Water Issues Flashcards
The situation where more water is removed from an aquifer than flows back in over the course of a year.
Drawdown
A long-term project to increase Albuquerque’s water supply and decrease the city’s current dependency on its depleting deep aquifer, by diverting surface water from the Rio Grande for purification.
San Juan-Chama Project
Naturally formed, packed snow that usually accumulates in the mountains and melts during the warmer months.
Snowpack
An agreement among seven U.S. states in the basin of the Colorado River, in the American Southwest, regarding the division of the Colorado River’s water among the seven states.
Upper Colorado River Compact
A substance that contaminates water, and can be artificial substances that are the result of human activity or naturally occurring substances that occur in harmful concentrations.
Water Contaminant
How much of the available water on Earth is fresh water?
2.6%, not including frozen water.
Give some examples of surface water.
Rivers, lakes, streams. Does not include water under the ground, like aquifers.
Water that comes from the sky in the form of rain or snow.
Precipitation
An underground reservoir of water.
Aquifer
Why is mountain snow so important to New Mexico?
It melts in the Spring, flows into rivers and streams, and ends up in aquifers. It is critical for our water supply.
How many inches of rain do we get in ABQ in a year?
Around 9 iinches.
An area where water drains to a river.
A basin.
What were the Spanish acequias for in NM?
To manage the water supply to ensure there was water available for all.
What is NM’s responsiblity regarding our 11 basins that feed our water supply?
To ensure there is enough and of usable quality for all those downstream, including Mexico.
Putting more water into an aquifer through rain or snowpack melt.
Recharging
