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This report describes a sediment quality-assurance plan for the U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center (WSC), to assure that standard procedures for collecting, storing, shipping, and processing are followed. The plan also serves as a guide for all WSC personnel involved in sediment activities.
In the region of the headwaters of the Canadian is embraced a territory which, for the completeness of its geological record and the interest of its concomitant topographical and scenic features, is not excelled perhaps by a similar extent of country in the West. It is bounded on the west by the Spanish range, which in this part of its course consists of a densely-wooded watershed-divide, 9,000 to 11,000 feet in altitude, from which at intervals lofty lateral spurs are thrown off, whose bald summits overtop by 1,000 to 2,000 feet the actual watershed, which latter extends in a general north-south direction. Near the Colorado line, the range is intersected by the Raton Mountains, a range of gladed hills extending eastward forty or fifty miles, and constituting, with the still easterly prolongation in the Chicorica Mesa, the northern limits of the district, which opens out to the southeastward into the great plain. Thus defined, the district comprises an area of about twenty-five hundred square miles. During the season of 1869, in the progress of his extended reconnaissance of the Rocky Mountains, Dr. Hayden visited this region, from whom we have authentic account of its general geological features, and their intimate relation to those prevailing in other and similar districts to the north and south. A few months' residence in this part of the country in 1874-'75* afforded the writer opportunity to become somewhat familiar with its geological features; and the purpose of the present communication is to present such facts as may tend to contribute something toward a similar knowledge of remote and perhaps hitherto rarely-visited localities, and their connection with already examined districts.
Awareness of our environment in general, and water resources in particular, has brought increased interest in and support of hydrologic data collection and research. The quantity, quality, and distribution of water are extremely important to the future well-being of New Mexico. The State's surface-water resources are minimal and highly variable due to climate and to regulation and diversion; ground-water resources are subject to development that exceeds natural recharge and to potential contamination by land use. Issues related to global climate change, disposal of hazardous wastes, toxic substances in water, water rights, and ground-water contamination are evolving areas of greater public concern. At the same time there is a continuing need for a better understanding of various hydrologic systems and processes in order to manage these limited water resources for maximum benefit to present and future generations. The U.S. Geological Survey has collected and disseminated information on the water resources of New Mexico for more than a century. The Survey began to collect records of streamflow in New Mexico in December 1888 when the first discharge measurements were made on the Rio Grande near the present gaging station at Embudo. This site, called the "birthplace of systematic stream gaging," was chosen to be the training center for the first hydrographers of the Irrigation Survey, a bureau within the original Geological Survey. Since that time, in cooperation with Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies, we have monitored streams at hundreds of sites throughout the State and have a current network of more than 200 streamflow-gaging stations. Through the Cooperative Program, we also have established sites where ground-water levels are monitored to document changes in ground-water storage or where surface-water and groundwater samples are collected to determine water chemistry, and we have undertaken investigative studies to define the availability, quality, and distribution of water resources. Information from the data program and results of investigative studies are made available to water-resources managers, regulators, and the public to be used for the effective management of the State's water resources. This report provides a brief summary of the activities of the New Mexico District for FY (fiscal year) 1992, including our mission, organization, sources of funding, and descriptions of current projects. This report serves to document not only the content of the program, but also the diversity and complexity of that program. Cooperation among water-resources agencies will be essential in effectively dealing with water-related issues facing New Mexico. We look forward to the challenge of addressing these issues by continuing to provide factual hydrologic data and technically sound areal appraisals and interpretive studies.
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All hydrologic investigations in the New Mexico District in progress during fiscal year 1988 are summarized. The summaries include sections on the problem addressed, the objective and approach of the investigation, progress of the investigation. Reports released during 1986 and 1987 are listed. The New Mexico District office organization, cooperating agencies, and types of funding for the District operation are also summarized. (USGS)
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has collected hydrologic information in New Mexico since 1889, beginning with the first USGS streamflow-gaging station in the Nation, located on the Rio Grande near Embudo, New Mexico. Water-resources information provided by the USGS is used by many government agencies for issuing flood warnings to protect lives and reduce property damage,managing water rights and interstate water use, protecting water quality and regulating pollution discharges, designing highways and bridges, planning, designing, and operating reservoirs and watersupply facilities, monitoring the availability of groundwater resources and forecasting aquifer response to human and environmental stressors, and prioritizing areas where emergency erosion mitigation or other protective measures may be necessary after a wildfire. For more than 100 years, the Cooperative Water Program has been a highly successful cost-sharing partnership between the USGS and water-resources agencies at the State, local, and tribal levels. It would be difficult to effectively accomplish the mission of the USGS without the contributions of the Cooperative Water Program.
The U.S. Geological Survey is investigating the geohydrology in the vicinity of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southeastern New Mexico. Data presented were compiled in support of a regional groundwater flow model. The data include water level measurements obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey 's Groundwater Site-Inventory and OMNIANA data bases and stratigraphic information interpreted from commercial geophysical logs. (USGS)
This 1:50,000-scale map compiles geologic mapping of the Pueblo of Isleta tribal lands and vicinity in the central part of the Albuquerque Basin in central New Mexico. The map synthesizes new geologic mapping and summarizes the stratigraphy, structure, and geomorphology of an area of approximately 2,000 km2 that spans the late Paleogene-Neogene Rio Grande rift south of Albuquerque, N. Mex. The map is part of studies conducted between 1996 and 2001 under the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Middle Rio Grande Basin Study by geologists from the USGS, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), and the University of New Mexico (UNM). This work was conducted in order to investigate the geologic factors that influence ground-water resources of the Middle Rio Grande Basin, and to provide new insights into the complex geologic history of the Rio Grande rift in this region.
The annual Planetary Geologic Mappers Meeting serves two purposes. In addition to giving mappers the opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences, victories, and problems with others, presentations are reviewed by the Geologic Mapping Subcommittee (GeMS) to provide input to the Planetary Geology and Geophysics Mapping Program review panel’s consideration of new proposals and progress reports that include mapping tasks. Funded mappers bring both oral presentation materials (slides or viewgraphs) and map products to post for review by GeMS and fellow mappers. Additionally, the annual meetings typically feature optional field trips offering earth analogs and parallels to planetary mapping problems. The 2001 Mappers Meeting, June 18-19, was convened by Tim Parker, Dave Senske, and Ken Tanaka and was hosted by Larry Crumpler and Jayne Aubele of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Oral presentations were given in the Museum’s Honeywell Auditorium, and maps were posted in the Sandia Room. In addition to active mappers, guests included local science teachers who had successfully competed for the right to attend and listen to the reports. It was a unique pleasure for mappers to have the opportunity to interact with and provide information to teachers responding so enthusiastically to the meeting presentation. On Sunday, June 17, Larry and Jayne conducted an optional pre-meeting field trip. The flanks of Rio Grande Rift, east and west of Albuquerque and Valles Caldera north of town presented tectonic, volcanic, and sedimentary examples of the Rift and adjoining areas analogous to observed features on Mars and Venus. The arid but volcanically and tectonically active environment of New Mexico’s rift valley enables focus on features that appear morphologically young and spectacular in satellite images and digital relief models. The theme of the trip was to see what, at orbiter resolution, "obvious" geologic features look like at lander (outcrop) scales. Trips to the top of the rift-flanking mountains (Sandia Peak, 10,600 ft) and the Valles Caldera, as well as various active spring deposits highlighted the day. After welcoming remarks from the host, Larry Crumpler, opening remarks by Tim Parker and Dave Senske and a report on mapping program status by Ken Tanaka, the mappers’ oral presentations began the morning of June 18, with a session on Venus Geologic Mapping. The afternoon continued with an exciting USGS Planetary GIS on the Web (PIGWAD) demonstration and ended with an open discussion of issues in planetary mapping. Posted maps of Venus quadrangles were viewed during the morning break. Tuesday’s Mars Geologic Mapping session began with a pep talk from Tim Parker encouraging mapping community input to the MER landing site selection committee and continued with Steve Saunders describing the potential contribution of Odyssey Mission data to the geologic mapping of Mars. A Mars map poster session was held during the morning break, and the meeting was adjourned mid-afternoon. After the mappers meeting on Tuesday, attendants were treated to a "Field trip to Mars." The Institute of Meteoritics at the University of New Mexico houses an outstanding collection of meteorites, including those that have been identified as originating from Mars. The Institute tour featured examples of most of the different lithologies exhibited by martian meteorites identified to date, as well as some of the analytical tests (scanning electron microscope) they are conducting on specimens from ALH84001. Wednesday, June 20, featured an optional post-meeting field trip to see a travertine quarry and nearby sites of travertine deposition, the Very Large Array near Socorro, and other volcanic features within the Rio Grande Rift.
The report provides an overview of the USGS in New Mexico, including activities of the Water Resources, Geologic, and National Mapping Divisions. Some USGS projects address hydrologic and geologic hazards, such as flood discharges, landslides, and land subsidence. Recent environmental assessments include participation in the Kirtland Air Force Base Installation Restoration Program, erosion on the Zuni Reservation, and ground-water contamination in eastern Bernalillo County. Water availability studies have focused on ground-water depletion in the Albuquerque Basin, recharge in the Roswell Basin, and the water resources of Taos County. Irrigation drainage in the San Juan River area and trace metals in a reach of the Rio Grande have been investigated. The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program has two study units partly located in New Mexico. Energy and mineral resource assess- ments include gas resources in the San Juan Basin and environmental impacts of mining in the Mimbres Resource Area. The USGS is studying the extent of suitable habitat for Mexican Spotted Owls. Also discussed are cartographic/thematic products and Geographical Information Systems; surface-water, ground-water, and water-quality data-collection net- works; and reports published from 1993 to 1995.
The Fruitland Total Petroleum System (TPS) of the San Juan Basin Province includes all genetically related hydrocarbons generated from coal beds and organic-rich shales in the Cretaceous Fruitland Formation. Coal beds are considered to be the primary source of the hydrocarbons. Potential reservoir rocks in the Fruitland TPS consist of the Upper Cretaceous Pictured Cliffs Sandstone, Fruitland Formation (both sandstone and coal beds), and the Farmington Sandstone Member of the Kirtland Formation, and the Tertiary Ojo Alamo Sandstone, and Animas, Nacimiento, and San Jose Formations. Analysis of the geochemistry of Fruitland coal-bed gas and co-produced water suggests that hydrocarbons in Fruitland coal beds began to form early in the depositional history of the Fruitland Formation with the generation of early microbial gas. Source rocks in the Fruitland entered the oil generation zone in the late Eocene and continued to generate minor oil and large quantities of thermogenic gas into middle Miocene time. Near the end of the Miocene, thermogenic hydrocarbon generation and subsidence in the San Juan Basin ceased, and the basin was uplifted and differentially eroded. Late-stage (secondary) microbial gas has been documented in Fruitland coal-bed reservoirs and was formed by microbial reduction of carbon dioxide during introduction of groundwater in the late Pliocene and Pleistocene. Most of this late-stage microbial gas is found just downdip from the northern, western, and southern Fruitland outcrops. The northern part of the Fruitland Formation is overpressured as a result of artesian conditions established in the Pliocene or Pleistocene. South and east of the overpressured area, the Fruitland is either normally pressured or underpressured. Four assessment units (AU) were defined in the Fruitland TPS. Of the four AUs, one consists of conventional gas accumulations and the other three are continuous-type gas accumulations: Tertiary Conventional Gas AU, Pictured Cliffs Continuous Gas AU, Basin Fruitland Coalbed Gas (CBG) AU, and Fruitland Fairway CBG AU. No oil resources that have the potential for additions to reserves in the next 30 years were estimated for this TPS. Gas resources that have the potential for additions to reserves in the next 30 years are estimated at a mean of 29.3 trillion cubic feet of gas (TCFG). Of this amount, 23.58 TCFG will come from coal-bed gas accumulations and 83.1 percent of this total is estimated to come from the Basin Fruitland CBG AU. The remaining 5.72 TCFG is allocated to continuous-type gas accumulations (5.64 TCFG) and conventional gas accumulations (0.08 TCFG). Although the Fruitland Fairway CBG AU has produced the most significant amount of coal-bed gas to date, the area of the AU is limited. New potentially productive wells will come from infill drilling, and the number of these wells will be limited by effective drainage area. Total natural gas liquids (NGL) that have the potential for additions to reserves in the next 30 years are estimated at a mean of 17.76 million barrels. Of this amount, 16.92 million barrels will come from the Pictured Cliffs Continuous Gas AU and the remainder from the Tertiary Conventional Gas AU.