Ground-water flow and interaction with surface water in San Bernardino valley, Cochise county, Arizona and Sonora, Mexico

Abstract

In the center of San Bernardino Valley in southeastern Arizona, San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge provides unique wetlands habitat for endangered fish and wildlife. Confined conditions exist within the refuge, producing springs, artesian wells, and perennial pools along Black Draw, the main surface-water drainage. A numerical flow model was constructed in order to understand the hydrogeologic system of the basin. Annual inflows to the basin include 50,171 acre-feet of mountain-front recharge, 4,360 acft of underflow, and 7,074 ac-ft of river leakage. Annual outflows consist of 57,704 ac-ft of underflow, 3,010 ac-ft of river leakage, 537 ac-ft of evapotranspiration, 346 ac-ft of spring discharge, and 5 ac-ft of stream leakage. Further investigations are needed to refine the annual steady-state model, develop a seasonal (oscillatory) model, and construct transient simulations predicting responses of the hydrologic system to climatic and/or anthropogenic stresses. Extremely large mountain-front recharge and subsurface outflow estimates should be improved by conducting pump tests, geophysical studies, and isotope dating and chemistry analyses of ground water, and by collecting more water levels in Sonora. These studies will also provide information on the role of basalt flows in mountain-front recharge distribution and ground-water flow patterns. The study concludes with a recommended monitoring program for the refuge.