New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting — Abstracts

The New Mexico Water Data Initiative (WDI) is a multi-year effort to build a streamlined data infrastructure for water data in New Mexico (newmexicowaterdata.org). This collaborative effort is convened by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, and includes the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, the Interstate Stream Commission, the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department, and the Environment Department.

The goal of WDI is to improve how water data in New Mexico are managed, shared, and integrated. One way to work towards this broad goal is to focus on regional projects with specific data needs, providing opportunities to learn and improve New Mexico’s data infrastructure. For one such project, WDI is currently collaborating with the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District (PVACD) on a WaterSMART grant from US Bureau of Reclamation. Following the installation of telemetry-equipped, real-time water level monitoring devices, WDI is building two web-based applications to modernize data management and sharing. Both applications are being developed iteratively with a focus on user testing and feedback. In addition, WDI is working to make many local datasets available through the program’s data catalog (catalog.newmexicowaterdata.org).

One application in development enables the PVACD to enhance their ongoing water data management activities by leveraging modern, open source software. Furthermore, an integrated API helps improve coordination and data sharing with the regional Water Master at the Office of the State Engineer. Another tool WDI is developing with PVACD is a simple, clean user interface for the PVACD team and local collaborators to see quick visualizations of groundwater change over time. This tool, the PVACD Groundwater Dashboard shows both real-time and historic water level data for ten groundwater monitoring wells within the conservancy district. This dashboard also provides integrated monitoring data for nearby wells monitored by other agencies, including the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, US Geological Survey, and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology.