Analysis of new gothermal subsurface hydrogeologic data from the Socorro area provides new insight into both the geothermal regime and groundwater flow system. Geothermal data from the Socorro area, originally obtained by industry investigators, further delineate a known geothermal high in the Socorro mountain block and reveal a profound geothermal low west of the mountain block in La Jencia Basin. Anomalously low heat flows in La Jencia Basin suggest hydrologic downflow, but hydrologic and geothermal evidence indicates that no infiltration of surface recharge occurs in this area. We conclude that eastward flowing groundwater is forced to flow down beneath a claystone aquitard in eastern La Jencia Basin, reducing near-surface heat flows. High heat flows in the Socorro mountain block occur in areas where relatively permeable volcanic rocks crop out at the surface. We conclude that groundwater flows upward in these areas from beneath the claystone aquitard, enhanced by subsurface barriers to horizontal flow, elevating near-surface heat flows. Upper crustal magma in the Socorro area (suggested by seismic evidence) may also contribute heat to the system. Finite difference modeling demonstrates that the hydrogeology of the Socorro area could indeed produce the hydrologic phenomena we postulate, which in turn, could produce the geothermal anomalies observed in the Socorro area. We find that forced convection alone, without anomalous heat sources, could produce the observed geothermal anomalies. Analysis of the heat balance of the Socorro system is also consistent with the hypothesis that anomalous crustal heat sources need not play a substantial roll in the Socorro geothermal system in order to produce the flux of heat observed at the surface. ¿American Geophysical Union 1990