New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting — Abstracts

This project aims to establish continuous and discrete monitoring of shallow groundwater and regional groundwater conditions in the San Acacia reach of the Rio Grande (from San Acacia to the Narrows, approximately) in New Mexico. Evaluation and research outcomes will focus on groundwater conditions, such as tracking impacts or changes to surface water – groundwater connectivity related to the management of the Low Flow Conveyance Channel (LFCC), collecting current groundwater monitoring data to improve modeling outcomes, and assessing impacts to riparian ecosystem health along the Rio Grande. In particular, we want to understand the effects of diverting monsoon-season flood peaks from the Rio Grande into the LFCC under certain river-drying conditions, as proposed by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District.