This dataset depicts the locations of the Underground Storage and Recovery Projects within the State of New Mexico
Surface storage of water in the high desert of New Mexico results in considerable loss of stored water to evaporation.  Research has indicated pan evaporation rates in New Mexico range from approximately 30 inches to over 80 inches per year.  There is no guarantee that nature will return this significant amount of precious water for beneficial use in our state.  Other ways (not open surface storage) to keep this water available for use in the state is to store it in huge above ground tanks which are costly to construct, require a large land footprint, and are not aesthetically pleasing.  According to 2010 data provided by the OSE Water Use and Conservation Bureau, approximately 46% of all water withdrawals in NM in 2010, were from surface water.  Surface reservoir evaporation accounted for an approximate 7% loss of available water.  According to the same report (New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2010), all of this evaporative loss is from surface water.  There are currently five active Underground Storage and Recovery (USR) projects in NM, at various stages of development and permitting.  This poster summarizes the status of these projects undertaken by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA), the City of Rio Rancho, and the City of Las Vegas.  Contractor Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. of Albuquerque is providing technical and administrative support for all of these projects.  The Office of the State Engineer (OSE) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) are responsible for the permitting of these projects.
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