EXPLOITATION POTENTIAL FOR THE CAPITAN REEF COMPLEX AQUIFER, DELAWARE BASIN, SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS

The Capitan Reef Complex aquifer is a Permian-age regional karst aquifer system outlining the Delaware Basin in Far-West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. The aquifer system is recharged where exposed at the land surface at the Guadalupe, Apache, and Glass Mountains, and discharges to the Pecos River; to the springs at Balmorhea, Texas; as upward leakage through confining layers; and to regional saline groundwater systems in the Permian Basin. Groundwater salinity varies from fresh to saline.

The down-dip brackish portion of the aquifer was extensively developed in the 1960s and 1970s for industrial water, but with the consequence of excessive drawdown. The complexity of this regional karst aquifer system has recently been better defined as a result of studies performed for private landowners in the Apache and Glass Mountain areas. As a result, new fresh-water zones have been defined near the outcrop where the aquifer is recharged.

Once again, the Capitan Reef Complex aquifer is considered for meeting the many water supply shortages for the region. However to prevent the consequences of exploitation, sensible development of groundwater from the regional Capitan Reef Complex karst system will need to consider impacts to other connected water sources, economics of development, and environmental consequences.