Anaerobic Digester Supernatant Treatment Using Algal Systems
S. A. Abeysiriwardana-Arachchige
Graham W. Chapman
N. Nirmalakhandan
Civil Engineering Dept., New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
Abstract 1
Successful cultivation of a mixotrophic algal strain, Galdieria sulphuraria, in primary effluent
has been demonstrated previously. The current study evaluated the feasibility of this algal system
in treating a blend of the primary effluent and anaerobic digester supernatant (ADS). Field
experiments were conducted in two photobioreactors in a fed-batch mode with a working volume
of 700L comprising 400L of wastewater and 300L of preadapted culture. Three compositions of
the feed were tested; ADS: 10%, 15% and 20% and primary effluent: 90%, 85%, 80%. Each fed-
batch cycle was conducted until the reactor contents in at least one reactor reached the discharge
standards for all three primary pollutants: ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N)- 10 mg/l; phosphate
(PO43-)- 1 mg/l; and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) – 30 mg/l. The volumetric
removal rates of NH3-N in reactors 1 and 2 at 10%, 15% and 20% ADS content were 1.98, 1.82
and 3.53 mg/L-d and, 2.3, 1.66 and 1.08 mg/L-d respectively; corresponding volumetric removal
rates for PO43- were 1.69, 1.11 and 0.62 mg/L-d and, 1.69, 2.02 and 0.64 mg/L-d. Despite the
consecutive increment of ADS content from 10% to 20%, reactor 1 reached all discharge
standards in 6, 6 and 8 days. Although reactor 2 met all discharge limits at 10% ADS, NH3-N
discharge limit could not be reached at 15% and 20%. Reactors 1 and 2 reached the BOD5
discharge limit at 10% ADS content while maintaining volumetric removal rates respectively of
4.8 and 3.3 mg/L-d (BOD5 data in the last two cycles are still due).
Enhanced Water Recovery and Membrane Scaling Mitigation for Desalination
Using Innovative Electromagnetic Field (EMF) and 3D Printed Open Flow Channel
Membranes
Juliano Penteado de Almeida
Pei Xu
Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Abstract 2
Depletion of fresh water resources, chronic droughts, increase in population and urbanization upsurge the
need of developing alternative water sources. Desalination of brackish groundwater provides opportunities
to enhance water security by converting saline water into drinkable water. However, membrane fouling and
scaling, and resulted low water recovery, high energy demand, chemical uses, and large volumes of
concentrate for disposal, have been a major challenge for successful implementation of desalination
technologies.
In this study, we developed an innovative High Recovery Reverse Osmosis (HRRO) process to reduce
membrane fouling and scaling, and to enhance desalination efficiency. Our system uses non-chemical
pretreatment with electromagnetic field (EMF) and 3D printed RO membranes. The bench-scale testing
demonstrated the EMF provides an effective pretreatment to control membrane scaling during desalination
of a challenging brackish groundwater. The EMF device increased water recovery from 50% to 70%, and
the permeate water flux decline was ameliorated by 56%. The groundwater was primarily CaSO4 type with
a total dissolved solids concentration of 5,850 mg/L and hardness of 2,500 mg/L as CaCO3.
This technology can significantly reduce operational costs, energy demand, negative environmental impacts
of desalination technologies, increase the RO membrane life time and meets the pressing need for more
effective and less expensive desalination method.
Field Evaluation of TEROS 12 Sensor in a Clay Soil
E. Mokarighahroodi
PhD candidate [email protected]
M. K. Shukla
Professor of soil physics [email protected]
Department of Plant and Environmental Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces,
New Mexico 88003, United States
Abstract 3
Decreasing availability of freshwater and increasing use of brackish groundwater for irrigation is
a major constraint for Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] production in the
southwestern United States. This research assessed the performance of a new TEROS 12 sensor
for estimating volumetric soil water content ( ), soil temperature, and saturation extract EC (ECe).
Sensors were installed in a Pecan orchard sited in a clay soil at 1m and 2m from tree trunk and at
the depths of 10, 20, and 40 cm from soil surface. Soil samples were collected seventeen times
between three successive irrigations where soil water content and saturated paste EC were
determined. TEROS 12 sensor showed that obtained by manufacturer’s equation agreed well
with gravimetrically measured at 10 and 20 cm depths (RMSE cm3 cm-3 <0.06; d> 0.72) while
it overestimated at the depth of 40 cm in both locations. TEROS 12 estimated ECe were 78%
and 60% higher than measured ECe at 10 and 20 cm depths, respectively. Generally, Hilhorst
model could not completely take into consideration the electrical interactions between the solution
and solid phases of the soil and overestimated pore water EC (σp). Use of apparent dielectric
permittivity (ԑa) in TEROS 12 seemed to have led to errors in estimating ECe through its effects
on . Study showed that TEROS 12 sensor can monitor in clay soils accurately while it was
less accurate for estimating ECe. Accuracy in measuring ԑa is highly important for estimating ECe.
Keywords: Apparent dielectric permittivity; Saturation extract EC; TEROS 12 sensor; soil water
content
Wastewater-Treatment Algae-Derived Hydrochar for Heavy Metal Adsorption and
Recycling
Jiuling Yu, Tianbai Tang, Feng Cheng, Di Huang, Catherine E. Brewer1, Hongmei Luo2
[email protected], [email protected]
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Abstract 4
Water contamination caused by heavy metals, released by wind or water erosion from over 15,000
abandoned mines in New Mexico (NM), has been a severe environmental issue. Compared with other
methods, adsorption is an attractive strategy due to its low-cost and simple operation condition. Here, we
use the hydrochar derived from wastewater-treatment (WWT) algae by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL)
process as the adsorbent for Pb(Ⅱ) removal. In this work, it’s not only to investigate the effects of two
pretreatments (oil extraction and CO2 activation), but the influences on the pH value and initial
concentration are also discussed. Notwithstanding, it remains challenging to process the adsorbed
hydrochar after adsorbing Pb(Ⅱ) in a sustainable way. Other than the traditional processing methods
(burning and landfilling) releasing a great amount of adsorbed toxic metals on hydrochar into atmosphere,
we propose an approach which reuses hydrochar after adsorption of Pb as anodes in lithium-ion batteries
(LIBs). Our work suggests a sustainable way to make the byproduct of HTL from waste to useful
adsorbent. Furthermore, it also points out another possible method to make full of Pb-adsorbed hydrochar
in LIBs, which provides more value-added products to be beneficial to develop the environmentally
friendly society.
Assessment of Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) formation in algae-treated
wastewater for safer reuse in restricted applications
S. P. Munasinghe-Arachchige1, K. Sparks2, H. M. K. Delanka-Pedige3, I. S. A. Abeysiriwardana-
Arachchige4, G. W. Chapman5, Y. Zhang6, N. Nirmalakhandan7
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Civil Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 88003
Abstract 5
Wastewater utilities are considering treated urban wastewaters for potential reuse applications to
manage their water portfolio in the face of freshwater shortages and drought. Towards this end,
the viability of a novel algal wastewater treatment system (A-WWTS) in removing organic
carbon, nutrients, and pathogens in urban wastewater below discharge permits has been
documented at pilot scale. The goal of this study is to optimize the final disinfection of the
effluent of the A-WWTS for its beneficial reuse in restricted applications.
Based on preliminary tests, chlorination of the effluent of A-WWTS with excess sodium
hypochlorite (NaOCl) at pH 7 resulted in more than 25% reduction of initial dissolved organic
carbon leading to an increase of the specific UV absorbance (SUVA). The decrease of inorganic
and organic nitrogen concentrations after chlorination suggested possible reactions of chlorine
with residual nitrogen in the effluent. Restoring the pH of the effluent of A-WWTS from 4 to 6 is
identified as the preferred option prior to chlorination with NaOCl as the disinfectant. Lowest
initial chlorine dose required to maintain a residual chlorine level above 0.5 mg Cl2/L after 30
minutes of disinfection is determined to be about 45 mg of Cl2 per gallon of wastewater treated.
Rainfall Runoff relationships in the Arroyo de los Piños Watershed
Madeline Richards, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM
Dr. Daniel Cadol, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM,
Dr. Jonathan B. Laronne, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel,
Kyle Stark, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM,
Sharllyn Pimentel, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro,
Abstract 6
In semi-arid climates, sediment influx to large rivers such as the Rio Grande from small
ephemeral streams is challenging to quantify. The Arroyo de los Piños is currently one of very
few study sites collecting data on water velocity, discharge, bedload, and suspended sediment, all
in the hopes of quantifying the water and sediment contribution from ephemeral channels. In
addition, gaining a clearer picture of stream connectivity and rainfall-runoff relationships in this
channel will be useful for quantifying flow generation, aquifer recharge, and transmission loss
through the stream bed. These processes affect flow conditions, and thus sediment transport, and
influence our ability to generalize our findings beyond the Arroyo de los Piños.
With monetary help from WRRI, nineteen pressure transducers have been installed in the
tributary channels of the Piños. These pressure transducers complement a rain gauge network
composed of five tipping bucket gauges spread throughout the watershed. Using these, we can
document which lithologic units produced flow most readily and identify a rainfall threshold
required for flow generation. Though the 2019 monsoon season has been below average in the
watershed (1.9 inches[ of rainfall was recorded from July to September), there have been four
flow events recorded by these pressure transducers since installment; two floods in October
2018, one flood in March 2019, and one in May 2019. The two floods in October reached the
main monitoring site at the confluence to the Rio Grande. The two small floods recorded in 2019
did not reach the Rio Grande, but instead infiltrated completely, contributing to the local shallow
aquifer.
Undergraduate Research on the Ogallala Aquifer and Museum Design
Erik Stanley
Abstract 7
This poster explores pedagogical approaches to student research with a focus on helping
undergraduates transform their ethnographic fieldwork into museum exhibits. Using examples
from my 2018 Ethnographic Methods class project into the depletion of the Ogallala aquifer, I
demonstrate how moving research beyond the traditional essay model and into a museum setting
provides valuable real-world experience to students interested in museum exhibit design as well
as allow them to reach a wider audience with their work. This research brought together
ethnographic and historical as the basis of a permanent museum exhibit at the Blackwater Draw
Museum that emphasizes both education and interpretation.
Rangeland Precipitation Monitoring Tools
Helena Deswood
USDA Southwest Climate Hub, USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range,
Las Cruces, NM 88003.
Abstract 8
Effective rangeland management practices incorporates precipitation monitoring. Precipitation is
critical for arid rangelands since the amount of precipitation affects the forage production used
by livestock and wildlife, and recharging water sources. Tools have been developed to support
agricultural producers and land managers in their decision making, such as, did the forage
production respond to precipitation received? Or did the rotational pastures receive enough rain
and/or snow? Two low-cost tools are available to measure precipitation at different frequencies
and the recorded data for the monitored area is tied to historical data to determine if the working
land is in a dry, near normal or wet condition. CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail
and Snow) Network is a community based network of citizen scientists working together to
measure and map rain, hail and snow on a daily basis. The myRAINge Log was developed with
ranchers and land managers to collect, manage and use precipitation observations to support
management decisions. The rain gauges used for the myRAINge Log were designed with remote
locations in mind where the rain gauge does not need to be recorded on a daily basis.
Monitoring toxic metal uptake by corn grown in agricultural fields across Animas
and San Juan Rivers
Michael Whiting
Gaurav Jha
April Ulery:
Kevin Lombard
Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Farmington NM
Abstract 9
On August 5th, 2015, more than 3 million gallons of metal contaminated water from the Gold
King Mine was released into Cement Creek unintentionally, leading to the contamination of the
Animas and San Juan Rivers. Analysis of edible produce collected from fields irrigated with
Animas River water was done in 2018 and found three corn samples with lead concentrations
above the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value of 0.05 ppm. Since then, the
original samples were reanalyzed, resulting in two corn samples out of 30 still being above the
WHO guidelines. The purpose of this study is to investigate these findings and to monitor the
metals lead, arsenic, and aluminum in the agricultural fields.
Five fields along the Animas and San Juan Rivers have been selected. Each field is divided into
four quadrants with three sites randomly selected within each quadrant. A GPS device located
each sample location. Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (PXRF) scans were taken at each field and
soil has been collected and is being analyzed using ICP-OES. During the growing season, leaf
tissue samples were collected from corn plants at each designated sampling location and the
plants were flagged. The leaf samples were dried, ground, and are awaiting analysis using ICP-
MS. During the harvest season, corn cobs were collected and dried and are being prepared for
analysis. Analyzing soil, leaf tissue, and corn kernels collectively will assist in identifying
potential sources of contamination and plant uptake of Al, As and Pb.
Tracking CRE in the Rio Grande: determining the spread of antibiotic resistance in
surface waters
Kimberly McNair [email protected]
Linda C. DeVeaux
Associate Professor, Department Chair, Biology [email protected]
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,
Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Abstract 10
Antibiotic resistance has become a worldwide health problem. Interstate and international
waterways contaminated by wastewater effluent or livestock could carry antibiotic resistant
pathogens between communities, spreading disease downstream to previously unexposed
regions. The Rio Grande, New Mexico’s largest river, supports agricultural and recreational
activity throughout the state, but it may be responsible for transporting such deadly microbes. In
particular, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is an emerging threat in healthcare
settings that may have an environmental reservoir. To examine this possibility, water samples
have been taken bimonthly from the Rio Grande around Albuquerque since summer of 2018.
Community DNA was isolated from bacteria collected via filtration and examined using PCR to
seek out common antibiotic resistance genes. Genes for two of the five most common
carbapenemases in the United States were identified in water samples from multiple locations,
and one bacterial strain containing a carbapenemase gene not previously found in any clinical
cases in New Mexico has been isolated from a sample taken outside of Taos. These findings
suggest that the Rio Grande is a vector for the spread of CRE. Major sources of contamination
are likely from multiple locations along the river. Continued investigation may reveal these
sources, and tracking the emergence of new CREs in nature and in nearby clinics could uncover
a link between environmental dissemination and infection.
Combined Algal and Membrane System for Potable Water Recovery from
Wastewater
G.L.C.L. Bandara1, X. Xu2, I.S. Abeysiriwardhana3, W. Chapmam4, N. Nirmalakhandan5, P. Xu6
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Civil Engineering Department, New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, United States
Abstract 11
Urban wastewater is being realized as a resource from which water, energy, and nutrients can be
recovered for beneficial uses. This upsurges the need for developing energy efficient technologies to treat
alternative water sources of impaired quality to recover potable-quality water. The alga-based bio-reactor
system developed by New Mexico State University has been demonstrated as an energy-efficient system
for removing dissolved organic carbon and nutrients from primary effluent to the required discharge
standards in a single step.
This study evaluated the feasibility of harvesting algal biomass and recovering potable quality water from
the effluent of the alga-based bio-reactor system by coupling it with a hybrid forward osmosis (FO) and
reverse osmosis (RO) system in pilot-scale. Forward osmosis flow was optimized according to the water
flux, flux decline rate and salt back diffusion rate. Three flowrates were selected for the FO flow
optimizing and 1.8 GPM was selected among 1.0 GPM, 1.5 GPM and 1.8GPM flowrates due to higher
water flux and considerably low salt back diffusion. Water quality of the samples collected from the
sample points across the pilot-scale algal/FO/RO system was analyzed to demonstrate the viability of this
system.
Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Char Derived from
Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Food Waste
Hengameh Bayat [email protected]
Umakanta Jena [email protected]
Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, 88003
Abstract 12
Adsorption of heavy metals and other harmful inorganic and organic compounds from
contaminated water using carbon material is a cost-effective remediation method. Food waste
organic fraction is a renewable carbon source that remains underutilized and has limited present
applications such as landfilling and composting, which leads to the generation of uncontrolled
greenhouse gases and liquid wastes that contaminate soil, groundwater, and rivers. The present
study investigates the higher value utilization of food waste as a source of fuel and a carbon
byproduct. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a thermochemical process performed in hot,
compressed water that converts food-processing waste into an energy-dense bio-crude oil along
with co-products such as gas, aqueous phase, and HTL-char. NMSU has been conducting
experiments on HTL of food waste using batch reactors. Our preliminary results show that the
mass yield of HTL-char is 37.5% of the starting food waste (dry basis) at HTL operating
conditions of 240°C, 30 min reaction time and 15wt% of solids loading. The Brunauer-Emmett-
Teller (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of HTL-char indicates that
although the surface area is relatively lower than the char obtained from other thermochemical
processes (example, pyrolysis), it contains higher oxygen-containing functional groups that will
enhance adsorption of heavy metals. The current research is conducting a systematic
investigation into pretreatment of HTL-char, detailed characterization of its elemental and
surface properties and its evaluation as an adsorbent material for removal of heavy metal ions
such as lead and copper.
Utilizing Traditional Navajo Ecological Knowledge Through Navajo Place Names to
Map Navajo Nation Water Sources in the San Juan Basin, NM
K. E. Y. Clah,
Candidate for Master of Water Resources, UNM
L. M. Tsinnajinnie
Community and Regional Planning, UNM
L. Harjo
Indigenous Planning and Community Development, UNM
Abstract 13
The Navajo Nation has been the target of mineral leasing allowing uranium, coal and oil mining
on Navajo land since its inception in 1923. The Navajo Nation consists of 110 chapters, local
government subdivisions, organized into five agencies. Utilizing traditional Navajo Nation
chapter names in the Navajo language, Traditional Navajo Ecological Knowledge (TNEK) can
assist in identifying water sources including springs, reservoirs, ponds, and rivers that can be
assessed for vulnerability and sensitivity to climate change. There are 52 Navajo Nation chapters
located in the San Juan Basin and 22 chapters have water related names. Water sources
associated with place names will also be evaluated for risks from industrial development. Water
is sacred to the Navajo people as well as providing identity, kinship and livelihood to Navajo
communities. To ensure profiled water sources are protected and community values upheld,
documentation of the water sources will be constructed to conceal the true location as advised by
community leaders. Water sources identified from TNEK will be mapped to allow for a better
comprehension of the vast available water that is present on Navajo land, which can then be used
in future environmental assessments or impact studies. Environmental assessments will need to
take into consideration the impacts industrial development has on natural resources, in addition,
implementing action to protect high sensitivity water sources. This project generates a valuable
source of knowledge through reclaiming Navajo place names, preserving TNEK, and building
resilient ecological communities on Navajo land in the face of a changing climate.
PRISM precipitation data related to stream runoff in northern New Mexico
in an effort to improve focused recharge estimates within PyRANA
Sarah Reuter
Daniel Cadol
Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Science
Fred Phillips
Emeritus Professor of Hydrology, Earth and Environmental Science
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,
Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Abstract 14
Groundwater is a crucial source of water for most of New Mexico, therefore understanding the
rate and distribution of recharge to aquifers is crucial for sustainable development. The PyRANA (Python
Recharge Assessment for New Mexico Aquifers) model was designed to estimate aquifer recharge by
tracking the soil-water balance through time over the entire state. The main inputs are daily gridded
precipitation data (PRISM), reference evapotranspiration (GADGET), and soil data. However, previous
versions neglected focused recharge, which is an important contribution to groundwater recharge. Xu
(2018) used a rainfall/runoff data set from Walnut Gulch, AZ to create a stochastic runoff generation
algorithm, enabling the model to incorporate both diffuse recharge and transmission losses in first order
and higher order basins. She also used rain gauge data to systematically adjust PRISM daily rainfall
amounts. However, the factors influencing runoff in semiarid grass- and shrublands are different than
those in wooded mountainous terrains. We have performed a similar analysis using rainfall and runoff
data sets from the Santa Fe area and the Valles Caldera, and observed distinct differences from Walnut
Gulch. All three mountainous basins analyzed exhibited clear relationships between rainfall and runoff
with very similar slopes. The relationships for the three mountainous basins resembled each other much
more than they resembled that of the Walnut Gulch area. And the systematic difference between PRISM
and gauge data is somewhat different in the two regions. In the Walnut Gulch area, rainfall intensity is
influential in runoff-generation process, but it appears to be much less influential in mountainous areas of
northern New Mexico. These results support the hypothesis that two distinct rainfall/runoff relationships
are required to reliably track soil moisture in these widely differing climate/vegetation zones.
U.S. Geological Survey Upper Rio Grande Basin Focus Area Study:
An Integrated Assessment of Water-Resource Status and Trends
M.S. Johnson, USGS, New Mexico Water Science Center
6700 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113
[email protected], (505) 830-7933
K.R. Douglas-Mankin, USDA, Agricultural Research Service
C.A. Rumsey, USGS, Utah Water Science Center, [email protected]
USGS, Colorado Water Science Center
T.I. Ivahnenko, [email protected], G.A. Sexstone, [email protected]
USGS, Texas Water Science Center
N. A. Houston, [email protected], L. Foster, [email protected]
J.V. Thomas, [email protected], D.E. Pedraza, [email protected]
T. Welborn, [email protected]
USGS, New Mexico Water Science Center
S.B. Chavarria, [email protected], C.D. Moeser, [email protected]
A.K. Flickinger, [email protected], A.E. Galanter, [email protected]
USGS, Earth Resources Observation & Science (EROS) Center
G.B. Senay, [email protected]
USGS, Rocky Mountain Region
P.M. Lambert, [email protected]
Abstract 15
Water resources of the Upper Rio Grande Basin (URGB) support a population of over 800,000
people in New Mexico, including 20 of 23 Tribes and Pueblos in the state. This study provides a
comprehensive assessment of the spatial distribution and temporal trends of selected water-budget
components (snowpack, groundwater storage, streamflow, evapotranspiration) and integrated
products (watershed modeling, water availability and use) in the URGB over the past three decades.
Spatially distributed snow modeling used to simulate snowpack processes highlighted snow water
equivalent changes over the period 1984–2017, with widespread variability across elevation zones
and land cover types. Groundwater-level data and groundwater-flow models were used to determine
groundwater-level trends and estimate groundwater storage changes in select URGB alluvial
groundwater basins for the period 1980-2015. A watershed model was calibrated for nine near-native
subbasins and model parameters were translated to the remaining URGB subbasins to simulate
naturalized flows. Historical streamflow changes were quantified by comparison of simulated
naturalized flows to observed Rio Grande flows. Conductivity mass-balance hydrograph separations
found baseflow during 1980-2015 ranged from 29 to 69% (49% average) of total streamflow at 17
sites upstream of Albuquerque, NM. Actual evapotranspiration (ET) data demonstrated that all
URGB land-cover types had significant decreasing trends in ET ranging from -14 to -80 mm/decade
for the period 1986-2015. Decreasing precipitation and other hydrologic trends over the past three
decades suggest that decreasing actual ET may be related to decreasing water availability, with
implications for Tribes, Pueblos, and all others dependent on URGB water resources.
Rio Grande: Lobatos to Elephant Butte Basin Study
Andrew Gelderloos
US Bureau of Reclamation
Dagmar Llewellyn
US Bureau of Reclamation
Emma Kelly
US Bureau of Reclamation
Anne Marken
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District
Abstract 16
The US Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Basin Studies are collaborative studies, cost-shared with
non-Federal partners, to evaluate water supply and demand and help ensure reliable water supplies by
identifying strategies to address imbalances in water supply and demand. Each study includes four key
elements:
State-of-the-art projections of future supply and demand by river basin.
An analysis of how the basin’s existing water and power operations and infrastructure will
perform in the face of changing water realities.
Development of strategies to meet current and future water demands.
A trade-off analysis of strategies identified.
Work on the Rio Grande: Lobatos to Elephant Butte Basin Study (Study) is set to formally begin with the
signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between all its partners. In preparation, Reclamation, through
collaboration with the US Geological Survey, has been calibrating a hydrologic model and updating
down-scaled climate projections that will be used to drive the state-of-the-art projections of future supply
and demand.
As an example of the projections and calibrated models that we will use, we present preliminary Study
projections for Reclamation’s San Juan-Chama (SJC) Project up to the year 2099. The SJC Project, as of
1999, has been estimated to have a firm yield of 96,200 acre feet per year and has never experienced a
shortage since it began in 1971. In the past 20 years, cities in the Rio Grande Valley have begun to
augment local supplies with direct diversion of SJC Project water, making the reliability of these supplies
ever more important.
Water Resource Assessment of the Rio San Jose basin, West-Central New Mexico
Shaleene Chavarria1, Andre Ritchie2, Amy Galanter3, Allison Flickinger4, Andrew Robertson
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] , [email protected],
U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center
Abstract 17
The Rio San Jose basin (Basin) in west-central New Mexico has a complex history of water
supply, that includes domestic, agricultural, tribal, and mining uses. The Pueblos of Acoma and
Laguna are reliant on the water resources of the Basin, and their water rights are currently under
adjudication. The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting a water-resource assessment and
creating an integrated groundwater and surface-water model which can serve as a tool to
negotiate and implement settlements as part of the priorities outlined by the Secretary of the
Department of the Interior’s Indian Water Rights Office. The assessment conceptualizes the
hydrogeologic framework and water resources of the Basin through the compilation of data and
uses the information to develop and calibrate a coupled Groundwater and Surface-water FLOW
(GSFLOW) model. A digital three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model includes 18
stratigraphic units that were generalized to an 8-layer integrated hydrologic model. An inventory
of groundwater wells, springs, and streamgages, along with water-use, water-quality, climate,
and aquifer properties data, were used in the conceptual and numerical model development and
calibration. The integrated hydrologic model is capable of providing estimates of water-budget
components such as groundwater recharge and storage, discharge to the Rio San Jose and its
tributaries, and evaporative losses. The model will be used to evaluate the regional effects of
water use in the Basin from 1944 to 2018 and can be run with climate projections to determine
the effects of future climate on water resources in the Basin.
USGS Tribal Program in New Mexico
Jeff Cordova [email protected]
Shaleene Chavarria [email protected]
U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center
Abstract 18
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Tribal Relations (OTR), Water Mission Area and
the New Mexico Water Science Center (NM WSC) support Tribal capacity building efforts in
areas of natural resource management. The OTR supports Tribal efforts by providing funding
through the TESNAR program (Technical training in Support of Native American Relations) to
local USGS offices to conduct technical training and provide technical information. TESNAR
funding has been used by the NM WSC to provide technical training to several Pueblos and the
Navajo Nation. Trainings included surface-water data collection methods covering streamgaging,
rainfall monitoring, basic surveying, and using Aquarius software to process time-series data. In
2017, the TESNAR funds were used to train personnel from Cochiti Pueblo, and in 2018 training
was provided to Tesuque, Nambe, and Taos Pueblos and the Navajo Nation. The NM WSC is
also conducting an interpretive study to support Native American water rights in the Rio San
Jose Basin in cooperation with the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna. In December 2017, the NM
WSC hosted the first annual tribal meeting in which representatives from 13 Pueblos and the
Navajo Nation attended. At the meeting Tribal representatives learned about the USGS data-
collection policy, current projects of interest, and USGS scientific capabilities. Through
National-level programs and local offices, the USGS encourages the formation of tribal
partnerships and demonstrates the importance of standard methods for data collection. Future
training with funding from USGS programs may be used to support Tribal water-resources
management, and implementation of water rights settlements.
Efficacy of Sodium Chloride in the Fabrication and Strength of Bentonite Clay
Pellets for Uranium Removal in Drinking Water
Joshua Herrera
Jeremy Jones
Dr. Antonio S. Lara
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Abstract 19
Uranium contamination in drinking water is a worldwide problem and is ongoing in the Navajo
Nation. Conventional methods to clean water, such as reverse osmosis, are impractical because
they are expensive and resource intensive. Clays lack these detriments while being ubiquitous
and simple to implement. It is well known that clays abate heavy metals from contaminated
water, but muddy suspensions are difficult to manage. Thus, we focus on production of
manageable, robust clay ceramic pellets. Not all clays make robust pellets though; thus, it is
paramount to understand what parameters affect robustness. For example, pellet fabrication
using bentonite clay is problematic, often resulting in fractured and non-uniform pellets. Initially,
we hypothesized this to be caused by the clay’s high sodium content relative to other robust
clays. To test this hypothesis, we exposed the clay to a sodium chloride solution and studied the
effects on the pellet fabrication process (casting, dehydrating, firing) as well as the resulting
compressive strength. Contrary to our hypothesis, the addition of sodium chloride significantly
reduced the problematic nature of the clay and the resulting pellets were very uniform. Their
compressive strengths, however, were either slightly raised or lowered depending on the
dehydration technique used. The effects on uranium sorption will be the major factor in
determining whether these variances in compressive strength are worth the ease in fabrication. If
so, then this method to deal with problematic clays can be used around the world to remediate
polluted water worldwide, regardless of surrounding clays.
This research was supported by New Mexico State Legislature NMWRRI2018-19, administered
by the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute; National Institutes of General Medical
Health MBRS R25GM061222.
Turfgrass Plant Water Status Influence on Herbicide Phytotoxicity and Efficacy
Ryan Goss- Associate Professor at New Mexico State University
Jackson Powers- Graduate Student at New Mexico State University
Abstract 20
Water management is one of the most pressing issues turfgrass managers face in the arid regions of the
world and periodically in temperate regions. In response to reduced water supplies, governments enacted
policies that restrict potable water use for non-essential uses. Although turfgrass managers are generally
well-adapted in reducing water consumption and showcasing their water conservation efforts, additional
water restrictions will continue to limit turfgrass water use in the future. These reduced water conditions
will limit the environmental benefits turfgrass provides like soil erosion reduction, increased oxygen
production, ambient temperature reduction, and providing low cost playing surfaces. Herbicides are the
primary management practice to reduce difficult to control weeds in turfgrass stands. However, under
reduced water statuses, herbicide efficacy can be reduced as the plant is not able to perform normal
physiological functions. The objectives of this research are to 1) the severity of herbicide turfgrass
phytotoxicity at differing water statuses and 2) if these differing turfgrass water statuses effect herbicide
efficacy.
These objectives will be met by performing field and greenhouse experiments judging turfgrass quality
after herbicide treatments applied following a period of drought. Drought conditions will be created in the
field experiment by using a Linear Gradient Irrigation System (LGIS), and in the greenhouse experiment
pots will be exposed to four decreasing evapotranspiration (ET) levels. Data from the first run of the
greenhouse and field experiment will be presented at the conference.
Ethnographic Assessment of Agricultural Groundwater Use along the New
Mexico/Chihuahua Border
Holly Brause
New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute [email protected]
Abstract 21
Despite the fact that surface water resources that are shared across state and national borders
have long been governed through formal, legally binding agreements, there are no corresponding
rules for shared groundwater resources. In the absence of formal policies that govern the use of
shared groundwater resources through legal frameworks, this projects asks: What are the existing
social, political, cultural, and economic frameworks that shape the use of shared groundwater in
practice at the US/Mexico border? This project uses detailed ethnographic research on rural and
agricultural water use, interviews with water users and managers, and document analysis on both
sides of the US/Mexico border to examine water use practices and the political, social, and
economic forces that shape such practices. By examining this cross-border field site as a single
hydrosocial territory, this analysis is well positioned to identify the effects of two distinct
national water regimes on a shared resource, as well as identify other important relationships of
power.
This project is part of the Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program, a congressionally
authorized research collaboration between water research institutions in Arizona, New Mexico,
Texas, the US Geological Survey, the International Boundary and Water Commission, and
Mexican counterparts. This research aims to engage stakeholders and establish collaborative
working relationships with agricultural water users on both sides of the U.S/Mexico border in
areas that draw from the Mesilla Bolson/Conejos-Médanos Aquifer in particular.
Witnessing Watersheds: A multimodal approach for river
research and communication
Emma Brinley Buckley
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Mary Harner
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Abstract 22
Rivers are the arteries of our planet, transporting water and energy to sustain aquatic and
terrestrial life, including humans. As interconnected systems, they reflect landscape
modifications and are profoundly influenced by human activities and ecological change. Through
application of digital technologies that support monitoring and visualization of ecosystem
dynamics, we aim to further understanding and communication about river systems. Our research
highlights ecological themes within and across three river systems, with a focus on the Central
Platte in Nebraska, and the Middle Rio Grande and Upper Gila in New Mexico. While the
landscape, management, culture, and scale may differ among watersheds, these rivers are
embedded in their communities and are of economic, cultural, aesthetic, ecological, and
recreational value. They all support diverse human and natural systems that face on-going
challenges, as well as opportunities for consensus-oriented approaches, in future management.
We are developing content, methodologies, and strategies to communicate river system
dynamics to public audiences, drawing upon multimodal digital technologies to obtain, analyze,
and convey ecological data in a variety of forms. We use geographic information systems, time-
lapse imagery, repeat photography, and sound recordings, as well as additional tools, to capture
change at a range of scales across time and space. Overall, we seek to provide opportunities for
people to connect to rivers and to further understanding of these coupled human-ecological
systems.
Irrigation efficiency paradox’s implications in regional groundwater resilience
Yining Bai1, Saeed Langarudi2, Alexander “Sam” Fernald1
1 New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, New Mexico State University
2 Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University
3 Department of Animal and Range Sciences & New Mexico Water Resources Research
Institute, New Mexico State University
Abstract 23
Increasing pressure is being put upon available surface water and groundwater resources to support
the demands of population growth, the desire for a higher standard of living, and climate change
in many regions. Increased irrigation efficiency is a potential solution to rising water demands in
many regions as irrigated agriculture represents the vast majority of consumptive losses of water
worldwide. An integrated model presented here was built for the Lower Rio Grande Region in
New Mexico, which included water, irrigated land, capital, and population modules to explore
hydrologic and economic results of management scenarios that would promote IE. Results
revealed that a high IE does not necessarily improve the resilience of the hydrologic system when
surface water and groundwater, or upstream and downstream, connectivity is considered. Popular
and well-intentioned water conservation and management policies, which do not include regional-
scale water accounting, may lead to unintended consequences if policy-makers do not account for
emerging or overdue needs for the ecosystem and urban development. A higher dependency upon
groundwater during prolonged drought combined with higher irrigation efficiency practices could
result in the mining of groundwater, damage to the aquifer, and reduced downstream deliveries.
Additionally, results suggest that well-intended irrigation policies may not be economically and
environmentally feasible. Before making water policy decisions to invest in improving irrigation
efficiency (IE), a comprehensive assessment is necessary, which will include non-consumptive
values of irrigation at the regional scale as well as regional hydrological conditions, particularly
surface water and groundwater connectivity.
Sacred Water and the Promise of Respect –based Environmental Paradigms
Michelle Schmidt and Kristin Waldo
Eastern New Mexico University
Abstract 24
My research with community members of the Maya Mountains Reservation (MMR) in Southern
Belize has familiarized me with a paradigm of human-environmental relations based on the
principle of respect (tzik in Mopan Maya). Rooted in pre-Columbian Maya society and animistic
religious cosmology, this paradigm emphasizes water as a sacred and animated force with which
humanity must respectfully coexist or face consequences.
Oral history and archaeological evidence demonstrate that Maya societies have a long (c2800
year) history of advanced systems of water use through aqueducts, cisterns, and irrigation that
has continued into the present. Nevertheless, Maya environmental paradigms are often
downplayed in interactions with (inter)national agents of development and even environmental
organizations as relics of an idealized past. Rooted in modernist, human-agency centered models
of resource management, these Western (colonial) paradigms limit the dialog on water use to
conservationist and preservationist perspectives that reinforce rationalized views of water as a
calculable and controllable commodity-object rather than a subject in a complex system of
respectful relations.
As MMR communities develop local water purification systems and grapple with problems of
pollution and anthropogenic climate change, regional, community, and household conversations
about water center on how to maintain respectful interactions with water while participating in
economic and political development. Through sustained political activism and cultural revival,
MMR communities continue to articulate neo-traditional, respect-based environmental
paradigms that have the potential to transform human-environmental relationships and build a
more just and sustainable future.
Surface Area of a Local Clay Material to Elucidate Uranium Abatement for Potable
New Mexico Water Management
Moticha Franklin
Jeremy Jones
Dr. Antonio Lara
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM,
88003
Abstract 25
As a result of uranium mining activities in New Mexico, a large amount of the existing water
sources are contaminated, thus harming people, especially the Navajo. Exposure to high levels of
uranium causes elevated risks for numerous cancers, renal disease, as well as a developmental
disorder named after the afflicted in the region, ‘Navajo Neuropathy'. Technologies such as
reverse osmosis are not appropriate for the region. An appropriate solution is needed -
inexpensive, simple and readily available materials. Clays are the answer. Due to their cation
exchange capabilities, clays bind and sequester heavy metals in water. However, muddy
suspensions are difficult to manage; for this reason clay pellets were fabricated to maintain
structural integrity. The capacity for clays to sorb heavy metals is directly related to the surface
area of the clay. We hypothesize that clay pellets, relative to clay powder decreases surface area.
A Gallup, NM clay was used because the location is juxtaposed to a uranium affected area in
New Mexico. The ASAP 2050 Extended Pressure Adsorption Analyzer was used with nitrogen
(N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) sorbents to determine surface area of the Gallup clay in its
different forms. Bauer Emmett Teller measurements follow: N2 sorbent (powder 62 m2/g, pellets
37 m 2/g) and CO2 sorbent (powder 46 m2/g, pellet 23 m2/g). The reduction of surface area
hypothesis was true. Even though surface area is reduced, the resulting surface area is more than
adequate. The pellet manageability with respect to surface area is a desirable trade-off.
This research was supported by New Mexico State Legislature NMWRRI2018-19, administered
by the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute; National Institutes of General Medical
Health MBRS R25GM061222; National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of
Agriculture “Wheels of Change Grant” Award number 2015-38422-24112 and Water Resources
Research Institute FY19 Student Water Research Grant NMWRRI-SG-2019.
Modeling Water Movement in a Drip Irrigated Pecan Orchard in the Mesilla Valley
Jorge L. Preciado *1, Alexander “Sam” Fernald*2, Richard Heerema*3
NM Water Resources Research Institute
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003
Plant and environmental Science Department
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003
Abstract 26
Water balance is important to provide information and to conserve water. The water balance
equation consist of various components related to soil, plant, and atmosphere (Shukla, 2014). The
flow of water in the system can be used to help and manage water supply and changes in
management can increase water productivity in arid regions. For this study the soil water content
was measured from one soil column within the orchard using time domain reflectometry (TDR)
probes (CS655 12cm, Campbell scientific), installed at different depths in the root zone of pecans
and stored measurements in a Campbell Scientific data logger CR300. These sensors will account
for water storage in the soil though the root zone of the trees. Water that passes the root zone will
be considered deep percolation.
This study estimates recharge and model water flow through the soil in a drip irrigated pecan
orchard to better understand surface water/groundwater interactions for improved river basin water
management and quantifies water stored in the soil and lost through evapotranspiration. At the end
of the research is expected to have a better estimate of the water that is consumed by the pecans
and the amount of water that is percolating. Therefore, have a better quantification of the water
that is used in agriculture and the water that percolates to recharge the basin. Better control of the
water applied to the pecan orchards, would create better agricultural practices, therefore achieve
higher water sustainability within the basin and help decision maker have a better control on the
new pecan plantations.
Characterization of Grapevine Water Use in Central New Mexico
Giese, Gill1 [email protected], L. Quintana1 [email protected], C. Velasco-Cruz1
[email protected], and M. Kersten1,2 [email protected]
1Department of Extension Plant Sciences, P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3AE, New Mexico State
University, Las Cruces, NM 88003 2Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, P.O. 30003 MSC 3BE, New
Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003.
Abstract 27
An exploratory study was initiated to measurement and calculate the seasonal water requirement
of the Vitis vinifera winegrape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, grown in
central New Mexico, United States. Although it is established that wine grape growers can more
efficiently manage their irrigation systems and the amount of water applied to grapes once the
grapevine’s water requirement for a desired fruit composition and yield level is known, this has
not been verified/accomplished within New Mexico. Various parameters were tracked over the
growing season at the study vineyard: climate, evapotranspiration, plant water potential and
volumetric soil moisture. Vine stem water potential and volumetric soil moisture were correlated
based on periodic measurement of each parameter over a 12-month period. The crop coefficient
(Kc) based on area shaded by the vine canopy was determined to estimate the evapotranspiration
(ETc) and calculate the vine’s water requirement on a weekly basis. This was done mid-season
when the vine canopy was determined to be at its greatest density and size. Estimated weekly water
use of Pinot meunier was approximately 13.97 gal/vine (based on vine density of 1361 vines per
acre) or 19,014 gal/acre over that seven day period. This was ~9% greater than water use by the
Chardonnay variety (12.77 gal/vine, 17,380 gal/ac) and ~23% greater than that of Pinot noir
(10.77gal/vine, 14,658 gal/ac) over the same period. The study will be repeated in 2020 with more
replications.
A Perfect Match: The Sacred Brackish Water and The Worthy Red Seaweed
Joseph Gonzales
[email protected] Santa Fe Community College
Abstract 28
The effect of greenhouse gases on global climate change is indeed a crisis and undeniable. Methane
is one of those greenhouse gasses and it’s levels on earth are the highest that they have been in
five-hundred thousand years. Much of these methane levels are due to the 1.8 billion cows on
earth. Cattle are responsible for a full 18% of the world’s human related greenhouse gases, or 10%
of human related greenhouse gas-emissions. Recently, researchers have discovered that
supplementing cattle feed with just a 1% fortification of Asparagopsis taxiformis added to their
diet yielded a 60% reduction of methane production in live test subjects. In order not to squander
these potential substantial reductions in greenhouse emissions it is imperative that we not offset
these gains by shipping Asparagopsis taxiformis from the tropical/sub-tropical waters in which it
thrives. Fortunately, New Mexico’s brackish water coupled with controlled environment
agriculture offer a fertile breeding ground to innovate and lead the way in inland cultivation of
Asparagopsis taxiformis.
A diet study of freshwater turtles in southeastern New Mexico using stable isotope
analyses
Vinicius Ortega-Berno; Eastern New Mexico University. Department of Biology, Portales NM
88130; [email protected]
Thanchira Suriyamongkol (presenter); Eastern New Mexico University. Department of Biology,
Portales NM 88130; [email protected]
Ivana Mali; Eastern New Mexico University. Department of Biology, Portales NM 88130;
Abstract 29
Freshwater turtles are an important component of aquatic ecological processes. Dietary habits
reveal their roles in nutrient cycling, food web system, and seed dispersal. Pecos River and its
tributaries are major aquatic ecosystems in New Mexico, which house the majority of aquatic
turtle species that occur in the state, including the state threatened Rio Grande Cooter
(Pseudemys gorzugi). Studying turtle diets can enhance our understanding of their feeding
ecology, trophic level, potential competition, and dietary niche overlap among species. Dietary
habits have been studied using a variety of techniques such as stomach flushing, stomach
dissection and fecal collection; however, these techniques are used to gather information about
recently consumed prey. Stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen can be used to assess a
species’ diets on a border spectrum. In this study, we used stable isotope analyses to assess the
diets of freshwater turtle species in southeastern New Mexico. Our preliminary results showed
higher δ15N values in certain classes of the Rio Grande Cooter, previously assumed to be strictly
herbivorous as adults. The δ13C values mainly represented plants that use C3 photosynthetic
pathways, but the values also varied among sites. We observed differences in trophic levels in
Rio Grande Cooters caught at different localities. Therefore, we speculate that different dietary
habits may be related to the habitat characteristics. The final results of this ongoing project will
provide new insights on the trophic relationships and niche overlap between Rio Grande Cooters
and other co-inhabitants of the Pecos River tributaries.
Investigations of sources of trace elements of concern in the San Juan River
Johanna M. Blake, Jeb E. Brown, and Zachary Shephard
U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center
Abstract 30
Trace elements attached to suspended sediments or dissolved in river water pose a potential
health risk to communities that depend on that water for agricultural and domestic uses.
Exceedances of Navajo Nation surface-water-quality standards for trace elements (especially
lead and arsenic) indicate that communities on the Navajo Nation along the San Juan River are
exposed to this potential risk. Sources for these trace elements and metals within the basin
include legacy mining sites, natural deposits, agriculture practices, oil and gas production, illegal
dumping, urban sources, and other environmental sources. Understanding the contribution from
each source can help the Navajo Nation act, where possible, to improve San Juan River water
quality and reduce the potential health risk to these communities. The objective of this work is
to identify the sources of trace elements of concern to the San Juan River in the reach flowing
through the Navajo Nation, and to quantify the annual contribution from each source.
The U.S. Geological Survey will work with the Navajo Nation to collect, analyze and
interpret geochemical data from area geology, water, and sediment in the San Juan River and
its tributaries. In addition, discharge and suspended sediment concentrations will be
quantified. Arroyos that are tributaries to the San Juan River in specific areas of interest
were selected through discussion with Navajo Nation EPA. Geologic formations, sediments,
and water will be analyzed for major and trace elements such as aluminum, iron, manganese,
lead, arsenic, total organic carbon, and isotopes including lead, strontium, copper, and
uranium.
Groundwater level and storage changes across New Mexico from the 1950s to 2010s
Alex J. Rinehart1, Ethan Mamer2, Geoffrey Rawling2, Trevor Kludt2, and Brigitte Felix2
1 Earth and Environmental Science Department, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM
2 New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM
Abstract 31
Groundwater is the primary source of fresh water in most of New Mexico, but monitoring is done on a
basin-by-basin, year-to-year basis. For the first time, we found the decadal groundwater level and storage
changes from the 1950s to the 2010s for every aquifer in New Mexico with adequate water level
monitoring. This included the basin-fill aquifers of the Rio Grande rift and Basin-and-Range, alluvial
aquifers in the Rio Puerco, Rio Chama and Pecos River valleys, aquifers of the Ogallala Formation in
eastern New Mexico, Paleozoic aquifers of southeastern New Mexico, and the Dakota Formation aquifer
underlying Union County, NM. Many aquifers had insufficient data coverage. The method restricted
analysis to the intersection of correlation lengths around the beginning- and ending-decade’s well
networks, and to the geology of interest. Confining boundaries were found in aquifers with both confined
and unconfined conditions. Groundwater level changes are found as the difference between (a) a decade
of interest’s water levels and the 1950s water levels (total difference; e.g. 1970s - 1950s), or (b) a decade-
by-decade difference (moving difference; e.g, 1970s – 1960s). Overall, groundwater levels are declining
around New Mexico. Regions of stability occur where population is low, there is a source of recharge,
and water use is low. Declines are the largest where water use is uncontrolled, there is no recharge, and
there is a moderate population. Stable groundwater storage occurs when conscious water management and
recharge co-exist; without one or the other, water levels generally decline.
Possible groundwater connection between Española and Albuquerque basins
through preserved Santa Fe Group deposits revealed at Peña Blanca and La
Cienega, NM.
Alex J. Rinehart1 and Ethan Mamer2
1 Earth and Environmental Science Department, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM
2 New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM
Abstract 32
The basins of the Rio Grande rift are connected by the Rio Grande but are commonly assumed to be
unconnected by groundwater. We examine a shallow groundwater connection between the southern
Española and northern Albuquerque basins, providing an example of when and how shallow groundwater
connections between rift basins may occur. The accommodation zones between rift basins are
geologically complicated and form the structural highs between the basins. The boundary between the
Española and Albuquerque basins is a horst capped by the Cerros del Rio volcanic field, which consists of
mafic volcanic vents and flows that cover Santa Fe Group sediments. La Cienega and Peña Blanca, NM
are immediately to the east and west of this structural high in the Española and Albuquerque basins.
Because of water supply and drainage concerns, the hydrogeology of these communities have been
studied in detail. Due to lack of well coverage and springs, little is known about the subsurface in the
transition zone. However, just to the north of the springs of La Cienega, westward flow from the Santa Fe
river toward the Albuquerque basin has been proposed. In the Peña Blanca region, there is an east-to-west
gradient of groundwater flow that was proposed to be from the Santa Fe river. By compiling water table
elevation maps, major ion chemistry and stable isotopes from both regions, we show that there is a
hydrologic connection through the Santa Fe Group sediments of the structural divide between the
Española and Albuquerque basins.
Multi-spatial resolution comparison of evapotranspiration
Robert Sabie
NM WRRI
Salim Bawazir
Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University
Michaela Buenemann
Department of Geography, New Mexico State University
Sam Fernald
NM WRRI
Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University
Abstract 33
The need for finer spatial and temporal resolution information on field scale agricultural
evapotranspiration (ET), or consumptive water use, is necessary to improve water management
because of growing demand for water and changes in the timing and quantity of water from
mountain snow runoff. Traditionally, ET measurements have been either representative of a
small spatial extent and high temporal recurrence (field) or large spatial extents and lower
temporal recurrence (satellite). Neither of these two methods addresses management decisions at
the field scale. A potential solution is the use of a crewed aircraft or a small Unoccupied Aerial
System (sUAS), with multispectral and thermal sensors that facilitate ET measurements. This
study compares and assesses the congruency of ET estimates obtained using field, sUAS,
aircraft, and satellite data taken at the same time over an alfalfa field in the Mesilla Valley, New
Mexico. The suite of sensors on the sUAS and airplane allows for both crop-coefficient and
surface energy balance type models to be employed. Visual analysis of preliminary results
indicate the spatial patterns of ET from sUAS, aircraft, and satellite data match observed field
conditions. Future work will focus on the calibration of the sensors to calculate daily crop ET
using FAO-56 methods.
Telemetry monitoring of acequia networks for communities in the Rio Hondo valley
Lily Conrad, NMSU MS student [email protected]
Sam Fernald, NM WRRI director and NMSU professor [email protected]
Abstract 34
Commonly, complex water sharing agreements in acequia irrigation communities of northern
New Mexico are based on water data gathered irregularly by local water managers. The Rio
Hondo watershed in northern New Mexico is experiencing drought-induced flow reductions and
changing water sharing dynamics between the acequia networks, which rely on water from the
same river. These changes in surface water availability and water sharing agreements resulted in
local water managers expressing a need for available data to appropriately distribute water
between involved parties. Water plays a vital role in the fabric of the Rio Hondo communities.
Besides delivering water to irrigators, acequia water distribution is highly valuable by fostering
significant attachment of community members to the acequia irrigated landscape. Due to the
importance of water to the healthy social fabric of acequia communities, improving water
management will likely also promote acequia society health. This project addresses the role of
improved water data accessibility in water management and community social indicators.
This study is the beginning of giving the community the capacity to become stewards for water
data by having real-time access to stage, flow, water temperature, and flow forecasting through a
web interface. The installation of telemetry sites considers community input to produce relevant
data that are directly applicable to the Rio Hondo shareholders. Social impact of the telemetry
system will be evaluated with surveys targeting dispute avoidance, reduction, and resolution.
With this information, we expect the community and acequia commissioners will be more
prepared to allocate water during low-flow periods and that the telemetry system will cultivate
healthy inter-acequia collaboration (Ellison et al., 2019). We hope this study will serve as
leverage for the local communities of the Rio Hondo valley to implement their own telemetry
monitoring system and cultivate long-term water data transparency for the valley’s water
managers and users.
Fire and its impact on water and water infrastructure:
An all-hands approach to an all-human need
Jared Daniels
AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with the Chama Peak Land Alliance
and San Juan - Chama Watershed Partnership
Abstract 35
Humans have mapped their landscapes into all sorts of cultural, political, and management jurisdictions.
Man-made water infrastructure is designed to adhere to such jurisdictional borders, although the natural path
of water does not, nor does the natural path of fire. There are many natural, and therefore border-ignoring
drivers that promote the free-roaming aspect of fire, from wind speed and direction, to topography, to
vegetation type and density. Fire breaks serve to do little if they do not cross jurisdictional boundaries,
therefore, for example, allowing neighboring untreated landscapes to provide a path for ingress of fires into
new forests. Jurisdictional boundaries also put red-tape in the way of effective fire mitigation.
An attitude of fire mitigation and suppression as the only acceptable response to forest fire from
the time of Spanish settlement on, has changed landscape and plant-life in the absence of what
was once a natural and reoccurring event. Unfortunately, this has led to situations in which
naturally ignited fires have enough fuel supplied to them to pose far more risk to life, property,
and infrastructure than ever before.
As natural ignitions and fire movement on the landscape pay no heed to borders of human
systems, it is in the best interests of human populations to work together to keep water
infrastructure safe and restore the landscape to a more fire-adapted condition. The complexity
of fire movement on the landscape deserves a cross-jurisdictional mindset that invites all
populations and their resources to unite in protecting our lands, forests, and water.
Estimating Groundwater Recharge in Alfalfa Fields of the Mesilla Valley, New
Mexico with Actual Evapotranspiration Measurements
Authors: Kevin Boyko1, Dr. Salim Bawazir2, Dr. Alexander Fernald3
1) Research Assistant New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, New Mexico State
University
2) Associate Professor, Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University
3) Professor of College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State
University; Director, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute
Abstract 36
Increasing demand for groundwater due to prolonged drought in conjunction with less surface water
available for irrigation is causing farmers to pump groundwater from their personal wells to meet crop
irrigation needs. Quantifying groundwater recharge (deep percolation) induced by current flood irrigation
practices is necessary for efficient and sustainable groundwater resources management in the Mesilla
Valley, New Mexico. Recharge beneath flood irrigated fields is not well understood and is difficult to
measure. Studies have quantified recharge through modeling or as a residual in the water balance method
(WBM) by measuring soil moisture and weather parameters, and estimating evapotranspiration (ET). This
study measured all parameters of the WBM in 2017 to estimate recharge in three alfalfa fields of different
sizes, crop age, and soil texture. The ET was measured using the energy budget method and utilizing eddy
covariance technique. Alfalfa, driven by the beef and dairy industry, is one the major crops grown in the
valley and the highest valued crop in New Mexico in 2017 as reported by USDA-NAS.
Recharge in alfalfa was estimated to range from 636 to 708 mm. There were no significant statistical
differences between recharge of the three alfalfa fields (f-ratio of 0.7358 with a p-value of 0.49 using an
ANOVA test). Ratios of 38% to 45% of irrigation amount contributed to recharge. On-farm irrigation
efficiency ranged 53.84% to 59.12% based on the farming irrigation practices. This study focused on
recharge in alfalfa fields, however to quantify recharge within the Mesilla Valley other crop fields will
need to be evaluated.
A Naturalistic Approach to Watershed Restoration and Flood Mitigation
Garrett Altmann- GIS Coordinator/Project Manager
Santa Clara Pueblo, Forestry Department
Abstract 37
Santa Clara Pueblo is a federally recognized Native American Tribe located on the Rio Grande
in Northern New Mexico. Since 1998, three severe wildfires have originated outside tribal
boundaries, yet have burned over 80% of Santa Clara forested lands. Compounding these
disasters, post-fire flooding devastated the Santa Clara Creek and Canyon, an area historically
relied upon for recreation, economic revenue, and spiritual sanctuary. The magnitude of these
events has resulted in Santa Clara Pueblo receiving five Presidential Disaster Declarations, as
both a direct grantee to FEMA and as a sub grantee to the State of New Mexico.
Our project area is contained within the Santa Clara Creek Watershed. Since water is regarded
as a sacred source of life, the tribe is prioritizing natural stream function in its flood mitigation
and restoration design. This includes incorporating bioengineering principles that utilize natural
materials while aiming to maximize ecosystem benefits, such as promoting habitat complexity
while providing long term resilience to future disturbances.
The intended outcome is to create a more vibrant ecosystem that will increase resiliency while
enhancing recreation opportunities and restoring the cultural value and appreciation of this
watershed. By taking a natural approach to watershed restoration and mitigation, the Tribe can
begin to restore this landscape which acts as their spiritual sanctuary, natural pharmacy, food
store, clothing store, and biology classroom.
Water Quantity and Quality Study of the Lower Santa Fe River, Santa Fe County,
NM
Ryan Mann, Jennifer Lindline
Natural Resources Management Department, Environmental Geology Program
New Mexico Highlands University; Las Vegas, NM [email protected] [email protected]
Abstract 38
The City of Santa Fe relies heavily on the Santa Fe River for its potable supply. Santa Fe’s water
refuse is treated at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and discharged back into the lower
Santa Fe River, which then flows through the historic communities of La Cienega and La Bajada
before entering Cochiti Pueblo. Outputs of the lower Santa Fe River have amplified, with increased
development, groundwater pumping, irrigation diversions, and evapotranspiration. The Santa Fe
River only reaches its confluence with the Rio Grande intermittently, its termination occurring
somewhere within Cochiti Pueblo.
Quantity and quality of the water in the Lower Santa Fe River after its discharge from the WWTP
has been monitored since November 2018 at five locations along its ~ 12 km course to the Rio
Grande. Preliminary results note a significant decrease in stream flow during the irrigation seasons
with daily discharge values averaging 10.76 ft3/s at the outfall of the WWTP to 6.27 ft3/s at the
USGS gauge above Cochiti Pueblo. Basic water quality parameters were measured biweekly with
the following value ranges: temperature: -0.1-31.3°C; pH: 7.74-9.49; conductivity: 6.33-813
uS/cm; total dissolved solids: 160-637 ppm; and salt: 0.1-0.4 ppt. Water grab samples were
collected seasonally for ion chemistry. Lower Santa Fe River water was Ca-HCO3 type during
spring runoff and Na-HCO3 type during the winter and summer seasons, likely reflecting ground
water contributions.
Biogeochemical mechanisms affecting mobility of arsenic from mine wastes on
Native American lands
Cherie L. De Vore*
Co-authors: Lucia Rodriguez-Freire+, Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella*, Eliane El Hayek*, Jose M.
Cerrato*
University of New Mexico*, New Jersey Institute of Technology+
Abstract 39
Extensive abandoned mine waste sites in the western United States near tribal lands are poorly
managed. The goal of the proposed research is to reveal the biogeochemical processes affecting
the bioavailability of arsenic (As) in affected soil and water on tribal land in north-central South
Dakota. We seek to determine the concentrations and speciation of As in water and plants that
are impacted by mining legacy using aqueous speciation chemistry, spectroscopy, microscopy
and NextGen Illumina sequencing. Initial data published from my PhD work report elevated
concentrations of As in the mining source (2,040 mg/kg) and in the riverbank sediments (94-298
mg/kg) co-occurring with Fe-minerals. After reaction of As-enriched sediments in batch
experiments, organic As species measured in solution suggest that microbial methylation could
be a relevant mechanism for release. In addition, the detection of As in plant tissues grown in
mining-impacted sediment drives our investigation to better understand the role of endophytes
and natural organic matter (NOM) on the accumulation of As in culturally relevant plants used
by the community. These results aid in better understanding As mobility in biologically active
sediments, which can directly impact the community’s exposure routes. Our research serves as a
foundation to build an interdisciplinary partnership with tribal community members and other
investigators to understand the broader impacts of mining on human health and the environment.
This project also offers a unique opportunity to translate knowledge about As bioavailability to
benefit underserved tribal communities with the goal of promoting social and health equity.
Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment of the Rio Mora at the Rio Mora
National Wildlife Refuge, Mora County, NM
Johnson Adio, Jennifer Lindline, Edward Martinez, Michael Petronis
New Mexico Highlands University
Abstract 40
This study is monitoring and assessing the water quality of the Rio Mora, as the water quality in
the system sets the basis for the rest of the ecosystem health. Physicochemical parameters of
temperature, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and pH have been measured in-situ since
October 2014 via a YSI 6920 V2 Multiparameter Water Quality Sonde. So far, the results show
that water quality fluctuates seasonally. Temperature varies from very low (31°F-34°F) in the
winter, moderate (48°F-55°F) during the spring, and high (59°F-62°F) in the summer months.
Turbidity ranges from low (23-28 NTU) in the summer, moderate in the winter (160-420 NTU),
and high (>500 NTU) during the spring months when discharge is highest from snow melt.
Dissolved oxygen values are lowest (7.89-9.39 mg/L) in the summer and highest (10.81-12.26
mg/L) during the winter months. Conductivity values correlate with turbidity values; they are
lowest in the summer (0.3-0.4mS/cm) when stream flow and turbidity are low and highest in the
spring (0.6-0.7mS/cm) when stream flow and turbidity are highest. Values of pH remain relatively
constant (7.5-8.5); the slight to moderately alkaline character reflects the alkaline soils and
sedimentary rocks over which the Rio Mora flows during its broad reach. Temperature and
dissolved oxygen are inversely correlated, while stream flow and conductivity are directly
correlated. We are comparing water quality trends to stream flow, land use, and other influences
to assess if and how they affect stream health over time and to inform land management decisions
at the Refuge.
Applying Structure from Motion to sediment responses in the Middle Rio Grande
from ephemeral tributaries
Sharllyn Pimentel, New Mexico Tech, [email protected]
Dr. Daniel Cadol, New Mexico Tech, [email protected]
Dr. Jonathan B. Laronne, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, [email protected]
Kyle Stark, New Mexico Tech, [email protected]
Madeline Richards, New Mexico Tech, [email protected]
Abstract 41
Ephemeral streams contribute to the dynamic fluvial geomorphology in perennial streams.
Further understanding the relationship between point sources of sediment from arroyos to the
Middle Rio Grande will help river managers to mitigate the effects of the river’s dynamically
shifting behavior. Arroyo-derived sediment may negatively affect the Rio Grande in many ways
(e.g. fine sediments entrainment develops sediment plugs and contributes to the filling of
Elephant Butte. Coarse sediments deposition can deflect the river’s course toward local farming
communities and infrastructure.) To address these challenges, the Arroyo del los Piños near
Socorro, NM is a heavily instrumented to automatically collect water velocity, stage, bedload
and suspended sediment data to enable sediment and water flux monitoring at the basin outlet.
The station provides an initial understanding of sediment supply from the Arroyo de los Piños to
the Rio Grande. To investigate the responses of the Rio Grande itself, Unmanned Aerial System
based remote sensing photogrammetry and Structure from Motion analyses will be applied to
before and after flood events at the mouth of the Arroyo de los Piños, and two adjacent arroyos.
The analysis will provide volume change estimates of sediment storage, bed roughness
characteristics, and surface grain size distribution of the morphological units at the confluence.
Initial hypotheses include, larger grain size fractions from the Rio Grande bedload are
temporarily stored in the arroyo mouths, coarse material from tributaries will shift the Rio
Grande towards the opposite bank and bars in the river will be coarser downstream of tributary
junctions.
Detection of Rangeland Degradation in New Mexico using Time Series
Segmentation and Residual Analysis (TSS-RESTREND)
Melakeneh G. Gedefaw a, Hatim M.E. Geli abc
a. Water Science and Management Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
b. New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute
c. Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Abstract 42
Degradation of natural ecosystems including rangelands is one of the climate impacts that affects
food production systems. These impacts can be due to natural climate variability, anthropogenic
activities, or both. Characterizing the relationships between vegetation biophysical variables such
as net primary productivity (NPP) and some climate variables including temperature and
precipitation and can be useful in managing these natural resources. The goal of this study is to
evaluate changes and detect degradation in rangelands in New Mexico. The objective is to
understand the relationship between temperature, precipitation, and Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index (NDVI). The study used NDVI as a surrogate for NPP based on Global Inventory
Monitoring and Modeling System - NDVI-3rd generation (GIMMS NDVI3g) dataset from 1982
to 2013. Precipitation and temperature data were obtained from Parameter-elevation Regressions
on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM). Time Series Segmentation and Residual Trend analysis
(TSS-RESTREND) which combines Residual Trend (RESTREND) and Breaks for Additive
Season and Trend (BFAST) was used to detect potential breakpoints. The expected output of this
research will be categorization of pixels based on productivity and direction of change. The study
will provide significant information that can be used to support monitoring and conservation
efforts of rangeland resources in New Mexico.
Keywords: TSS-RESTREND, intrannual climate variability, NDVI, degradation, rangeland
Whirlpool Hydro-Power
David Corriz – Santa Fe Community College
Abstract 43
Low-head hydropower has the potential to bring reliable baseload electricity to rural towns and
villages around the world. New Mexico’s acequias system delivers water to much of rural central
New Mexico. Recent improvements in technology have reduced the cost of building micro
hydropower systems. A new Belgian technology of a prefabricated whirlpool hydropower system
can power 60 homes for less than $100,000. The outflow of Cochiti Dam is more than 400 cubic
meters per second. 3 of these systems could provide 24/7 power to Cochiti Pueblo with plenty of
water left over to power other rural communities.
Saving Methane Emissions For Clean Water
Lucia Montoya – Santa Fe Community College
Abstract 44
New Mexico has many large groundwater basins that are too salty to utilize for consumption or
farming without cleaning it first. We can clean our unused water by building a desalination plant
next to one of our many large basins. We can also help save our atmosphere and save money by
isolating and using the methane from oil pumping sites in New Mexico to power the facility.
From there the benefits for the cleaned water are endless. Besides clean, potable water the
facility will also provide many jobs, therefore expanding our economic growth.
A bi-level multi-objective linear fractional programming for water consumption
structure optimization based on water shortage risk
Youzhi Wang, Liu Liu, Shanshan Guo, Qiong Yue, Ping Guo
Center for Agricultural Water Research in China
China Agricultural University, Beijing,10083, China
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract 45
In this study, a framework of a bi-level multi-objective linear fractional programming (BMLFP)
approach is developed for the optimization of water consumption structure based on water
shortage risk. It incorporates linear fractional programming, multi-objective programming into
bi-level programming. The model considers the water shortage risk measured by interior-outer-
set risk assessment method, and integrates it into inexact water resources optimization model.
The complicated model not only can enhance the conventional programming method through the
interactive influence and mutual restriction between the upper- and lower-level decision
processes, and multiple objectives, but also improve the robustness of conventional
programming methods by integrating the water shortage risk. Besides, the model could achieve
the tradeoff between equality and economic benefit of system and figure out the interaction amid
water shortage risk, water allocation and objectives. It is applied to a case study to conduct water
resources management among different water users including agricultural, industrial, domestic,
and ecological sectors in the middle reaches of Heihe River Basin, northwest China. The
decision makers can find better water-allocation decision alternatives obtained from BMLFP
model according to their risk attitude to support social harmony and economic development.