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Characterization of the Goodenough Spring Catchment Area, Amistad Reservoir Region M Regional Water Planning Group Mauricio Flores and Ronald T. Green, Ph.D., P.G. April 7, 2021 1
Characterization of the Goodenough Spring Catchment Area,
Amistad Reservoir
Region M Regional Water Planning Group
Mauricio Flores and Ronald T. Green, Ph.D., P.G. April 7, 2021
1
Major Surface-Watersheds along the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo
Major Watersheds that Discharge to the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo
Laredo
Watersheds Average Discharge (m3/second)
Rio San Juan 4.4
Rio Salado 6.1
Rio Alamo 1.7
Rio Escondido 1.9
Conchos 20.7
Pecos 6.3
Devils 10.2
Terilingua 1.5
Rio San Diego 5.3
San Felipe 2.9
Rio San Rodrigo 5.3
These are the sources of Laredo surface water
Laredo
Importance of the Watersheds at Amistad Reservoir to the Rio Grande Water Budget
6
Role of Val Verde County in Rio Grande Water Budget
Amistad Reservoir
7
Rio Grande Water Budgetin Val Verde County (acre-ft/yr)
AmistadReservoir
DevilsRiver
263,000
PecosRiver
197,000
Rio Grande at Langtry1,071,000
San FelipeCreek
65,000
Rio Grande below Amistad Dam1,659,000
Rio Grande at Del Rio1,659,000
CienegasCreek8,700
Gauging Station
GoodenoughSpring 103,000
8
Rio Grande Water Budgetin Val Verde County (acre-ft/yr)
AmistadReservoir
DevilsRiver
263,000
PecosRiver
197,000
Rio Grande at Langtry1,071,000
San FelipeCreek
65,000
Rio Grande below Amistad Dam1,659,000
Rio Grande at Del Rio1,659,000
CienegasCreek8,700
Gauging Station
GoodenoughSpring 103,000
~600,000 acre-ft/yrAdded to Rio Grande in Val Verde County
9
Pecos River195,000
acre-ft/yr
Devils River263,000
acre-ft/yr
Goodenough Springs103,000
acre-ft/yrSan Felipe
65,000acre-ft/yr
Contributions to Rio Grande in Val Verde County
Average Annual Discharge (acre-ft/yr)
10
Past Projects TargetedPecos River and Devils River Contributions
AmistadReservoir
DevilsRiver
263,000
Pecos*River
197,000
Rio Grande at Langtry1,071,000
San FelipeCreek
65,000
Rio Grande below Amistad Dam1,659,000
Rio Grande at Del Rio1,659,000
CienegasCreek8,700
Gauging Station
GoodenoughSpring 103,000
*Pecos River Project sponsored by City of Laredo - 2016
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Current Project TargetsGoodenough Spring Contribution
AmistadReservoir
DevilsRiver
263,000
PecosRiver
197,000
Rio Grande at Langtry1,071,000
San FelipeCreek
65,000
Rio Grande below Amistad Dam1,659,000
Rio Grande at Del Rio1,659,000
CienegasCreek8,700
Gauging Station
GoodenoughSpring 103,000
Where is the Source Area for Goodenough Spring?
Originally thought to be the United StatesTreaty of 1944
13
…however, anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise
14
GoodenoughSpring
Amistad Reservoir
Border 2020 Program and Coypu Foundation
funded an investigation by SwRI to determine source of Goodenough Spring
15
Addresses Goal #2of Border 2020
Program: Improve Access to
Clean and Safe Water
Scope: Sample groundwater in Mexico and US and compare to Goodenough Spring Discharge
16
17
Why is Knowing Source Area of Goodenough Springs Important?
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0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0500100015002000
Aver
age
Annu
al D
isch
arge
, cm
s
River Distance from Mouth, km
1900-1910
1910-1920
1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
1950-1960
1960-1970
1970-1980
1980-1990
1990-2000
2000-2010
Historical Average
Conchos
Pecos, Devils
Maverick Canal & Return Anzalduas Canal
El Paso
Gain/Loss MeasurementsIBWC Gauging Stations on Rio Grande/Rio Bravo
10-year average annual flow 1900 to 2010
19
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0500100015002000
Aver
age
Annu
al D
isch
arge
, cm
s
River Distance from Mouth, km
1900-1910
1910-1920
1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
1950-1960
1960-1970
1970-1980
1980-1990
1990-2000
2000-2010
Historical Average
Conchos
Pecos, Devils
Maverick Canal & Return Anzalduas Canal
El Paso
Development in Chihuahua Since 1900 Has Significantly Reduced Conchos River Flow
10-year average annual flow 1900 to 2010
1900
2010
20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0500100015002000
Aver
age
Annu
al D
isch
arge
, cm
s
River Distance from Mouth, km
1900-1910
1910-1920
1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
1950-1960
1960-1970
1970-1980
1980-1990
1990-2000
2000-2010
Historical Average
Conchos
Pecos, Devils
Maverick Canal & Return Anzalduas Canal
El Paso
Similar Impact Could Happen if Recharge Area to Goodenough Spring is Developed…
10-year average annual flow 1900 to 2010
21
…Decreasing Discharge from Amistad Reservoir Available to Laredo
AmistadReservoir
DevilsRiver
263,000
PecosRiver
197,000
Rio Grande at Langtry1,071,000
San FelipeCreek
65,000
Rio Grande below Amistad Dam1,659,000
Rio Grande at Del Rio1,659,000
CienegasCreek8,700
Gauging Station
GoodenoughSpring 103,000
Summary
Current Phase: Determine if Goodenough Spring discharge is sourced in Mexico or US, or both Second Phase: Determine the extent of the watershed that
contributes to Goodenough Spring Future Phases:
– Determine what impact development (i.e., GW pumping) will have on Goodenough Spring discharge
– Determine what impact climate change (i.e., changes in precipitation → recharge) will have on Goodenough Spring discharge
Ultimate Objective: Provide technical foundation to protect discharge from Goodenough Spring
Summary
Current Phase: Determine if Goodenough Spring discharge is sourced in Mexico or US, or both Second Phase: Determine the extent of the watershed that
contributes to Goodenough Spring Future Phases:
– Determine what impact development (i.e., GW pumping) will have on Goodenough Spring discharge
– Determine what impact climate change (i.e., changes in precipitation → recharge) will have on Goodenough Spring discharge
Ultimate Objective: Provide technical foundation to protect discharge from Goodenough Spring
Contact Information
Southwest Research Institute6220 Culebra
San Antonio, Texas 78238Mauricio Flores: 210.522.5502 [email protected] Green: 210.316.9242 [email protected]
www.swri.org
