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Anderson Ranch Wetlands Hydrologic Characterization in Taos County, New Mexico

Open-File Report 2019-1100
Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191100

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Abstract

The Anderson Ranch property (study area), located in Taos County, north-central New Mexico, was transferred from Chevron Mining, Inc. (CMI) to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) court-ordered settlement. The study area supports freshwater emergent wetlands and freshwater ponds. The settlement states that CMI will provide the land and a monetary settlement to support the restoration of the wetlands on the property. To best manage the study area, the BLM requires an understanding of potential effects of climate variability and groundwater withdrawals on the wetland function. This study, completed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the BLM, provides an initial hydrologic characterization of the study area, which included literature review, collection of groundwater-level and aqueous-chemistry data, completion of a vegetation survey, and preliminary data analysis. The data compiled, collected, and analyzed as part of this study indicate that the wetlands within the study area are groundwater fed and that the water maintaining the wetlands is modern. Surface-water levels in the pond and groundwater levels in the surrounding wetland fluctuate seasonally. The hydraulic gradient in the study area is from northeast to southwest. Evapotranspiration is a main driver of water demand within the study area.

Suggested Citation

Galanter, A.E., Shephard, Z.M., and Herrera-Olivas, P., 2019, Anderson Ranch wetlands hydrologic characterization in Taos County, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019–1100, 42 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191100.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Study Area
  • Study Approach
  • Hydrogeology
  • Groundwater Levels
  • Aqueous Chemistry
  • Vegetation Survey
  • Water Budget
  • Conclusions
  • Future Work
  • References Cited
  • Appendix
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Anderson Ranch wetlands hydrologic characterization in Taos County, New Mexico
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2019-1100
DOI 10.3133/ofr20191100
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New Mexico Water Science Center
Description iii, 42 p.
Country United States
State New Mexico
County Taos
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details