Integrated Analysis of the Hydrology of a Mitigated Wetland in El Paso,Texas Utilizing Water Quality and Electrical Conductivity

Keystone Heritage Park (KHP) is a 52-acre nature preserve containing a natural wetland within city limits of El Paso, Texas. The source of water for the wetland has been an issue of interest as efforts to restore this wetland back to it native habit are currently underway. KHP is situated within the Mesilla Bolson - a Tertiary fault-block basin- and is adjacent to the Franklin mountains - a Laramide related fault block mountain range. The wetlands of Keystone are located in the shallow water bearing zones within the Mesilla Bolson which include the overlying Rio Grande Alluvium. It is thought the primary sources of groundwater and surface water for the KHP wetlands are by means of mountain-front recharge and through groundwater traveling south coming from the Rio Grande. The goal of this project was to identify possible locations of freshwater springs originating from these sources flowing into the wetlands. The project and data covered a period where the wetlands are at their driest (Dec.-May) due to winter weather and when they are at their fullest due to monsoonal rains (July- Aug.). By utilizing a Horiba portable pH/EC/TDS Meter quality of surface and groundwater was gathered throughout the wetlands at 14 sites. Preliminary results suggest several springs recharging the wetlands during both dry and wet periods. Further investigation of this result led to the use of an EM-31 data logger for conductivity data to better understand the relationships between groundwater, surface water, soil properties, and the mobilization of minerals entering the wetlands.