By Kineo Memmer, Environmental Science Major, Mentor: Prof. Laura Crossey.
The growing population of Albuquerque continues to put pressure on groundwater resources, so it is important to understand how land-use changes impact groundwater quality, and if wetland reestablishment can be used as a tool to help protect the Rio Grande watershed from pollutants. The research that I am communicating to the public through this project is being completed under Dr. Laura Crossey in the UNM Earth and Planetary Science Department. The research focuses on how water chemistry is continuing to react to the reintroduction of riparian wetlands and subsequent construction at the Valle de Oro (VDO) National Wildlife Refuge. The VDO is in the south valley of Albuquerque, and was historically used for agriculture, before being reclaimed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I will create a sign to be put up at the Valle de Oro that explains the groundwater portion of the water cycle, how land use and wetlands impact that cycle, and how scientists can determine what is happening to groundwater based on chemical testing. This sign will hopefully be printed and placed permanently at the VDO so that people who visit the area can read about the work that is being done with both wetland reconstruction and groundwater testing and understand it clearly. The sign may also be published on the UNM Bosque Ecology monitoring Program (BEMP) website, and in a few other locations.
