Abstract
Government Spring is the complex perennial source of the lower Rio Bonito in central New Mexico with numerous ephemeral sources and a complex surface water – groundwater interface. Discharge from this karst spring is critical in maintaining downstream agricultural activities and communities. As part of a larger study to document the groundwater basin of this spring, this study focuses on simple repeated measurements to assess the surface water – groundwater interactions along the spring run. We established 12 repeatable measurement sites for discharge, temperature, pH, and specific conductivity. Data collected at a monthly interval provides a snapshot of surface water – groundwater interactions in the system. This simple repeatable approach allows for a base understanding of how system interactions vary across flow regimes. Our results indicate that the spring is fed by two distinct sources: a more variable flow component with relatively high pH and low conductivity and temperature, and another with more constant flow, more neutral pH, and higher temperature and conductivity. These two sources are each isolated to two distinct channels and combine partway through the spring run. These data suggest that the more stable discharge source is likely driven by the karst aquifer, while the more variable source may be shallow flow through an overlying alluvial aquifer fed by the upstream ephemeral sections of Rio Bonito. Additionally, moving further downstream along the spring run, more water continues to increase the flow of Rio Bonito. Data collected suggests that this is likely a result of additional alluvial storage discharging to the river. While this study uses simple field water quality and quantity data, our work shows the utility of repeated temporal and spatial sampling in quantifying spring discharge dynamics.
Rights Information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5038/9781967518012.1020
Government springs site map
Kaspar Figure 2.tif (115096 kB)
Graphed Temperature data for all sites
Kaspar Figure 3.tif (114744 kB)
Graphed pH data for all sites
Kaspar Figure 4.tif (114765 kB)
Graphed Conductivity data for all sites
Kaspar Figure 5.tif (268767 kB)
Graphed Discharge data for all sites
Kaspar Figure 6.tif (445813 kB)
Gain and loss maps
Kaspar Figure 7.tif (192122 kB)
Endmember mixing analysis graphs
Kaspar Figure 8.tif (1111 kB)
Conductivity comparison graph
Kaspar Figure 9.tif (84060 kB)
Conceptual profile of Government Spring
A Simple Approach to Assessing Groundwater Discharge Behavior at Government Spring, Central New Mexico
Government Spring is the complex perennial source of the lower Rio Bonito in central New Mexico with numerous ephemeral sources and a complex surface water – groundwater interface. Discharge from this karst spring is critical in maintaining downstream agricultural activities and communities. As part of a larger study to document the groundwater basin of this spring, this study focuses on simple repeated measurements to assess the surface water – groundwater interactions along the spring run. We established 12 repeatable measurement sites for discharge, temperature, pH, and specific conductivity. Data collected at a monthly interval provides a snapshot of surface water – groundwater interactions in the system. This simple repeatable approach allows for a base understanding of how system interactions vary across flow regimes. Our results indicate that the spring is fed by two distinct sources: a more variable flow component with relatively high pH and low conductivity and temperature, and another with more constant flow, more neutral pH, and higher temperature and conductivity. These two sources are each isolated to two distinct channels and combine partway through the spring run. These data suggest that the more stable discharge source is likely driven by the karst aquifer, while the more variable source may be shallow flow through an overlying alluvial aquifer fed by the upstream ephemeral sections of Rio Bonito. Additionally, moving further downstream along the spring run, more water continues to increase the flow of Rio Bonito. Data collected suggests that this is likely a result of additional alluvial storage discharging to the river. While this study uses simple field water quality and quantity data, our work shows the utility of repeated temporal and spatial sampling in quantifying spring discharge dynamics.