24.04.2015 Views

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO ...

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO ...

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>BASE</strong> WIDE PLAN<br />

3.1.4 Geochemical Trends in the Regional Aquifer<br />

Several water types are present in the Albuquerque Basin (Plummer et al., 2000, Section C) that represent<br />

different sources of recharge to the basin including those from the Rio Grande, Tijeras Arroyo, Tijeras<br />

Fault zone, and Eastern Mountain Front. General characteristics of these waters were described in the<br />

study. Recharge from the Eastern Mountain Front occurs along the entire mountain front of the basin.<br />

This water type is characterized by relatively low specific conductance and chloride and is a calciumsodium-bicarbonate<br />

(Ca-Na-HCO 3 ) type. Groundwater from crystalline rocks of the Tijeras Fault zone<br />

has mixed with water from the Eastern Mountain Front, resulting in groundwater with high conductance,<br />

chloride, and bicarbonate. Along the Tijeras Arroyo, groundwater is characterized by high conductance,<br />

sulfate, and nitrate and is a calcium-bicarbonate type. Waters influenced by recharge from the Rio<br />

Grande are generally higher in silica and potassium, with calcium elevated related to sodium.<br />

The evaluation of regional groundwater at Kirtland AFB demonstrates that two main water types are<br />

present, indicating different water sources. The major distinction observed at the sites is that<br />

groundwater in the southeastern portion of the base, including Manzano Landfill (LF-020) and Lake<br />

Christian (OT-046), has a stronger sulfate and higher chloride signature, and is present at elevations 300<br />

to 600 ft higher than the other regional groundwater at the base. Groundwater in the central portion of<br />

the base, including Landfill 2 (LF-002), Landfills 4, 5, and 6 (LF-008), Tijeras Arroyo, SWMU 8-28 (ST-<br />

250), and McCormick Ranch/Range (OT-028), have very similar water types and groundwater flow<br />

directions indicate that the aquifer is continuous from the southern and eastern areas into the central<br />

portion of Kirtland AFB. The groundwater in this area is generally dominated by calcium and<br />

bicarbonate. The Golf Course Main Pond wells (KAFB-0608, KAFB-0609, and KAFB-0610) appear to<br />

indicate transitional groundwater is present, with sulfate concentrations that are intermediate between<br />

groundwater in the uplifted area and groundwater typical of the central portion of the base. The well at<br />

Radioactive Burial Site 11 (RW-06), KAFB-6301, has a stronger bicarbonate signature than others in this<br />

transitional region. Groundwater in the northwestern portion of the base (Landfill 1 [LF-001], Fire<br />

Training Area [FT-13], and Building 1033 [ST-341]) is similar to the groundwater in the central portion,<br />

but has slightly higher sodium/calcium ratios. Groundwater in the northwestern portion of the base<br />

generally flows to the north and east, converging with the groundwater from the south and west in the<br />

north-central portion of the base. The chemical composition of groundwater in well KAFB-8351 at<br />

SWMU 8-35 (ST-214) does not fit into the chemical and geographic pattern observed in the other wells,<br />

and may represent a different water source.<br />

Concentrations of iron, selenium, dissolved solids, and nitrate nitrogen have been elevated in some wells<br />

at Kirtland AFB over the last few sampling events. Many of these detections can be explained in the<br />

context of sitewide and basinwide water quality trends (iron, selenium, and nitrate nitrogen). Water<br />

quality in the Albuquerque Basin has been degraded from the combined effects of decreasing water<br />

levels and increasing development. Low water conditions associated with less recharge and slower<br />

circulation in aquifer formations have been shown to result in groundwater with higher concentrations of<br />

dissolved solids (Hem, 1989). Elevated nitrate concentrations have been identified in the basin that is the<br />

result of increasing numbers of septic systems.<br />

The quality of groundwater in the Albuquerque Basin is influenced by the effects of excess irrigation<br />

waters mixing with groundwater in the aquifer, in some cases resulting in higher dissolved solids<br />

concentrations (United States Geological Survey [USGS, 2000]). Sources of lower quality water in the<br />

basin include septic systems, residual minerals from evapotranspiration, urban runoff, and application of<br />

agricultural chemicals. Nitrates are of particular concern in the Albuquerque area as evidenced by a<br />

large zone of nitrate contamination along the Rio Grande flood plain near Albuquerque; nitrate<br />

concentrations have doubled and tripled between 1977 and 1990 from use of septic tanks. In some areas,<br />

Kirtland Air Force Base<br />

Base-Wide Plans for the Environmental Restoration Program 18 April 2004

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!