Recent investigations of the Middle Rio Grande Basin by the U.S. Geological Survey and Federal, State, and local agencies have determined that the aquifer system upon which the City of Albuquerque relies is not as extensive as previously thought. This finding has resulted in a concerted effort by Federal, State, and local agencies to gather and interpret additional hydrologic, geologic, and land surface data to better manage the Middle Rio Grande Basin's important water resources.

The USGS established an interdivisional team to provide research required for the five year MRGB Study. National Mapping Division's roles for the MRGB Study are: (1) provide scientific information for MRGB land use and water resource planning, (2) produce base cartographic data for geologic mapping and enhancing the Ground-water Flow Model, (3) characterize landscape processes and develop techniques for determining change, (4) research prediction methods in order to forecast which areas are likely to urbanize, (5) model alternative land use scenarios for sustaining the region's urban development, and (6) establish an Internet site for disseminating USGS MRGB Study information.

Read the Annual USGS MRGB Study Workshop Proceedings for the project:

• USGS MRGB Study -- Proceedings of the Third Annual Workshop, Albuquerque, NM, February 24-25, 1999: USGS OFR 99-203.
  http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/mrgb/ofr99-203.html
• USGS MRGB Study -- Proceedings of the Second Annual Workshop, Albuquerque, NM, February 10-11, 1998: USGS OFR 98-337.
  http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/mrgb/proc_ vol_mrf_graphics.pdf
• USGS MRGB Study -- Proceedings of the First Annual Workshop, Denver, CO, November 12-14, 1996: USGS OFR 97-116.
  http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/mrgb/ofr97-116.html

Read the NMD Quarterly Reports for the project:

• April - June 2001
  
• January - March 2001
  
• October - December 2000
  
• July - September 2000
  
• April - June 2000
  
• January - March 2000
  
• October - December 1999
  
• July - September 1999
  
• April - June 1999
  
• January - March 1999
  
• October - December 1998
  
• July - September 1998
  
• April - June 1998
  
• January - March 1998
  
• October - December 1997
  
• July - September 1997
  
• April - June 1997
  
• January - March 1997
  
• October - December 1996
  
• July - September 1996
  
• April - June 1996
  
• January - March 1996

Project Lead: David Hester