Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly
 
Aquifer Recharge, Storage & Recovery:                         Boon or BoonDoggle?

  An Educational Forum to Inform the Public about Artificial Recharge   Technologies, Programs, Plans, Costs and Associated Issues
  in the Albuquerque, New Mexico Area

Date:   Saturday, April 9, 2011
Time:   9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Place:   University of New Mexico
            School of Law, Room 2402
            Location Map

Aquifer Storage is one of 43 recommendations in the Regional Water Plan for closing the gap between water supply and water demand in the Middle Rio Grande basin.

What is meant by aquifer recharge and storage?

Some recharge occurs naturally as the Rio Grande winds its way through our region. Some occurs via agricultural irrigation and its associated ditches and drains.  Artificial recharge involves moving water from the surface into the aquifer, either by seepage from a man-made pond or pumping down a well. Aquifer storage is water stored underground for future use.

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) proposes to clean river water and store it for later use in the aquifer. Rio Rancho has plans to treat waste water and store it in the aquifer. Proposals abound for projects at a much smaller scale, and Arizona is already storing surface water in the ground for current and future needs.  

Such artificial storage projects raise interesting questions:
•       How much energy is required to clean and store water?
•       What types of contamination are possible?
•       What are the costs?
•       Are these projects safe and useful enough to be worthwhile?

The Water Assembly is sponsoring a free forum for the general public to explore these projects together with some of the issues they raise.  Please join us to learn more!  April 9, 2011 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the University of New Mexico's Law School, Room 2402

 Agenda:

        NOTE:  
              Affiliations of speakers are listed for informational purposes               only.   The Speakers are serving as volunteer individuals,                 not as representatives of their respective organizations.

8:30    Conversation and Continental Breakfast
                link to pre-conference slides  (0.5 MB)
9:00    Welcome
                Kevin Bean, Water Assembly President
                link to conference content slides  (0.7 MB)

9:05    Setting the Stage - Why Are We Discussing This?  
                Elaine Hebard, Water Assembly Volunteer
                link to slides  (0.5 MB)    link to audio (incl. Welcome)  (14.8 MB)

9:20    Recharge:  What, How, Where?
                Jesse Roach, Hydrologist, Sandia National Labs
                link to slides  (1.9 MB)    link to audio  (32.0 MB)

9:50    Specific Proposals

                Aquifer Recharge: A Tool for Water Resource Sustainability
                      Larry Webb, Public Works, Rio Rancho
                      link to slides  (3.0 MB)    link to audio  (13.9 MB)

                Overview of ABCWUA Recharge Projects
                      Stephanie Moore, DBS&A Project Consultant
                      link to slides  (3.7 MB)    link to audio  (14.5 MB)

                Small Scale Concepts
                      John Hooker, Architect, New Urbanist
                                                         link to audio  (17.7 MB)

                Agricultural Recharge - Unsung Hero
                      Janet Jarratt, Irrigator, Chair of MRGCD
                      link to slides  (1.9 MB)    link to audio  (32.0 MB)

10:50   Break

11:00   Lessons from Elsewhere - Central Arizona Project
                 Dee Fuerst, Senior Policy Analyst,
                 Central Arizona Water Conservation District
                 link to slides  (3.3 MB)    link to audio  (31.3 MB)
                 John D'Antonio Comment    link to audio  (2.7 MB)
                 Further information on Arizona's program:
                      Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District

11:30   Associated Issues

                  Permitting of Aquifer Storage and Recovery Projects
                        Michael Johnson, Hydrology Bureau Chief at the OSE
                        link to slides  (2.3 MB)    link to audio  (9.5 MB)

                  New Mexico Aquifer Storage and Recovery (Permitting)
                        Robert George, Domestic waste team leader
                        George Schuman, GWQB permitting manager
                        New Mexico Environment Department
                        Ground Water Quality Bureau
                        link to slides  (0.5 MB)    link to audio  (12.9 MB)

                  Aquifer Storage:  Benefits and Costs
                         Steve Archambault, UNM Ph.D. Candidate,
                         Natural Resource and Development Economics
                         link to slides  (0.4 MB)    link to audio  (9.5 MB)

                  ASR & Energy
                         Michael Hightower, Energy specialist, Sandia National Labs

                  ASR & Water Quality
                        Michael Jensen, Amigos Bravos
                        link to slides  (0.5 MB)    link to audio  (12.9 MB)

12:20   Comments, Quetsions, and Answers
                  Tim Karpoff, Moderator
                                                            link to audio  (16.0 MB)

12:55   Invitation to the Fifteenth Annual Water Assembly
                  Elizabeth Richards, Water Assembly Volunteer

  1:00   Adjourn to Continue Conversations
 

     Location Map      Invitational Flyer

 Further Info:  Elaine Hebard  (505) 247-8767  <EHebard@yahoo.com>

 

Return to Top