U.S. Water News Online
ALBUQUERQUE -- A six-year evaluation of groundwater resources in Albuquerque and the middle Rio Grande region shows there's even less groundwater available than officials thought.
The "Groundwater Resources of the Middle Rio Grande" report was recently released by the U.S. Geological Survey.
It is the second time in the past decade that the Geological Survey has downgraded estimates of the productivity of the aquifer that supports the middle Rio Grande, where nearly half of the state's population lives.
``We are officially on notice that we can no longer sit back but must be innovative and cooperative in water use and conservation plans to support the future growth of New Mexico and the middle Rio Grande Valley,'' said Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. ``The water situation for the middle Rio Grande is serious, which is now scientifically confirmed.''
Water levels already have dropped more than 160 feet in one area near the Albuquerque foothills, the study found. But it is in an area where the aquifer is deep, so there is no immediate impact.
The new groundwater flow model of the basin shows some land surfaces in northeast Albuquerque and northwest of Rio Rancho are starting to sink. Satellite monitoring showed the ground is sinking very slightly near large production wells during the summer and then rebounding when pumping eases in the winter, said James Bartolino, a USGS hydrologist.
``It's not anything anybody would really notice,'' he said.
Mountain-front areas are contributing only a third to half as much recharge to the aquifer as previous models showed.
The connection between the river and the aquifer is not as strong as once believed.
The findings underscore the fact that the aquifer is being pumped faster than it is replenished, bringing a new urgency to Albuquerque's efforts to conserve water and to begin using river water for drinking.
``How many more reasons do we need to convince people we need to transition away from the aquifer?'' said John Stomp, city water resources manager.
About 49 billion gallons of water are pumped from the middle Rio Grande aquifer every year.
The city plans to begin taking its imported San Juan-Chama Project water from the Rio Grande and treating it for drinking by 2006.
Domenici, who initiated the USGS study in the mid-1990s, said it cost more than $35 million.
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