2007 Ground Water Summit

Monday, April 30, 2007 : 1:40 p.m.

Analysis of Surface Water and Ground Water Interaction in the Middle Rio Grande Basin

Nabil G. Shafike, Ph.D.1, Deborah L. Hathaway, PE2, Michael Gabora, PG1 and Karen L. MacClune, Ph.D.3, (1)New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, (2)SS Papadopulos & Associates Inc., (3)SS Papadopulos & Associates Inc.

Developing river management strategies or river restoration projects in the Middle Rio Grande basin is highly dependent on the interrelation between surface water, groundwater and evapotranspiration.  To investigate these interrelations, groundwater models have been developed for the shallow riparian environment along the Rio Grande.  These models cover the riparian corridor along the Rio Grande from Cochiti Dam to Socorro, New Mexico with a high resolution grid (250 ft by 125 ft).  Modeled interactions include seepage from the river, interception of shallow groundwater by drains or the river, recharge to shallow groundwater from flooded overbank areas, and water depletions due to open water evaporation and riparian evapotranspiration.  Riparian evapotranspiration rates are variable, depending on mapped vegetation classifications in the riparian zone.  A key feature of the models is the incorporation of transient river boundary conditions using flow-dependent river stage and width determined by a companion surface water model.

 

One application for the models is investigation of  relationships between surface water, groundwater and vegetation at river restoration sites, as is demonstrated for the Los Lunas habitat restoration project.  The Los Lunas project was developed to provide additional shallow water and low velocity habitat for the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow and to restore native riparian vegetation along the Rio Grande.  Numerical simulation of the project provided insight and understanding of the interactions between river seepage, riparian evapotranspiration, riverside drains and the shallow aquifer that assisted in project evaluation.

Nabil G. Shafike, Ph.D., New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Over 20 years of professional experience in major aspect of hydrology and water resources, with greatest emphasis being on water resources planning and management, numerical modeling of complex hydrologic systems, surface water and groundwater interaction, water rights investigation, mine dewatering, contaminant transport, and environmental impact analysis and related Endangered Species Act.


The 2007 Ground Water Summit