Characterization of Interaction of Surface Water and Groundwater in the El Paso Lower Valley of Texas

by Zhuping Sheng,
Joshua Villalobos,
Monica Gomez,
Marisela Barcenas,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: World Environmental and Water Resource Congress 2006: Examining the Confluence of Environmental and Water Concerns

Abstract:

El Paso is located in the Chihuahua desert and prone to long periods of extreme drought. With the river drought, regional irrigation districts only received 34% and 38%of a full water allotment, respectively for 2003 and 2004. El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 and farmers started to pump groundwater from the regional aquifer, Hueco bolson, to supplement surface water shortage. To sustain regional water supplies for urban development and agricultural production, following issues need to bead dressed. What are impacts of the river drought on recharge from the surface water system? What are impacts of irrigation pumping on the already stressed regional aquiferin term of fresh water storage and water quality? Will ground water pumping further reduce surface water delivery efficiency? In this paper, the authors address some of issues by characterizing the interaction of surface water and ground water.

Subject Headings: Surface water | Water shortage | Water storage | Water quality | Groundwater management | Droughts | Water supply | Texas | United States

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