Shomaker, John

English

University of New Mexico

University of New Mexico 
UNM Digital Repository 
Publications The Utton Transboundary Resources Center 
7-2008 
Brackish Ground Water - an untapped resource for energy 
development? 
John Shomaker 
John Shomaker & Associates 
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Shomaker, John. "Brackish Ground Water - an untapped resource for energy development?." (2008). 
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/utton_pubs/66 
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John Shomaker & Associates
Brackish Ground Water— 
an untapped resource for 
energy development?
John Shomaker
John Shomaker & Associates
Albuquerque
John Shomaker & Associates
Why brackish water for energy?
• Development near energy source, rather 
than market—remote?
• Finite life?
• Water quality not so important?
– High-value use
– Some uses don’t require quality
• Some energy developments PRODUCE 
brackish water.
John Shomaker & Associates
Lots of brackish water in NM
• As an example—319 million acre-feet in San 
Juan and Tularosa Basin!
• NM consumptive use ~ 2 million/year, so—
• Is this information meaningful?  No.
• Cost
John Shomaker & Associates
Brackish water resources are 
important, but--
• Not newly discovered, nor undescribed.
• If undeveloped, it’s because of cost.
• Not disconnected from fresh-water realm, 
nor beyond OSE administration.
• The familiar constraints apply!
John Shomaker & Associates
Connection with Existing Fresh- 
Water Supplies
• Streams
– Some is directly tributary: Malaga Bend, 
Capitan Reef
– More subtle connections: Rio Grande, San Juan
• Potable ground water
– Drawdown in overlying aquifer
– §72-12-25: where is the “top?”
– Ticking bomb of unrealized depletions
John Shomaker & Associates
1400-
100-
500-
1000-
water table
aquifer supplying
shallow wells
aquifer supplying 
Armijo No. 1
geophysical log of nearby Atrisco No. 5
low-permeability silt and clay
high permeability sand and gravel
main aquifer
1000-
1400-
500-
100-
John Shomaker & Associates
Streamflow depletion due to pumping from a hypothetical 
100,000 ac-ft/yr well field south of Albuquerque
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
years
a
c
-
f
t
/
y
r
Blue curve only based on Papadopulos 
& Assoc (2000).
Wells close to river
Wells far from river
Deep 
wells!
John Shomaker & Associates
Dependency
• High Plains aquifer, Gallup
• Plan B (or C, etc.)?
• Appropriate for energy development— 
mining water to support mining.
• Salt concentration
John Shomaker & Associates
Salvage
• Interception of water destined for ET
• Drawdown effects
• Environmental issues
– Habitat
– Dust
John Shomaker & Associates
Manzano Mtns.
recharge
transpiration from 
salt cedar 
and evaporation from
playa lakes
west east
Estancia Basin
ground-water flow
well
John Shomaker & Associates
Whose water is it, anyway?
• OSE role
• Threat of compact violation
• Scrutiny of §72-12-25
• Produced water—OSE and OCD
• Administered as if it were fresh water, 
where there isn’t any.
John Shomaker & Associates
Uncertainty
• Effects can always be calculated, but--
• Wide divergence of opinion: Zuni Salt Lake
• Data even more sparse for brackish 
resources.
• “Worst-case,” or litigation?


Brackish Ground Water - an untapped resource for energy development?

https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&amp;context=utton_pubs

Brackish Ground Water - an untapped resource for energy development?

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