Field Study of Ephemeral Stream Infiltration and Recharge

摘要

Two ephemeral streams north of Socorro, NM, the Rio Puerco and Rio Salado, have been instrumented for the purpose of analyzing ground-water recharge due to channel seepage. Monitor wells and neutron logging wells provided information necessary to characterize the nature of stream aquifer interaction. Ground-water recharge was computed using convolution and other techniques. The Rio Puerco has a relatively well-defined, straight channel with a small width-depth ratio and flows in response to both summer and winter precipitation, as well as spring runoff. The Rio Salado is an ephemeral stream which has a very large width-depth ratio and a braided channel filled mostly with permeable sand and gravel. Prior to runoff the depth to ground water below the channel is about 1m at the upper site and 9m at the lower site.