We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Groundwater Controls on Water Chemistry in the Jemez River.
- Authors
MCGIBBON, CHRIS; KARLSTROM, KARL; CROSSEY, LAURA; GRULKE, TANNER
- Abstract
The Jemez River is a snowmelt-dominated system serving as outlet for water discharging from the Valles Caldera, with a smaller but significant contribution from springs. The groundwater inputs contain a geothermal component, which leads to degradation of water quality. This increases downstream and multiple natural tracers highlight the extent of the fluid mixing, as far as 40 miles to the south. Climate models predict less snow pack, causing a decrease in river discharge, a relative increase in spring contributions, and degradation in water quality. This degradation will affect local habitats and stake holders. Salinity/conductivity and [As] increase downstream from the headwaters in the Valles Caldera to the boarder of the study area at San Ysidro. Peak concentrations occur at Soda Dam and at San Ysidro. Major ion chemistry indicate that spring water a Soda Dam is a mixture of geothermal water from the Valles Caldera and local meteoric water. Geochemical mixing models indicate water-rock interaction with basement granites, and several tracers indicate dissolution of carbonates and evaporates in the distal regions is adding Sr with a non-radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr value. Combining 87Sr/86Sr with conservative tracers can help to establish mixing volumes of spring and river water. These vary with river discharge: during low flow conditions, at 17 cubic feet per second (cfs), the relative component of spring contribution at Soda Dam is 5% of total river discharge. This work highlights evolution of groundwater along the flow path from the Valles Caldera to as well as potential alterations to river water chemistry/degradation.
- Subjects
JEMEZ River (N.M.); GROUNDWATER ecology; WATER chemistry; SNOWMELT; CLIMATE change
- Publication
New Mexico Journal of Science, 2017, Vol 51, Issue 1, p68
- ISSN
0270-3017
- Publication type
Article