Printed on recycled paper

ISBN 978-1-4113-4034-3

9 7 8141 1 340343

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Map 3352

Potentiometric Surfaces, Summer 2013 and Winter 2015, and

Select Hydrographs for the Southern High Plains Aquifer,

Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico

By

Jake Collison

2016

Prepared in cooperation with the

Air Force Civil Engineer Center, San Antonio, Texas Sheet 1

Introduction

Cannon Air Force Base (Cannon AFB) is located in the High Plains 

physiographic region of east-central New Mexico (Miller, 2000), about 5 miles 

west of Clovis, N. Mex. Cannon AFB was originally established as a U.S. 

Army base in 1942 and then reactivated as the current Air Force base in 1951 

following the U.S. Army base closure in 1947. The area surrounding Cannon 

AFB is primarily used for agriculture, including irrigated cropland and dairies. 

The Southern High Plains aquifer is the principal source of water for Cannon 

AFB, for the nearby town of Clovis, and for local agriculture and dairies (EPCOR 

Water, 2014). The Southern High Plains aquifer in the vicinity of Cannon AFB 

consists of three subsurface geological formations: the Chinle Formation of 

Triassic age, the Ogallala Formation of Tertiary age, and the Blackwater Draw 

Formation of Quaternary age (Langman and others, 2006). The Chinle Formation, 

0–400 feet (ft) thick and locally known as the “red beds,” consists mostly of 

clay with some interbedded sand and silt in this area and forms the bottom of 

the unconfined Southern High Plains aquifer (Langman and others, 2006). The 

Ogallala Formation, 30–600 ft thick (Gustavson, 1996), is the main wateryielding formation of the Southern High Plains aquifer and consists of eolian 

sand and silt and fluvial and lacustrine sand, silt, clay, and gravel (McLemore, 

2001). The Blackwater Draw Formation, 0–80 ft thick, overlies the Ogallala 

Formation and consists mainly of eolian sand (McLemore, 2001; Langman and 

others, 2006). Groundwater-supplied, center-pivot irrigation (the circular features 

on figs. 1 and 2) dominates pumping from the Southern High Plains aquifer in the 

area surrounding Cannon AFB, where the irrigation season typically extends from 

early March through October (Marsalis, 2007; oral commun. with local farmers). 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a long history of groundwater hydrology 

and water-quality work on and surrounding Cannon AFB, with the most recent 

publications, Langman and others (2004) and Langman and others (2006), 

covering a period of study from 1994 to 2005. In addition, the USGS has been 

monitoring groundwater levels in the vicinity of Cannon AFB since 1954. 

Langman and others (2006) reported that groundwater levels have declined 

in the Cannon AFB and surrounding area and noted that summer water-level 

declines were followed by partial recovery during the winter. Prior to this study, 

the most recent potentiometric-surface map in the study area was developed by 

Langman and others (2006) by using groundwater levels measured during the 

winter of 1997. The 1997 potentiometric-surface map was developed by using 

data from approximately 27 wells located on Cannon AFB and in the surrounding 

area within about 3 miles of the boundary of the base. The 1997 potentiometricsurface map indicated a general northwest to southeast groundwater-flow 

direction, consistent with potentiometric-surface maps for groundwater conditions 

observed in 1962, 1967, 1977, and 1987 (Langman and others, 2006). In addition 

to the general northwest to southeast groundwater-flow direction observed in all 

these periods, a groundwater trough running diagonally from the northwest to the 

southeast becomes successively more distinct throughout the 1962–97 series of 

potentiometric-surface maps as the regional groundwater level declines (see fig. 3 

in Langman and others, 2006). 

The potentiometric-surface maps developed by Langman and others (2006) 

are useful in determining the regional direction of groundwater flow; however, 

the sparse number and distribution of wells used to create these potentiometricsurface maps (approximately one well every 3 square miles) resulted in maps that 

are too general for determining detailed groundwater-flow directions on a local 

scale. The USGS in cooperation with the Air Force Civil Engineering Center,

San Antonio, Texas, investigated the possible effects of seasonal groundwater-use 

differences (summer and winter) on groundwater-flow directions in the vicinity 

of Cannon AFB. To determine more local groundwater-flow directions, data from 

a dense well network in this study area were needed. In addition, because only 

groundwater levels measured during winter periods were used in the development 

of the Langman and others (2006) potentiometric-surface maps, an increased 

understanding of the effect of summer groundwater levels on the groundwaterflow directions was also needed. 

Summer Potentiometric Surface

laf15-0666_fig 01

10 2 KILOMETERS

0 1 2 MILES

84 60

245

467

311

Base map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under

license. Copyright © 2014 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Roads from Earth Data Analysis Center, University of New Mexico

Military base boundary from U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 13

North American Datum of 1983

CANNON

AIR FORCE

BASE

NEW MEXICO

Study area

Southern High Plains 

aquifer

Clovis

Clovis

Clovis 13 N

climatic station

EXPLANATION

Potentiometric contour—Shows altitude at which water level would have stood

 in tightly cased well, July 22–August 1, 2013. Dashed where approximately 

 located. Hachures indicate depression. Contour interval 10 feet. Datum is North

 American Vertical Datum of 1988

Approximate groundwater-flow direction—Dashed where approximately located

Irrigation well and number

Domestic well and number

Monitoring well and number

Well with hydrograph and number (see fig. 4)

3,960

9

7

55

108

78

89

48

27

8 6

50

35

21

79 82

68

60

61 57 56

55

40

38

88

128

127

129

118

101

119

103 106

120 121

107 110

109

108

104

102

92

94

96

95

97

98

99

72

71

70

69

63 64

114 115

73

117 116

100

77

76

66

34

46

45

39

28

41 42

44

43

47

26

25

23 24

15

20

13 14

11

10 9 7

37

53

5

4

3 2

36

54

1

32

58

80 81

3,890

3,900

3,910

3,920

3,930

3,940

3,880

3,8703,860

3,950

3,960

3,970

3,980

3,980

3,990

4,000

4,010

4,020

4,030

4,040

4,050

3,970

3,980

4,040

4,030

4,020

4,050

4,060

4,070

4,080

4,010

3,960

103°20' 103°15'

34°25'

34°20'

Figure 1. Potentiometric surface of summer groundwater conditions on and around Cannon Air Force Base, 

July 22–August 1, 2013, Curry County, New Mexico. Data shown in table 1.

Winter Potentiometric Surface

laf15-0666_fig 02

10 2 KILOMETERS

0 1 2 MILES

84 60

245

467

311

Base map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under

license. Copyright © 2014 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Roads from Earth Data Analysis Center, University of New Mexico

Military base boundary from U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 13

North American Datum of 1983

CANNON

AIR FORCE

BASE

EXPLANATION

Potentiometric contour—Shows altitude at which water level would have stood

 in tightly cased well, January 20–30, 2015. Dashed where approximately 

 located. Hachures indicate depression. Contour interval 10 feet. Datum is North

 American Vertical Datum of 1988

Approximate groundwater-flow direction—Dashed where approximately located

Irrigation well and number

Domestic well and number

Monitoring well and number

Well with hydrograph and number (see fig. 4)

3,960

9

7

55

108

80

128

103

89 99

111

47

48

25

20

14

11

53

4

31

21

91

93

113

33

12

18

16

78 81

68

60

58

61 57 56

55

40

38

127

129 126

125

101

119

106

121

107

122

123

124

110

109

90 108

105

85

84

83

86

87

92

94

96 98

72

63

114 115

73

117

116

67

112

74

100

76

75

66

34

49 46

45

29

42

30

26

24

17 19

13

9 7

37

52

5

3 2

22

54 51

50

35

32

79

3,890

3,900

3,910

3,920

3,930

3,940

3,880

3,870

3,860

3,950

3,960

3,980

3,990

4,000

4,010

4,020

4,030

4,040 4,050

3,970

4,040

4,030

4,020

4,050

4,060

4,070

4,080

4,010

4,060

3,850

4,000

Clovis

103°20' 103°15'

34°25'

34°20'

Figure 2. Potentiometric surface of winter groundwater conditions on and around Cannon Air Force Base, 

January 20–30, 2015, Curry County, New Mexico. Data shown in table 1.

Summer 2013 to Winter 2015 Change

laf15--0666_fig 03

Base map roads from Earth Data Analysis Center, University of New Mexico

Military base boundary from U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 13

North American Datum of 1983

84 60

245

467

311

10 2 KILOMETERS

0 1 2 MILES

127

73

121

108

3.2

–0.7

–0.3

Groundwater-level change from summer 2013 to winter 2015

 –3.8 to –1.1 (decline)

 –1.0 to 1.0 (neutral)

 1.1 to 10.1 (rise)

Irrigation well—Well number in black, groundwater-level change in purple

Domestic well—Well number in black, groundwater-level change in purple

Monitoring well—Well number in black, groundwater-level change in purple

Well with hydrograph (see fig. 4)—Well number in black, groundwater-level

 change in purple

EXPLANATION

#

#

#

#

CANNON

AIR FORCE

BASE

80

128

103

89 99

47

48

25

20

14

11

53

4

78

81

68

60

58 61

57

56

55

40

38

127

129

101

119

106

121

107

110

109

108 92

94

96

98

72

63

114

115

73

117

116

100

76

66

34

46 45

42

26 24

13

9

7

37

5

3 2

50 54

35

32

79

21

0

0

1.0

–1.0

10.0

0.7

3.3

3.2 5.8

3.8

3.4 1.4

0.5

2.4

0.1

9.3

9.6

2.6 0.4

8.2

0.2 1.7

3.4

0.5

8.3 0.3

–0.5

–0.4

–1.6

–1.8 –0.8

–2.2

–3.8

–1.8

–3.2

–0.2

–0.7

–0.3

–1.1

–1.9

–2.2

–1.9

–2.1

–1.4

–3.7

–0.2

–1.5

–0.8

–0.7

–0.5

–0.8

–1.6 –1.3

–1.1

–0.7

–0.4

–0.9

–0.9

–2.7

–1.3

–0.2

–0.9 –3.3

9.7

0.1

–2.1

0

 –0.5

#

#

#

#

#

# # #

#

# # # #

#

# #

#

#

# #

# # #

#

#

# #

#

# # #

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

# #

# #

# #

#

#

# #

#

#

#

# #

# #

#

#

#

#

#

#

# #

#

#

# #

103°20' 103°15'

34°25'

34°20'

Figure 3. Map of groundwater-level change between summer 2013 (July 22–August 1) and winter 2015 

(January 20–30) on and around Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico.

Methods

Groundwater levels were measured synoptically during 

both an irrigation season (summer of 2013) and a nonirrigation season (winter of 2015). Irrigation, domestic, and 

monitoring wells within approximately 3 miles of the Cannon 

AFB boundary were selected for measurement. All selected 

wells were assumed to be screened in the Ogallala Formation, 

with the total depth of the wells generally being the top of 

the Chinle Formation. This assumption is based on the few 

available drilling logs and discussions by the author with 

local farmers and drillers. Summer and winter groundwater 

potentiometric-surface maps were created from 93 and 100 

groundwater altitudes, respectively (table 1). Groundwater 

levels in pumping wells were not measured, and the presence 

of pumping wells near measured wells was noted on field forms 

and taken into consideration during the development of figures 

1 and 2. Groundwater-level measurement and quality-control 

procedures set forth by Cunningham and Schalk (2011) were 

followed; specifically, a minimum of two groundwater-level 

measurements that were within 0.02 ft of each other were 

required at each well measured.

Real-time kinetic (RTK) survey-grade Global Positioning 

System equipment, with an error of plus or minus 2 inches, was 

used to survey the altitude of the land surface and the height 

of the measuring point above land surface for each well during 

March 30–April 7, 2015. An Online Positioning User Service 

occupation was conducted on four Cannon AFB wells (wells 

31, 55, 68, and 81); these four wells served as locations for the 

base station during the RTK survey. The depth to groundwater 

below land surface was calculated by subtracting the height of 

the measuring point from the groundwater-level depth measured 

below the measuring point. The depth to groundwater below 

land surface was then subtracted from the surveyed land-surface 

altitude to calculate the groundwater-level altitude. 

The groundwater-level altitudes were used in a geographic 

information system program to interpolate potentiometric 

surfaces by using the natural-neighbor method (Childs, 2004), 

and equipotential contours at 10-ft intervals were added to 

each seasonal map. Contour results were visually inspected 

for reasonability and corrected as necessary. Additionally, 

finer interval, 2-ft, contour lines were used to manually draw 

flow-direction arrows orthogonal to equipotential lines in the 

direction of decreasing gradient; these 2-ft interval contour 

lines were not included on the potentiometric-surface maps 

for increased readability. Lastly, the starting point for each 

flow-direction arrow originated at the same location on each 

potentiometric-surface map to aid in discerning differences in 

flow paths between seasons. 

A groundwater-level change map (fig. 3) was created by 

using groundwater-level differences (winter 2015 groundwater 

levels minus summer 2013 groundwater levels) from 67 wells. 

The groundwater-level changes were divided into three groups 

by using the natural-neighbor interpolation method (Childs, 

2004): (1) greater than a 1.1-ft decrease indicated a decline 

in groundwater level, (2) from -1.0 through +1.0 ft indicated 

a neutral change in groundwater level, and (3) more than a 

1.0-ft increase indicated a rise in groundwater level. The three 

groups were visually inspected for reasonability and corrected 

as necessary. Data collected for this study are in the USGS 

National Water Information System database (http://nwis.

waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/gwlevels).

Potentiometric Surfaces

The July 22–August 1, 2013, potentiometric surface, representing summer 

conditions, is presented in figure 1. The summer measurement period was 

towards the end of the main irrigation season for wheat crops. According to 

Marsalis (2007), summer irrigation starts each year in March, peaks in June, 

declines to a low in September, resumes briefly in October in preparation for the 

next year’s winter-wheat crops, and then declines to annual lows through the 

winter dormancy period. The January 20–30, 2015, groundwater-measurement 

period that occurred during the winter dormancy period is presented in figure 2. 

Figures 1 and 2 in this report display the presence of what is interpreted to 

be a groundwater trough, trending from the northwest to the southeast through 

the study area. This groundwater trough may be the hydraulic expression of a 

Tertiary-age paleochannel, commonly observed in the Southern High Plains 

aquifer (Gustavson, 1996), that contains coarser, more hydraulically conductive 

material than the surrounding subsurface material into which the paleochannel 

eroded (Fahlquist, 2003). Figures 1 and 2 in this report indicate that groundwater 

north of the trough flows in a southerly direction into the trough and groundwater 

south of the trough flows in an easterly direction into the trough. 

Although regional groundwater-flow directions are generally the same 

for the summer and winter potentiometric-surface maps, there are differences 

between the maps on a localized scale, including cones of depression around 

wells 27 and 32 as seen in figure 1. The cone of depression around well 32 (figs. 

1 and 2) appears to have an influence on the direction of groundwater flow in 

the groundwater trough. The cone of depression around well 27 may also be 

present in the winter, but well 27 was not measured in the winter because of 

active pumping. The groundwater-flow directions around both of these cones 

of depression were created by using 2-ft interval contour lines, which provided 

more detail about the effect of the cones of depression on the groundwater-flow 

direction than can be seen in the 10-ft contours.

The groundwater-level change map (fig. 3) is a visual representation 

of the change in groundwater level during the 18-month period between the 

summer 2013 and winter 2015 measurement events. The period between both 

groundwater-level measurement events contained the remaining months of one 

irrigation season, one full winter dormancy period, one full irrigation season, 

and a partial winter dormancy period. In figure 3, wells 5 and 35 showed the 

largest rise in groundwater levels, a rise of 10.0 and 9.7 ft, respectively. Wells 

99 and 55 showed the largest decline in groundwater levels, a decline of 3.7 and 

3.8 ft, respectively. The regions to the north and south of the groundwater trough 

contained the majority of the rises in groundwater levels, whereas the regions 

within the trough contained the majority of the declines in groundwater levels. 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only

and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, 

Denver, CO 80225, 1–888–ASK–USGS

Digital files available at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3352

Suggested citation: Collison, Jake, 2016, Potentiometric surfaces, summer 2013 and winter 2015, and select 

hydrographs for the Southern High Plains aquifer, Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico: U.S. 

Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3352, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3352.

ISSN 2329-1311 (print)

ISSN 2329-132X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3352
Printed on recycled paper

ISBN 978-1-4113-4034-3

9 7 8141 1 340343

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Map 3352

Potentiometric Surfaces, Summer 2013 and Winter 2015, and

Select Hydrographs for the Southern High Plains Aquifer,

Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico

By

Jake Collison

2016

Prepared in cooperation with the

Air Force Civil Engineer Center, San Antonio, Texas Sheet 2

USGS 

site ID

Well 

number

Summer 

groundwaterlevel altitude 

(feet above NAVD 88)

Winter 

groundwaterlevel altitude 

(feet above NAVD 88)

Groundwaterlevel change from 

summer 2013 to 

winter 2015 

(feet)

342719103233501 1 4,044.89 -- --

342743103221901 2 4,084.86 4,081.58 -3.3

342747103211301 3 4,078.28 4,077.40 -0.9

342736103203701 4 4,075.12 4,074.97 -0.2

342653103195201 5 4,046.21 4,056.17 10.0

342743103161301 6 4,043.00 -- --

342747103161701 7 4,043.50 4,042.62 -0.9

342750103155101 8 4,034.03 -- --

342739103154201 9 4,030.40 4,030.86 0.5

342737103153701 10 4,028.27 -- --

342725103151901 11 4,018.64 4,022.00 3.4

342654103163101 12 -- 4,019.87 --

342658103144101 13 4,010.33 4,009.47 -0.9

342655103135201 14 3,995.38 3,995.03 -0.4

342623103174901 15 4,018.84 -- --

342624103173501 16 -- 4,016.45 --

342604103183801 17 -- 4,023.18 --

342604103173601 18 -- 4,008.09 --

342602103172201 19 -- 4,002.45 --

342606103151001 20 4,000.74 4,000.00 -0.7

342551103232201 21 4,003.01 4,002.98 0.0

342512103220501 22 -- 3,982.19 --

342536103171501 23 3,994.52 -- --

342520103165601 24 3,991.65 3,992.64 1.0

342537103164101 25 3,987.28 3,989.00 1.7

342633103155301 26 3,986.67 3,986.89 0.2

342526103160401 27 3,973.98 -- --

342455103183301 28 4,009.17 -- --

342509103180801 29 -- 4,001.41 --

342506103164701 30 -- 3,986.89 --

342445103201301 31 -- 3,972.00 --

342445103190801 32 3,958.19 3,960.79 2.6

342444103170301 33 -- 3,987.13 --

342444103163201 34 3,985.75 3,986.12 0.4

342419103232301 35 4,058.99 4,068.67 9.7

342425103220201 36 4,003.42 -- --

342421103211801 37 3,996.36 3,993.65 -2.7

342418103201201 38 3,983.53 3,980.31 -3.2

342431103185201 39 3,969.91 -- --

342409103191601 40 3,973.22 3,971.45 -1.8

342418103180601 41 3,994.85 -- --

342417103175001 42 3,984.23 3,992.46 8.2

USGS 

site ID

Well 

number

Summer 

groundwaterlevel altitude 

(feet above NAVD 88)

Winter 

groundwaterlevel altitude 

(feet above NAVD 88)

Groundwaterlevel change from 

summer 2013 to 

winter 2015 

(feet)

342429103170201 43 3,988.54 -- --

342419103170101 44 3,981.30 -- --

342408103172201 45 3,992.52 3,990.91 -1.6

342404103161901 46 3,987.67 3,986.66 -1.0

342408103155201 47 3,985.35 3,984.03 -1.3

342415103153501 48 3,983.04 3,981.97 -1.1

342358103151601 49 -- 3,977.82 --

342327103232401 50 4,053.98 4,062.24 8.3

342344103224901 51 -- 4,043.81 --

342343103222201 52 -- 4,032.92 --

342328103221701 53 4,033.33 4,032.03 -1.3

342328103212501 54 4,007.50 4,007.77 0.3

342349103175801 55 3,969.44 3,965.62 -3.8

342328103182401 56 3,966.71 3,964.47 -2.2

342321103181001 57 3,964.07 3,962.24 -1.8

342313103180801 58 3,960.80 3,959.75 -1.1

342307103181601 60 3,960.55 3,958.93 -1.6

342317103174701 61 3,959.15 3,958.31 -0.8

342325103170301 63 3,973.09 3,971.61 -1.5

342310103160901 64 3,977.35 -- --

342259103211701 66 3,990.12 3,999.76 9.6

342228103215701 67 -- 4,044.88 --

342222103194301 68 3,983.31 3,982.92 -0.4

342237103155101 69 3,954.39 -- --

342258103152801 70 3,962.17 -- --

342246103151301 71 3,956.36 -- --

342254103145401 72 3,962.74 3,962.56 -0.2

342153103211401 73 4,034.41 4,033.87 -0.5

342139103211801 74 -- 4,029.80 --

342206103192501 75 -- 3,972.40 --

342140103190501 76 3,959.26 3,968.56 9.3

342134103191201 77 3,961.56 -- --

342157103181701 78 3,939.98 3,939.52 -0.5

342156103180801 79 3,934.88 3,935.55 0.7

342205103181001 80 3,934.12 3,932.01 -2.1

342203103181001 81 3,936.20 3,936.29 0.1

342200103180901 82 3,930.94 -- --

342225103173401 83 -- 3,937.16 --

342209103173901 84 -- 3,931.42 --

342203103174001 85 -- 3,928.39 --

342155103171801 86 -- 3,927.92 --

342212103170401 87 -- 3,933.40 --

Table 1. Groundwater-level altitude data used to construct summer (July 22–August 1, 2013) and winter (January 20–30, 2015) potentiometric-surface maps and groundwater-level change data used to construct the change map for the area on and around Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico. 

[Well number corresponds to figures 1, 2, and 3 well numbers; groundwater-level change rounded to nearest tenth of a foot; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ID, identifier; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; --, no data]

USGS 

site ID

Well 

number

Summer 

groundwaterlevel altitude 

(feet above NAVD 88)

Winter 

groundwaterlevel altitude 

(feet above NAVD 88)

Groundwaterlevel change from 

summer 2013 to 

winter 2015 

(feet)

342200103170601 88 3,911.07 -- --

342219103164801 89 3,936.95 3,935.01 -1.9

342126103164501 90 -- 3,900.15 --

342204103160401 91 -- 3,931.01 --

342145103160501 92 3,902.41 3,900.22 -2.2

342135103155901 93 -- 3,890.76 --

342224103155801 94 3,946.65 3,944.80 -1.9

342220103154401 95 3,943.86 -- --

342140103154401 96 3,892.76 3,890.63 -2.1

342157103152901 97 3,895.23 -- --

342142103152901 98 3,891.59 3,890.16 -1.4

342219103135101 99 3,948.69 3,944.95 -3.7

342114103194801 100 4,002.09 4,001.27 -0.8

342048103183401 101 3,957.39 3,957.16 -0.2

342157103181101 102 3,914.08 -- --

342048103180901 103 3,929.58 3,932.97 3.4

342104103173501 104 3,902.90 -- --

342113103173101 105 -- 3,905.24 --

342048103164301 106 3,893.73 3,895.13 1.4

342047103145801 107 3,862.90 3,863.44 0.5

342121103142301 108 3,919.53 3,919.24 -0.3

342115103141501 109 3,886.88 3,886.86 0.0

342049103141601 110 3,853.55 3,855.92 2.4

341956103211101 111 -- 4,028.04 --

342022103212901 112 -- 4,029.15 --

342016103211901 113 -- 4,024.25 --

342032103204501 114 4,018.70 4,017.95 -0.8

342029103201401 115 4,006.50 4,005.83 -0.7

342003103194401 116 3,995.36 3,995.42 0.1

342000103192501 117 3,995.16 3,995.14 0.0

342033103184001 118 3,959.65 -- --

342036103182301 119 3,946.57 3,950.33 3.8

342015103163201 120 3,900.78 -- --

342004103160101 121 3,895.46 3,894.78 -0.7

342022103143001 122 -- 3,855.82 --

342000103141801 123 -- 3,860.78 --

342022103141001 124 -- 3,850.14 --

341953103152801 125 -- 3,888.84 --

341943103151601 126 -- 3,888.48 --

341921103142701 127 3,871.91 3,875.06 3.2

341917103141101 128 3,868.66 3,872.00 3.3

341928103140001 129 3,860.07 3,865.86 5.8

Hydrographs

Five hydrographs created from periodic measurements 

of groundwater levels in wells on and around Cannon 

AFB were developed to provide information about historic 

groundwater-level changes (fig. 4). The five wells with 

the most complete and longest groundwater-level records 

were selected to represent areas on and around Cannon 

AFB. The five hydrograph wells are measured up to twice 

a year by the USGS in cooperation with the New Mexico 

Office of the State Engineer. Data from Bhate and Trinity 

(2013) were used to fill in data gaps for the monitoring 

well on Cannon AFB (well 81). In figure 4, the axes of 

the hydrographs are standardized to include the same time 

period (1954–2015) on the horizontal axis and the same 

amount of groundwater-level change (120 ft) on the vertical 

axis, allowing for comparison of groundwater levels and 

trends across the five hydrographs. 

The period of record for the five hydrographs ranges 

from 20 years (well 81) to 60 years (wells 4 and 76; fig. 4). 

The long-term trend since the mid-1950s is a steady decline 

in groundwater levels, with some areas declining faster than 

others. There appear to be some decadal differences in rates 

of decline; specifically, some of the hydrographs (wells 

4, 26, 76, and 108) show less groundwater-level decline 

or static groundwater-level conditions during the mid- to 

late 1980s. The cause of less decline or static conditions in 

the mid- to late 1980s may be related to an above-average 

period of precipitation from 1984 to 1988 (fig. 5). The more 

abundant moisture from 1984 to 1988 may have resulted 

in less groundwater pumping during this period. Except 

for this period in the mid- to late 1980s, there is a common 

trend of steady groundwater-level decline for this region. 

Well 4, north-northwest of Cannon AFB, had the smallest 

average annual groundwater-level decline of 0.41 feet per 

year (ft/yr). Well 26, northeast of Cannon AFB, had an 

average annual groundwater-level decline of 0.86 ft/yr for 

the period of record. Well 26 is also located near the local 

cone of depression formed by well 27. Well 76, directly 

south of Cannon AFB, had an average annual groundwaterlevel decline of 1.36 ft/yr for the period of record. Lastly, 

the two wells with the greatest average annual groundwaterlevel decline for the period of record were well 81, near 

the southeastern corner of Cannon AFB, and well 108, 

east-southeast of Cannon AFB, with declines of 2.81 and 

1.99 ft/yr, respectively (fig. 4). Overall, the southeastern 

part of the study area exhibits the greatest average annual 

groundwater-level decline, and the northwestern part of 

the study area exhibits the smallest average annual decline. 

Additionally, the hydrographs of wells in proximity to 

the groundwater trough (76, 81, and 108) show the most 

rapid declines in groundwater levels (fig. 4). Langman and 

others (2006) also showed that the most rapid groundwaterlevel declines occurred in three wells within or near the 

trough, while wells farther away from the trough had a less 

rapid decline. 

laf14-0666_fig 04

1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014

Year

1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014

Year

Depth to groundwater level,

in feet below land surface 

Depth to groundwater level,

in feet below land surface 

225

245

265

285

305

325

345

205

225

245

265

285

305

325

Groundwater-level altitude,

in feet above NAVD 88

Groundwater-level altitude,

in feet above NAVD 88

3,920

3,940

3,960

3,980

4,000

4,020

4,040

3,940

3,960

3,980

4,000

4,020

4,040

4,060

Southeast corner of Cannon AFB

Due south of Cannon AFB

Well 81 (USGS 342203103181001) 

Well 76 (USGS 342140103190501) 

1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014

Year

1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014

Year

281

301

321

341

361

381

401

Depth to groundwater level,

in feet below land surface 

Depth to groundwater level,

in feet below land surface 

283

303

323

343

363

383

403

4,040

4,060

4,080

4,100

4,120

4,140

4,160

Groundwater-level altitude,

in feet above NAVD 88

Groundwater-level altitude,

in feet above NAVD 88

3,950

3,970

3,990

4,010

4,030

4,050

4,070

North-northwest of Cannon AFB

Northeast of Cannon AFB

Well 26 (USGS 342633103155301) 

Well 4 (USGS 342736103203701) 

1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014

Year

Depth to groundwater level,

in feet below land surface 

205

225

245

265

285

305

325

Groundwater-level altitude,

in feet above NAVD 88

3,910

3,930

3,950

3,970

3,990

4,010

4,030

East-southeast of Cannon AFB

Well 108 (USGS 342121103142301) 

Data, by source

 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

 Bhate and Trinity, 2013

EXPLANATION

Cannon AFB, Cannon Air Force Base

NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988

Figure 4. Groundwater-level altitude hydrographs from selected wells on and around Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico, 1954–2015.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Clovis 13 N Climatic Station

Year

Precipitation, in inches

1954–2014 average, 16.87 inches

Figure 5. Annual precipitation at the Clovis 13 N climatic station and 1954–2014 average (16.87 inches). Data from National Climatic Data Center (2016).

Acknowledgments

The author would especially like to thank Laura Peters, 

Environmental Restoration Manager with Cannon Air Force 

Base (AFB) Environmental Restoration Program, for her help 

in securing access to monitoring wells on Cannon AFB. The 

author would also like to thank the many private well owners 

who allowed the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) access to their 

wells. Their cooperation was greatly appreciated and made this 

report possible. 

The author would like to thank Darwin Ockerman, 

hydrologist with the USGS and liaison to the Air Force Civil 

Engineering Center, San Antonio, Texas, for his help in 

developing this project and measuring groundwater levels. 

The author also would like to thank the following USGS New 

Mexico Water Science Center employees: Nathan Myers, 

groundwater specialist, for his expertise and advice during the 

course of this project; Alyse Briody, hydrologist, for organizing 

and participating in the winter groundwater-level measurement 

event and the measuring-point survey; and Scott Christenson, 

scientist emeritus, for volunteering his time and expertise during 

the winter groundwater-level measurements event and measuringpoint survey. 

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Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only

and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, 

Denver, CO 80225, 1–888–ASK–USGS

Digital files available at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3352

Suggested citation: Collison, Jake, 2016, Potentiometric surfaces, summer 2013 and winter 2015, and select 

hydrographs for the Southern High Plains aquifer, Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico: U.S. 

Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3352, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3352.

ISSN 2329-1311 (print)

ISSN 2329-132X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3352