Geohydrology of Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument is located on the eastern slopes of the Sierra de los Valles and the Pajarito Plateau. The Pajarito Plateau was formed by a series of ashflow and ashfall of rhyolite tuff. Perennial and intermittent streams have cut the surface of the plateau into a number of narrow southeast-trending mesas separated by deep canyons. Perennial surface flow occurs in Canon de los Frijoles and in the upper and middle reaches of Alamo, Capulin, Medio, and Sanchez Canyons. Of the five springs in and adjacent to the Monument, three discharge from perched aquifers and two from the main aquifer. Water in the deep main aquifer moves south to southeast in the Monument. Along the western edge of the Monument, the intrusion of volcanic rock of the San Miguel Mountains forms a barrier to the movement of water from the recharge area in the Valles Caldera. About 46.4 km/sup 2/ of the drainage area in the upper and middle reaches of Canon de los Frijoles, Alamo, Lummis and Capulin Canyons were burned over by a wildfire (the La Mesa Fire) in June 1977. The geohydrology of the area was determined to assess the availability of surface and ground water in the Monument and to determine the impact of the wildfire on these water resources.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5209559
- Report Number(s):
- LA-8461-MS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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