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<br />1~ \) <br />.\. . <br />I:; 0" <br />\) .... <br /> <br />Estimate vertical and horizontal hYdraulic conductivity in the aquifer <br /> <br />Calculate seepage rates betweel). the Rio Grande and the aquifer <br />Determine distribution of silts and clays in the inner valley alluvium <br /> <br />Document current (during life of project) changes to land uses (such as irrigated land), land <br />covers (such as riparian vegetation), and inner valley surface-water features (such as <br />the Rio Grande/canal! drain system) <br /> <br />Useful Activities and Information <br /> <br />Classify lithofacies units and fault locations in aquifer deposits beyond the Albuquerque <br />area and estimate influence of faults on ground-water flow . <br /> <br />Chemically analyze ground water, including environmental isotopes <br /> <br />Estimate basin margin and tributary recharge <br /> <br />Determine rate of evapotranspiration by cottonwoods and its relation to water-table depth <br /> <br />Hydraulic heads at points in the aquifer system, volume and location of ground-water <br />withdrawals, and surface flows at specific sections across the valley are key components of the <br />river/aquifer system and among the few that can be directly measured. These measurements <br />provide a basis for calculating much other essential information, such as changes in the volume <br />of water in aquifer storage, calculation of riverbed and aquifer hydraulic conductivity, and <br />calculation of seepage between the river and aquifer systems. <br /> <br />As discussed previously (see "Hydrologic relation between the Rio Grande and the Santa <br />Fe Group aquifer system" section) hydrologic relations between the Rio Grande surface-water <br />system and the Santa Fe Group aquifer system are complex. The recently developed ground- <br />water-flow model of the Albuquerque Basin (Kernodle and others, 1995) can be used as a basis <br />for a better understanding and quantification of the river/aquifer system. The additional <br />information described above would be collected and used for improving the ground-water-flow <br />model. <br /> <br />. Participants of the 1994 workshop (see "Acknowledgments" section) produced ,a list of <br />possible methods to improve the understanding of hydrologic relations between the Rio Grande <br />and the Santa Fe Group aquifer system in the Albuquerque area. The list is shown in the <br />"Supplemental Information" section of this report. Most methods on the list are directed toward <br />the activities and information needs listed above and are incorporated into the plan of study <br />described in this report. Calculating deep percolation of irrigation seepage by improving <br />estimates of consumptive use of water by crops, and installing piezometer nests in leach fields <br />are not included in the plan of study. The reasoning for not including these is discussed below. <br /> <br />Deep percolation of applied irrigation water (irrigation seepage) to various crops has been <br />estimated by the Bureau of Reclamation (1994a). Improving these estimates using improved <br />estimates of crop consumptive use is not included in the plan of study. . The rate of irrigation <br />seepage that recharges the aquifer can be reasonably estimated by assuming that irrigation <br />practices are consistent with those estimated by the Bureau of Reclamation (1994a). <br />Documenting changes in the amount and distribution of irrigated cropland in the inner valley is <br />essential information related to irrigation seepage and is included in the plan of study. <br /> <br />30 <br />