CONCEPTUAL SITE MODELS FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

When having the primary goal of management of groundwater resources with broader more cost-effective strategies that have legal or regulatory implications, such as sustainable use, it is imperative that a well thought out conceptual site model (CSM) is in place. Frequently, multiple scales of CSMs are needed ranging from local scale to regional scale, to optimize the quantity and type of energy and mass needed for the best cost-effect solutions that meet sustainable hydrologic requirements while simultaneously considering cultural and socioeconomic conditions.

A unique regulator-supported approach to development of CSMs is called Hydrologic and Environmental Systems Analysis (HESA). HESA integrates aspects of climate, topography, geomorphology, hydrology, hydrochemistry, geology, and the human activities associated with these systems into a holistic, three-dimensional CSM. Using HESA, all relevant controlling factors of a particular site, including the physical framework and the physical and biochemical processes observed within the framework, can be identified at the initial planning/characterization stage. HESA is performed by an interdisciplinary team to ensure a rapid, cost-effective analysis resulting in cutting-edge conceptual modeling and management. This front-end thinking to the management process leads to more focused, sustainable strategies resulting in better regulatory and legal solutions.

The Cochiti Pueblo presents a unique case history to illustrate the viability of the HESA approach for developing and evaluating CSMs for hydrologic systems that combine anthropogenic impacts, with long-term sustainable management strategies and goals that benefit the Cochiti Pueblo and stakeholders downstream. Two types of wetland sites, riverine and slope wetlands, within the Rio Grande and Santa Fe River Watersheds, are potentially impacted by the management of waters at Cochiti Reservoir. The locales were analyzed using HESA, with an emphasis on selecting optimal locations for shallow groundwater monitoring. The use of HESA at the onset of the project will help guide data collection decisions and allow the Cochiti Pueblo to make scientifically sound, strategic decisions regarding the placement and frequency of monitoring activities throughout the project.