Christopher Wolf

Christopher P. Wolf, PG

Principal Geochemist

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Email

(505) 822-9400

Mr. Wolf specializes in applying geochemistry and hydrogeology to water resources and environmental projects. His project experience involves clean water act (CWA), non-point source, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), mining, water supply, geological assessments, geochemistry, and managed aquifer recharge (MAR).

Mr. Wolf designs, installs, and tests water supply wells for tribes, municipalities, and water districts. He is a volunteer committee member for the American Water Works Association / American Society for Testing and Materials (AWWA/ASTM) Water Wells Standard (A-100) that provides standard guidance for constructing water supply wells.

For MAR projects, Mr. Wolf evaluates the geology and geochemistry for projects to determine how local hydrogeology will influence water movement and quality. By applying geochemical methods, he determines water chemistry and compatibility of the recharge source water with groundwater and aquifer sediments, and predicts water quality during MAR operations. He designs and tests wells for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects.

For water supply and water rights projects, Mr. Wolf conducts hydrogeological and geochemical studies to understand how local geology influences the movement of groundwater, interaction of groundwater and surface water, and occurrence of springs. He develops geologic cross-sections and three-dimensional (3D) geologic models to illustrate aquifer systems. The 3D models may be used as geologic frameworks for numerical groundwater modeling. Geochemistry may be applied to differentiate aquifer systems and determine mixing of end member constituents.

Mr. Wolf applies geochemistry techniques to water, environmental, and mining projects, including evaluating major ion data, age dating, and stable isotope chemistry. He also utilizes geochemical models, including PHREEQC and Geochemists Workbench to determine fluid-rock interactions.

Mr. Wolf has worked on projects for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC), Vidler Water Company, Freeport-McMoRan (FMI), Uranium Resources Inc (URI), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, City of Carlsbad, Town of Clayton, Eldorado Water & Sanitation District, Glorieta area mutual domestics, City of Hobbs, City of Las Vegas, Town of Taos, City of Rio Rancho, Hopi Tribe, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Zia, and the Pueblo of Isleta.

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  • Education

    MS, Geochemistry, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

    BS, Geology, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

  • Registration / Certification

    Professional Geoscientist, Texas, No. 6230

  • Specializations

    Geochemistry and water quality

    Geological studies

    Design, installation, and testing of water supply and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wells

    Expert testimony and litigation support

  • Affiliations

    International Association of Geochemistry

    National Groundwater Association

    American Water Works Association

    New Mexico Geological Society

    New Mexico STATEMAP Advisory Committee

    AWWA Standards Committee on Wells (A-100)

Select Publications and Presentations

Wolf, C. 2023. Understanding Aquifer Characteristics and Well Performance Through Aquifer Testing. Presented at the Water Well Workshop, sponsored by American Ground Water Trust. Albuquerque, New Mexico. July 14, 2023.

Wolf, C. and T.N. Blandford. 2023. Water Supply Issues as the High Plains Aquifer Drains in Eastern New Mexico. Presented at the New Mexico Groundwater Conference, sponsored by American Ground Water Trust. Albuquerque, New Mexico. July 12-13, 2023.

Wolf, C. and A. Ewing. 2022. Managed Aquifer Recharge in New Mexico. Presented at the New Mexico Groundwater Conference, sponsored by American Ground Water Trust. Albuquerque, New Mexico. July 27, 2022.

Wolf, C., A. Ewing, and K. Yuhas. 2020. Securing Water Supply for Albuquerque, New Mexico, Using Managed Aquifer Recharge. Presentation at National Groundwater Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico. February 24, 2020.

Ewing, A., C. Wolf, and K. Yuhas. 2020. Managed Aquifer Recharge and Water Supply Resilience in Albuquerque. Presented virtually at the 17th Biennial Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge. October 5, 2020.

Ewing, A., C. Wolf, and K. Yuhas. 2020. Large Scale Recharge: Managed Aquifer Recharge and Water Supply Resilience in Albuquerque, New Mexico (pp. 1, 8, and 17). Fountainhead, a Texas Ground Water Association periodical, 3rd Quarter, 2020.

Ewing, A., C. Wolf, and K. Yuhas. 2020. Managed Aquifer Recharge and Water Supply Resilience in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Present virtually at the 2020 Annual WateReuse Symposium. September 16, 2020.

Wolf, Chris, Ewing, A., Yuhas, K. 2020. Securing Water Supply for Albuquerque, New Mexico Using Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) National Ground Water Association Water, Energy, and Policy in a Changing Climate conference. Albuquerque, New Mexico. February 24 – 25, 2020.

Carlson, N., C. Wolf, and G. Bushner. 2018. Geophysical CSAMT survey results and groundwater modeling in a groundwater appropriation trial. Presenting at NGWA Groundwater Summit, Las Vegas Nevada, December 4, 2018.

Calhoun, K., S.J. Romero, C.P. Wolf, and C. Johannesen. 2018. Digital Poster: The Benefits of Applying a GIS to a Sand and Gravel Assessment. Presented at National Tribal Geographic Information Support Center’s 9th Annual National Tribal GIS Conference. Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 5-9, 2018.

Duffield, J. and C. Wolf. Water: Water Quality and Controls in the Hopi Multiple Aquifer System. Presented at 26th Annual Region 9 Tribal/EPA Conference. San Francisco, California. October 30, 2018.

Ewing, A. 2018. Integrating Surface Water and Groundwater through Managed Aquifer Recharge. Presented at Sixteenth Biennial Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge. San Diego, California, March 6-7, 2018.

Ewing, A. 2018. Integrating Surface Water and Groundwater through Managed Aquifer Recharge. Presented at Association of Ground Water Agencies – American Ground Water Trust Annual Conference. Ontario, California, February 12 – 13, 2018.

Umstot, T.G., C.P. Wolf, M. Fort, R.M. Roberts, J. Wilson. 2017 A vertically compartmentalized, fracture-zone, sandstone aquifer system. NGWA Conference on Fractured Rock and Groundwater, Burlington, Vermont, October 2 – 3, 2017.

Ewing, A. Recharge and Alternative Water Supply Projects: A Regulatory and Historic Perspective. Presented at the New Mexico Infrastructure Finance Conference. Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 25 – 27, 2017.

Ewing, A., Hill, J., and  Wolf, C. 2017. Collaboration and the MS4 Watershed Based Permit. Presented at the 33rd Annual Tri-State Seminar. Las Vegas, Nevada, September 26-28, 2017.

Wolf, Christopher, 2016, Hydrogeology and geochemistry of Horace Springs, Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico, in: The Geology of the Belen Area, Frey, Bonnie A.; Karlstrom, Karl E.; Lucas, Spencer G.; Williams, Shannon; Zeigler, Kate; McLemore, Virginia; Ulmer-Scholle, Dana S., New Mexico Geological Society, Guidebook, 67th Field Conference, pp. 397-403.

Longmire, P. and Wolf, C. 2016. Environmental Geochemistry of Metals. Co-instructor of short course sponsored by National Groundwater Association. Dallas, Texas. March 21-23, 2016.

Wolf, C.P., Marley, R., Ewing, A. 2016. Applying Geochemistry to Managed Aquifer Recharge Projects. Presentation at the National Groundwater Association Conference on Hydrology and Water Quality in the Southwest. Albuquerque, New Mexico. February 23 and 24, 2016.

Wolf, C.P., Marley, R., Ewing, A.. 2015. Applying Geochemistry to Predict Water Quality at Managed Aquifer Recharge Sites. Presentation at New Mexico Water Conference, Taos, New Mexico. October 7-9, 2015.

Wolf, C.P., Marley, R., Ewing, A. 2015. Geochemistry of Aquifer Recharge Projects in New Mexico. Presentation at New Mexico Geological Society Spring Meeting 2015.

Marley, R. and Wolf, C.P. 2015. Managed Aquifer Recharge Implementation within New Mexico. Presented at 2015 National Ground Water Association Groundwater Summit. San Antonio, Texas, March 16-18, 2015.

Wolf, C., Johannesen, C., and Marley, R. 2014. Hydrogeology and geochemistry of springs along San Pedro Creek, Sandia Park, New Mexico. Presentation at the New Mexico Geological Society Spring Meeting April 2014.

Johannesen, C., B. Liu, Ewing, A., Wolf, A. 2014. Lower Rio Grande Salinity Monitoring. Invited presentation. 2014 Multi-State Salinity Coalition Summit “Sustainable Solutions in an Era of Climate Variability.” Las Vegas, Nevada. February 20-21, 2014.

Blandford, T.N., Umstot, T., Marley, R., Wolf, C., and Bushner, G.L. 2012. A case study of exploration and characterization of deep fractured rock aquifers for new groundwater development, New Mexico, USA. International Conference on Groundwater in Fractured Rocks, Prague, Czech Republic

Wolf, C.P., B. Marley, and N. Blandford. Geology and Geochemistry of a deep aquifer, Ruidoso, New Mexico. AWRA Presentation November 2011.

Wolf, C.P. Geochemistry of Horace Springs, Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico. Presentation at New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, August 2010.

Moore, S.J., R.L. Bassett, B. Liu, C. Wolf, and D. Doremus. 2008. Geochemical tracers to evaluate hydrogeologic controls on river salinization. Ground Water, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 489-501.

Moore, S.J., R.L. Bassett, B. Liu, C.P. Wolf, and D. Doremus. 2007. Hydrogeologic Influences on Surface Water Salinization in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico. Presentation at NGWA Ground Water Summit, Albuquerque, New Mexico

R.L. Bassett, S.J. Moore, B. Liu, C.P. Wolf, and D. Doremus. 2007. Forensic Isotopic Hydrology Applied by a Multi-Agency Technical Team to Better Define Salinity Sources of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico. Presentation at NGWA Ground Water Summit, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Wolf, C.P. and G.P. Miller. 2003. Arsenic geochemistry and treatment. Presentation at the New Mexico Environmental Health Conference. Albuquerque, New Mexico. October 2003.

Wolf, C. P. and G.P Miller. 2003. Arsenic Geochemistry and Treatment Techniques. Presentation at the AWWA/RMWEA Conference. Casper, Wyoming. August 2003.

Wolf,C.P., F. Lorenzo, and B. Baum. 2003. Wetland evaluation and restoration along Rinconada Creek, Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico. Southwest Hydrology, January 2003.

Marley, B. C. Wolf, N. Nutongla, and C. Honyumptewa. 2001. A plan for monitoring drought conditions on the Hopi Reservation, Northeast Arizona. Abstract for 14th Annual Symposium of the Arizona Hydrological Society, Tucson, Arizona, September 12-15, 2001.

Wolf, C.P., J. Forbes, B. Marley, and R. Morgan. 2001. Hydrogen sulfide impacts due to poor well completion, Hopi Reservation. Abstract and poster presentation at AWRA annual conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Newcomer, R,N. and C.P. Wolf. 1999. The use of mine-development models to support mine closure and reclamation planning. Poster presentation at American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Wolf, C.P. 1998. Lead distribution and availability in contaminated soils at the abandoned Cuba Smelter Site, Socorro, New Mexico. Oral Presentation at the Abandoned Mine Lands Conference, October 1998, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Wolf, C.P. 1993. Lead distribution and availability in contaminated soils at the abandoned Cuba Smelter Site, Socorro, New Mexico. GSA Abstracts with Programs 25(6), September 1993, Poster Presentation at the Geological Society of America, Boston, Massachusetts.