Helicopter survey to map aquifers set to begin Jan. 5 over Socorro County

A low‑flying helicopter carrying a large electromagnetic sensor will begin surveying parts of Socorro County on Jan. 5 as New Mexico launches a major effort to map underground water resources says a recent press release.

The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources said the airborne electromagnetic survey, originally expected to begin before Christmas, will pause for the holiday break and start in early January, said  Stacy Timmons, Associate Director of the Hydrogeology Program at New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources. 

The helicopter will operate out of the Socorro Municipal Airport and fly over the Middle Rio Grande Basin from Elephant Butte north to the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge.

According to the press release, the aircraft carries a 65-foot-wide hoop that transmits and receives electromagnetic signals, allowing scientists to detect subsurface geology and aquifers as deep as 1,600 feet. The data will be combined with existing geologic and hydrologic information to build detailed models of groundwater resources.

“This is completely new for New Mexico, and it’s extremely exciting for us,” Timmons said. “We finally have state investment to launch these surveys, and this is the first step in a multi-year effort to map the state’s aquifers.”

Timmons said that the project is part of a statewide initiative involving multiple survey teams working in five regions, including the Lower Rio Grande, the Estancia Basin and the Bootheel. The winter season was chosen to avoid high winds and dust storms that can interfere with low-altitude flights.

While the survey is not tied to any single water‑development proposal, Timmons said the data will help inform future decisions about both fresh and brackish groundwater supplies.

Flights over Socorro County are expected to continue through January, weather permitting. Maps, FAQs and additional project information are available on the Bureau’s website.