Open-file Report - 631
Aquifer Storage and Recovery Feasibility Analysis for Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is the process by which surface water is stored underground in natural formations that can retain water for future recovery and use. Agriculture in the middle Rio Grande valley relies predominantly on surface water diversions and flood irrigation, apart from some groundwater pumping in Valencia and Socorro Counties. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) is responsible for delivering much of the irrigation water that is used on an annual basis in the middle Rio Grande valley. The MRGCD is looking for alternatives to traditional water management and delivery that will allow them greater ability to provide water to their customers, especially in dry years. Specifically, the MRGCD is interested in determining whether there are sites feasible for ASR within its middle Rio Grande valley service area. This document describes a preliminary assessment of seven potential ASR sites that the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources undertook using a scoring scheme incorporating various parameters as well as possible next steps for future studies.

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