USGS Reports

The U.S. Geological Survey has published the following three New Mexico related publications since the last issue of the Divining Rod. Copies are available for inspection at the USGS District Office in Albuquerque (5338 Montgomery Blvd NE, Suite 400). The Water Resources Research Institute library also has the reports on file. They may be ordered from the USGS, Federal Center, Box 25286, MS 517, Denver, CO 80225. Call 303-202-4210 for price information.

  • Summary of water-quality data for City of Albuquerque drinking-water supply wells, 1988-97 by Laura M. Bexfield, William E. Lindberg and Scott K. Anderholm (OFR 99-195).
    Water-quality data collected over a ten-year period from 93 of the City of Albuquerque's drinking-water supply wells indicate that typical values of the numerous chemical and physical parameters studied for each well meet the U.S. EPA drinking-water standards. Laura Bexfield, USGS hydrologist, said the data collected "have shown us that although some water-quality parameters vary substantially for individual wells throughout the city, the typical values for those parameters meet maximum contaminant levels in each well." She also said that the data will be useful in future studies of the hydrologic system of the region. The report provides maps that show variation in groundwater quality throughout the city in a manner appropriate for water managers and city water customers alike.

  • U.S. Geological Survey Middle Rio Grande Basin Study Proceedings of the Third Annual Workshop, Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 24-25, 1999 by James R. Bartolino, editor (OFR 99-203).
    This report documents preliminary results of research presented at the third annual technical workshop held in Albuquerque. The USGS Middle Rio Grande Basin Study is an effort by the USGS and other agencies to improve the understanding of the hydrology, geology, and land-surface characteristics of the Middle Rio Grande Basin. The report includes six chapters: an overview of the USGS program in the basin; a description of geographic data and analysis efforts; details on work being done to understand the hydrogeologic framework; a description of studies examining groundwater recharge; summaries of investigations of the groundwater flow system; and an overview of the New Mexico District Cooperative Program and related USGS studies.

  • Plan of study to define hydro-geologic characteristics of the Madera Limestone in the East Mountain area of central New Mexico by Dale R. Rankin (OFR 99-201).
    The east mountain area covers 320 square miles in parts of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance counties. The study area has experienced dramatic growth in population and development over the past 20 years, and this trend is continuing. Study activities include consolidating and evaluating existing information, expanding the well network, quantifying recharge to the Madera Limestone, quantifying discharge from the Madera Limestone, defining hydraulic properties of the Madera Limestone, and characterizing groundwater flow in the Madera Limestone. Other activities include remote sensing, developing a water budget by aquifer, consolidating geographical information system data, improving drilling records, using USGS data bases for storage and retrieval of information, updating the report "Ground water in the Sandia and northern Manzano Mountains, New Mexico," and involving neighborhood associations and residents with data collection.

    The USGS also has published the first report in a new series of non-technical publications, The Quality of Our Nation's Waters. This series is designed to convey and relate major findings of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program on water-quality issues of regional and national concern as well as to provide strong and unbiased scientific support for critical issues that stem from these findings regarding management and protection of water resources in diverse settings across the nation. The first report in the series focuses on nutrients and pesticides. The WRRI has a copy of the report, USGS Circular 1225. For additional information on the report, contact Tim Miller, Chief of the NAWQA Program by telephone at 703-648-5716, by mail at USGS, 413-N National Center, Reston, VA 20192; or by email at nawqa_info@usgs.gov.