New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting — Abstracts

Numerous waterfowl and other wildlife species inhabit the playa lake environment at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge. These biotic communities in the refuge ecosystem rely upon sporadic freshwater inflows from surface runoff or deliveries from the Storrie Lake Project conveyance system. When available during non-drought years, the majority of this irrigation water is transported to, stored in, and allocated from several playa lakes located within in the refuge. The quality of soil and sediment that has developed over time on the surface of these playa lakes is critical to water resource management efforts within the refuge. Since these playa lakes exist within a partially closed basin system in the semi-arid region of New Mexico, accumulation of salt minerals and other nutrients within the lakes has become of principle concern. Therefore, the physical and chemical characteristics of this mineral-, nutrient- and moisture- rich surface layer of sediment and soil are vital to understanding the hydraulic properties of the playa ecosystem. A detailed analysis of physical and geochemical properties of soils in each of the playa lakes is fundamental to water and wildlife resource management efforts, specifically, as these properties relate to the transport, storage and allocation of water resources in refuge lakes. As such, the following sedimentological study presents the results of efforts to classify, characterize, and compare the soil and sediment in each of these playa lakes. Analysis and interpretation of data revealed in this study are then used to develop specific water use recommendations and goals for natural resource management personnel at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge.