higher than in the alluvial zone. Water levels are about 883 ft below land surface. Test well 2 was drilled to a depth of 1,828 ft below land surface with seven intervals open to the aquifer. During development, fine sand and silt entered the casing, filling it to a depth of 1,500 ft. The dissolved-cadmium concentration exceeds the maximum contaminant level and the dissolved-manganese concentration exceeds the recommended constituent limit for a public water supply. The vertical flow gradient is downward; the potentiometric surface in the middle and lower zones is about 17 ft lower than in the upper zones. Depth to water in the upper zone is about 767 below land surface and in the lower two zones the depth to water is about 784 ft below land surface. Test well 3 was drilled to a depth of 1,050 ft. Only the interval from 490 to 590 ft below land surface could be used to calculate transmissivity which was about 1,300 ft sq/day; horizontal hydraulic conductivity is about 13 ft/day. Quality of water is acceptable for a public water supply. Vertical flow is downward; the potentiometric surface in the deepest interval is about 7 ft lower than that in the uppermost zone. In the shallow interval from 350 to 590 ft below land surface, depth to water is about 24 ft below land surface. In the interval from 710 to 790 ft below land surface, depth to water is about 29 ft below land surface and in the interval from 870 to 1,050 ft below land surface, depth to water is 31 ft below land surface. (Author's abstract)

New Mexico↗

Geohydrology of the southwest alluvial basins regional aquifer- systems analysis, parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas

The Southwest Alluvial Basins study is part of the National Regional Aquifer-Systems Analysis program. Twenty-two structural basins extend from the San Luis Basin in southern Colorado to the Presidio Basin in western Texas. Closed surface-water basins west of the Guadalupe Mountains and east of the Peloncillo Mountains are included in the study. The study area is bounded on the east by predominately Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks. Tertiary and Quaternary volcanics also are present. Tertiary and Quaternary volcanic rocks, and also Mesozoic rocks west of the Espanola and Albuquerque-Belen Basins, form the west boundary. The east and west boundary units converge at the north end of the study area to form the north boundary. The study area extends south to the international border between the United States and Mexico. The Santa Fe Group sediments of late Oligocene to middle Pleistocene age comprise the main aquifer in the area. Estimated maximum depths of sediments in the rift basins range from 8,000 feet in the Tularosa-Hueco Basin to 30,000 feet in the San Luis Basin. The average thickness of sediments in closed basins is about 4,000 feet. Santa Fe deposits are composed of layers of gravel, sand, silt, and clay interbedded with local volcanic flows or tuffs. Lacustrine deposits are more prevalent in the closed basins. Wells produce as much as 2,000 gallons of water per minute. Potentiometric-surface altitudes for 1971-82 indicate that water recharges in the highland areas around the basins and discharges in the center of valleys. Water generally flows from the east and west southward along the axis of the valleys. Ground-water quality for the region has been zoned into calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride; sodium sulfate, sodium chloride; sodium bicarbonate; and calcium bicarbonate, magnesium bicarbonate types.

Colorado, New Mexico, Texas↗

Planning report for the southwest alluvial basins (east) regional aquifer-system analysis, parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas

The study of the Southwest alluvial basins (east) will involve an analysis of the regional aquifer system in parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. This area has been divided into 22 basins. The study of the alluvial aquifer-system will be made in the following stages: (1) project planning, (2) literature searches, (3) compiling existing data, (4) data collection, (5) basin modeling, (6) regional aquifer modeling, and (7) reports. The regional aquifer study will be accomplished through studying each of the 22 basins. Data compilation and limited data collection will be part of each basin study. Digital computer models will be made for those basins where data are sufficient. A regional aquifer model will be developed from the basin models. In addition to this report, there will be basin hydrology reports and the final regional report. Included in the final report will be a description of the regional hydrology and geology. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

Water-resources investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico District, fiscal year 1978

This is the first of an annual series of reports in which the program of the New Mexico District, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, will be summarized. This report, which is for fiscal year 1978, should be useful to cooperating agencies and to the users of water data in that it summarizes and gives the status of the basic data collection program and all current studies of the Water Resources Division in New Mexico. The water-resource programs of the District are composed of surface water, ground water, and water quality disciplines. As of April 1978 the District had 36 active projects, 30 reports for release, and answered about 5,000 requests for water related information. (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report↗

Experimental salinity alleviation at Malaga Bend of the Pecos River, Eddy County, New Mexico

Upward-leaking brine, from a confined aquifer at the base of the Rustler Formation, mixes with fresher water in a shallow aquifer, resulting in discharge to the Pecos River in southern Eddy County, New Mexico, of about 0.5 cubic feet per second of saturated brine. Pumping brine from the aquifer at a rate greater than 0.5 cubic feet per second lowered the potentiometric head in the confined aquifer. From July 22, 1963 through December 1968, approximately 3,Et73 acre-feet of brine had been pumped. Total brine storage in July 1963 was 540 acre-feet, including about 200 acre-feet of salt precipitate. From 1963 to 1968, water downgradient of the storage depression increased in chloride concentration by amounts ranging from 1,500 to 99,400 milligrams per liter, and water levels near the depression increased over 3 feet. For water years 1952-63, the Pecos River gained about 240 tons per day of chloride in the reach from Malaga gaging station to Pierce Canyon Crossing. In the same reach, the average chloride gain to the Pecos River from July 1963 to August 1966 was 167 tons per day; in 1967-68 the gain increased to 256 tons per day following a major flood in August 1966. Seepage investigations made prior to pumping of the brine aquifer show that the main area contributing brine to the river was located between the Malaga gage and well USGS 11. In 1968 most of the brine inflow apparently entered the river downstream of the Malaga-USGS 11 reach. The head in the brine aquifer was lowered and discharge to the river was decreased above the Malaga gage. Leakage from the depression contributed salts to the river below the Malaga gage during brine pumpage.

New Mexico↗

Maps showing ground-water conditions in the Yuma area, Yuma County, Arizona, 1975

In the Yuma area, Arizona, ground water is pumped mainly for the drainage of waterlogged land and for irrigation. In 1975 about 255,000 acre-feet of ground water was withdrawn, of which about 158,000 acre-feet was pumped for drainage of waterlogged land. For 1915-75, about 4,568,000 acre-feet was withdrawn, of which 2 ,387,000 acre-feet was pumped for drainage. Information shown on maps includes change in water level (1970-75) and irrigated area; depth to water and altitude of the water level; and specific conductance and fluoride concentration. A table of historical pumpage is included. (Woodard-USGS)

Arizona↗