Investigating Groundwater Sustainability in Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico

Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico is one of the newest units in the National Park System. Historically, surface water was sufficient for domestic and livestock uses. But, as with much of the western U.S., these resources are becoming increasingly less reliable. The National Park Service must therefore consider how much groundwater is available for the use and management of the Preserve while preserving the ecological integrity of the area’s springs, wetlands, and streams. The ongoing Jemez River Basin water-right adjudication and potential geothermal leasing on adjacent lands must also be considered in developing sustainable groundwater-management policies.