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New Mexico Water eNews

 

June 2017


Meet the Researcher

Dr. Alex Rinehart, New Mexico Bureau of Geology
and Mineral Resources

by Catherine Ortega Klett, NM WRRI Program Manager

Dr. Alex Rinehart is a hydrogeologist in the Aquifer Mapping Program at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBG). His research interests center around unexpected intersections between water science, and Quaternary geology, geophysics, data mining and rock mechanics.

After graduating with a BS in mathematics from the University of New Mexico in 2004, he completed an MS in hydrology in 2008 at New Mexico Tech focused on snow. Between 2008 and 2011, he worked on a PhD in Quaternary paleoclimate using soil climate proxies; this involved digging many holes in the desert, which he misses.

Late in 2011, he found work as a full-time graduate student intern at Sandia National Laboratories. Once again, he changed his research focus to work on experimental rock mechanics in support of various subsurface energy science applications, primarily on carbon geologic capture and storage. In 2015, he completed a PhD in geophysics at New Mexico Tech supported by Sandia National Laboratories.

Concurrently with his research at Sandia, he worked with Dr. Dave Love at the NMBG on mapping a feature-challenged quadrangle in the southeastern Albuquerque basin. Both the work at the Bureau and at Sandia ignited his passion to work on problems that society cares about, while reinforcing his love of basic geoscience.

Immediately after earning his PhD, he was hired by the Bureau as a hydrogeologist in the Aquifer Mapping Program. Since beginning his job in December 2014, he has led research in estimating groundwater storage change in the aquifers throughout New Mexico as part of the NM WRRI Statewide Water Assessment. The goal of this effort is to generate data-driven, rather than model-driven, consistent estimates of water table changes and changes in the total groundwater storage of New Mexican aquifers.

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NMSU Dr. Salim Bawazir explained the use of his eddy covariance system to field trip participants in a local alfalfa field.

NM WRRI Hosts Conference to Prompt Discussion
about Evapotranspiration in New Mexico

by Jesslyn Ratliff, NM WRRI Program Specialist/
Water Science & Management Student Program Coordinator

The New Mexico Evapotranspiration (ET) Conference was held at the Las Cruces Convention Center on June 6-7. The conference had over 65 registrants to include state and federal agency representatives, students, faculty, private entity representatives, farmers, and one state representative.

The New Mexico ET Conference program was designed to help choose an ET model for the New Mexico Statewide Water Assessment. The Statewide Water Assessment (SWA) is a three-year project that has been supported by New Mexico’s Governor and the New Mexico Legislature. The SWA is an effort that will complement existing state agency water resource assessments. It will provide new, dynamic (updated frequently), spatially representative assessments of water budgets for the entire state of New Mexico. ET is one of the components of the model. ET is the total sum of transpiration (water transpiring from vegetation canopies) and evaporation (water evaporating from land and water surfaces) that occurs on a daily basis.

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Field trip participants viewed Cement Creek and the Gold King Mine from a distance.

Second Successful Gold King Mine Conference Hosted
by NM WRRI

by Jesslyn Ratliff, NM WRRI Program Specialist/
Water Science & Management Student Program Coordinator

NM WRRI staff traveled to Farmington, NM for the second year in a row to host the 2nd Annual Conference on Environmental Conditions of the Animas and San Juan Watersheds with Emphasis on Gold King Mine and Other Mine Waste Issues. The conference was held at San Juan College on June 20-21 with a field trip on June 22. Over 100 people attended including scientists; university faculty and students; Native Americans; county, state and federal agency staff; and interested stakeholders.

Conference speakers delivered science-based talks to update participants on the research that has been conducted to date since the Gold King Mine (GKM) spill that took place on August 5, 2015. The purpose of the research is to help determine the short and long-term effects of the GKM spill and to compare it to other similar environmental disasters that have contaminated water in the past. 

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Pooneh Pahlevani is a master’s degree student in the Department of Civil Engineering at NMSU.

NMSU Student Studies Recharge for the Mesilla
Bolson Aquifer

By Catherine Ortega Klett, NM WRRI Program Manager

Pooneh Pahlevani, master’s degree student in NMSU’s Department of Civil Engineering, received a 2017 NM WRRI Student Water Research Grant for her project entitled, “Developing the Water-Budget and Calculating the Recharge for the Mesilla Bolson Aquifer.” She is working with her advisor, Professor Zohrab Samani, also of the Department of Civil Engineeing.

The goals of this project are to develop the water budget and recharge to the Mesilla Bolson as it changes depending on the availability of the surface water. The project will attempt to assess the water budget for three years comprising of a full allotment year (wet year), a dry year, and a medium year. This will provide the range of recharge within the aquifer under various operating conditions and will provide a tool for future assessments. The information is important for long-term management and understanding of the water budget dynamics of the Mesilla Bolson.

Ms. Pahlevani will complete this project in June and expects to graduate in the summer of 2017.


NM WRRI Prepares to Host 62nd Annual Water Conference
by Catherine Ortega Klett, NM WRRI Program Manager

For the first time in its 62-year history, NM WRRI will host its annual water conferences at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech). Socorro’s center-of-the-state locale and proximity to the Rio Grande offers an ideal backdrop for contemplating the water supply and management challenges facing our entire state. What is the future of water in New Mexico? How will economic development fare in the face of hitting a water supply wall? Is new water a reality or fantasy? Are there hidden costs associated with new water opportunities? Hidden Realities of New Water Opportunities will be explored by an estimated 200 or more participants representing faculty and students, water agency staff, water planners, and stakeholders from throughout New Mexico.

PROGRAM: The day-and-a-half conference will take place on August 15-16, 2017 at the Macey Center on the NM Tech campus. NM Tech President Stephen G. Wells will give the opening address followed by Senator Tom Udall who will provide an update on efforts associated with the 2012 Conference Report, a product of NM WRRI’s 57th Annual New Mexico Water Conference, including action on the federal Drought Bill. Senator Udall will also moderate a panel of representatives from various water sectors in New Mexico including agricultural, tribal, municipal and industrial, and environmental. Program: The day-and-a-half conference will take place on August 15-16, 2017 at the Macey Center on the NM Tech campus. NM Tech President Stephen G. Wells will give the opening address followed by Senator Tom Udall who will provide an update on efforts associated with the 2012 Conference Report, a product of NM WRRI’s 57th Annual New Mexico Water Conference, including action on the federal Drought Bill. Senator Udall will also moderate a panel of representatives from various water sectors in New Mexico including agricultural, tribal, municipal and industrial, and environmental.

The conference program will present a broad range of diverse water issues such as the management aspects of farmland retirement, interbasin transfers, conservation, watershed management, aquifer storage and recovery project implementation, and desalination and brackish water opportunities. A highlight of the conference will be a panel of former Rio Grande Compact commissioners and administrators who will look back at past successes and future challenges associated with a multi-state agreement to manage flows.

POSTER SESSION: Included in the conference is a poster session that provides a perfect opportunity to exchange information, showcase water projects, and update colleagues on water research being conducted around the state. The 90-minute session allows students, faculty, agency staff, and private entities to network with colleagues from throughout the state and region, providing opportunities for collaboration.

FIELD TRIPS: Participants can choose between one of two optional field trips on the day before the conference starts. Participants can travel to the Plains of San Agustin, home of the Very Large Array radio telescope observatory, the town of Datil, a number of multi-generation family owned ranches, and a controversial proposed groundwater transfer. Another optional field trip will take participants to look at river rehabilitation projects in the San Acacia reach of the Rio Grande that are related to surface-water/groundwater interaction. It will include viewing a low-flow channel, Cañas Arroyo, and the realignment of the Rio Grande through the Bosque del Apache.

REGISTER: Again this year, the NM WRRI is offering a very affordable conference registration fee, $95 Early Bird rate. Register at:
https://nmwaterconference.nmwrri.nmsu.edu/2017/register/.

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