CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SAN SOLOMON SPRINGS SYSTEM IN WEST TEXAS USA

The San Solomon Springs System is a series of iconic springs located at the intersection of several highland and mountainous regions in semi-arid west Texas. The six named springs in the system are within 15 km of each other. Source areas for the springs are upland areas where precipitation and recharge are elevated compared with the desert lowlands. The individual springsheds for each of the six springs are not well characterized. Water discharged from each spring was collected and analyzed to discern whether there are differences in the chemical make-up of the different spring waters. These analyses have been coupled with an examination of the local geological structure, hydraulic gradients, and water-budget analyses to shed insight on spring source areas and the hydraulic relationships among the springs. Insufficient data are currently available to provide definitive delineation of the extent of the springsheds, however available data and information have been used to constrain which characterizations are feasible and likely. Collection of additional data will help further constrain these characterizations.