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State kicks off large aquifer mapping program; NMSU and researchers map brackish groundwater, flag PFAS and desalination questions
Summary
Bureau of Geology, Interstate Stream Commission and NMSU told the committee the state will scale up airborne geophysics, monitoring wells and water‑quality testing to characterize New Mexico’s aquifers; NMSU reported PFAS and other constituents in brackish samples and outlined research on desalination and brine valorization
The Legislative Finance Committee heard a multi‑agency briefing on Sept. 10 in Las Cruces about the state’s expanded aquifer‑mapping effort and applied research on brackish groundwater. The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources said the governor’s 50‑year water action plan pushed a target to map major aquifers by 2032 and to build a dedicated groundwater monitoring network of at least 100 wells by 2037.
Bureau staff described a pilot for fiscal 2026 that combines airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys, new well installation for monitoring and water‑quality sampling. The program will compile existing borehole and well logs, digitize historical data and use AEM flights to image subsurface sediment packages and salinity patterns. The bureau asked the Legislature for recurring funding to retain technical staff and a multi‑year nonrecurring program to support surveys and new monitoring wells; a five‑year illustration in the briefing showed program costs rising into the tens of millions annually to reach full coverage by the target dates.
Interstate Stream Commission officials described funding appropriations for Lower Rio Grande projects, including pumping, channel improvements and a strategic water reserve. ISC said settlement and litigation work (Texas v. New Mexico) remains active; the agency is negotiating to protect compact deliveries while investing in conservation and recharge opportunities.
New Mexico State University researchers described a pilot water‑quality characterization of 19 sites across brackish aquifers. NMSU reported wide TDS variation (roughly 700–55,000 mg/L) and detected trace levels of PFAS (GenX, PFOA) at a few locations; radionuclide screening showed isolated uranium and gross alpha/beta exceedances in some samples. NMSU stressed that brackish‑water reverse osmosis is a mature technology but highlighted concentrate (brine) management as the principal challenge and outlined research into brine valorization (recovering minerals for reuse) and higher‑recovery processes.
Across presenters, the agencies urged the Legislature to consider multi‑year, recurring staff funding and multiyear nonrecurring commitments to scale surveys, drilling and telemetry; several witnesses warned that one‑year grants make it difficult to recruit specialists.
