The Albuquerque Basin in central New Mexico covers an area
of about 3,060 square miles. Ground water from the Santa Fe Group
aquifer system of the Albuquerque Basin is the principal source
of water for municipal, domestic, commercial, and industrial uses in
the Albuquerque area, an area of about 410 square miles. Ground-
water withdrawal in the basin has increased from about 97,000
acre-feet in 1970 to about 171,000 acre-feet in 1994. About 92
percent of the 1994 total was withdrawn in the Albuquerque area.
Management of ground water in the Albuquerque Basin is related to
the surface water in the Rio Grande. Because the aquifer system
is hydraulically connected to the Rio Grande and water in the
river is fully appropriated, the ability to reliably estimate the
effects of ground-water withdrawals on flow in the river is
important. This report describes the components of the Rio
Grande/Santa Fe Group aquifer system in the Albuquerque area and
the data availability and data and interpretation needs relating
to those components, and presents a plan of study to quantify the
hydrologic relations between the Rio Grande and the Santa Fe
Group aquifer system.
The information needs related to the components of the
river/aquifer system are prioritized. Information that is necessary
to improve the understanding or quantification of a component in the
river/aquifer system is prioritized as essential. Information
that could add additional understanding of the system, but would
not be necessary to improve the quantification of the system, is
prioritized as useful.
The study elements are prioritized in the same manner as the
information needs; study elements designed to provide
information considered necessary to improve the quantification of
the system are prioritized as essential, and those designed to
provide information that would add additional understanding of
the system, but would not be necessary to improve the
quantification of the system, are prioritized as useful.
