Delineating the Rattlesnake Springs, New Mexico Watershed using Near-Surface Geophysical Techniques

Groundwater flow into Rattlesnake Springs, the vital domestic water source for Carlsbad Caverns National Park, is influenced by fine-grained clays acting as a barrier and north-south/west-northwest fractures in gypsum bedrock serving as conduits. These findings, derived from ground conductivity, DC resistivity, and precision gravity surveys, confirm geological hypotheses about the springs' location and suggest regional tectonism shaped the fracture system. The study provides critical insights into the watershed's structure, aiding water resource management.

Santiago, C., Doser, D., Boykov, N., Langford, R., & Kaip, G. (2012). Delineating the Rattlesnake Springs, New Mexico Watershed using Near-Surface Geophysical Techniques. Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 17(4), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.2113/jeeg17.4.175