ABSTRACT
New Mexico is the nation’s fifth largest state in area at 121,600 mi2 after Alaska, Texas, California, and Montana and yet ranks 36th in total population at 1,980,000 in 2008. New Mexico ranks sixth from the bottom in population density at 16.4 persons/mi2 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). One reason for the sparse population is the limited water resources in the state. As will be discussed in this chapter, the water resources in all watersheds are fully used at present and in fact in most basins water is being used more rapidly than it is being replenished. This chapter summarizes the surface and ground water resources of the state, and includes a discussion of the principal water quality challenges in each basin.
