Editing Albuquerque, New Mexico (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Albuquerque by Sentinel-2 2023-05-06.jpg|thumb|Satellite view of Albuquerque taken in May 2023|alt=]]
[[File:Rio Grande looking south, west of ABQ.jpg|thumb|upright|Aerial view of the Rio Grande flowing through Albuquerque in 2016]]
Albuquerque is located in north-central New Mexico. To its east are the [[Sandia–Manzano Mountains]]. The [[Rio Grande]] flows north to south through its center, while the [[West Mesa]] and [[Petroglyph National Monument]] make up the western part of the city. Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any major city in the U.S., ranging from {{convert|4,900|ft|m}} [[above sea level]] near the [[Rio Grande]] to over {{convert|6,700|ft|m}} in the foothill areas of [[Sandia Heights, New Mexico|Sandia Heights]] and Glenwood Hills. The civic apex is found in an undeveloped area within the Albuquerque Open Space; there, the terrain rises to an elevation of approximately {{convert|6,880|ft|m}}, and the metropolitan area's highest point is [[Sandia Crest]] at an altitude of {{convert|10,678|ft|m}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Albuquerque has a total area of <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|490.9|sqkm|order=flip}}</span>, of which <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|486.2|km2|order=flip}}</span> is land and <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|4.7|km2|order=flip}}</span>, or 0.96%, is water.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3502000 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212191210/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3502000 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Albuquerque city, New Mexico |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder |access-date=January 27, 2014 }}</ref>

Albuquerque lies within the fertile [[Rio Grande Valley (New Mexico)|Rio Grande Valley]] with its [[Bosque]] forest, in the center of the [[Albuquerque Basin]], flanked on the eastern side by the [[Sandia Mountains]] and to the west by the [[West Mesa]].<ref name=lcalabre>
{{cite web |title=Vegetation & The Environment in NM |url=http://www.unm.edu/~lcalabre/project/ |author=Laura Calabrese |publisher=University of New Mexico |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211155214/http://www.unm.edu/~lcalabre/project/ |archive-date=December 11, 2013 }}</ref><ref name=ausherman>{{cite book |title=60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Albuquerque: Including Santa Fe, Mount Taylor, and San Lorenzo Canyon |edition=2nd |author=Stephen Ausherman |publisher=Menasha Ridge Press |year=2012 |isbn=9780897326001 |page=288 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MGAAynl9q0kC&pg=PA288 |access-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204194401/https://books.google.com/books?id=MGAAynl9q0kC&pg=PA288&lpg=PA288 |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Located in central New Mexico, the city also has noticeable influences from the adjacent [[Colorado Plateau]] semi-desert, New Mexico Mountains forested with juniper and pine, and Southwest plateaus and plains steppe ecoregions, depending on where one is located.

===Landforms and drainage===
Albuquerque has one of the highest and most varied elevations of any major city in the United States, though the effects of this are greatly tempered by its southwesterly continental position.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024|reason=Specifically for effect of southwestern continental position.}} The elevation of the city ranges from <span style="white-space:nowrap">4,949&nbsp;feet&nbsp;(1,508&nbsp;m)</span> [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] near the Rio Grande<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Grande at Albuquerque, NM - USGS Water Data for the Nation |url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08330000/all-graphs/#period=P7D |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=waterdata.usgs.gov |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619162242/https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08330000/all-graphs/#period=P7D |url-status=live }}</ref> (in the Valley) to <span style="white-space:nowrap">6,165&nbsp;feet&nbsp;(1,879&nbsp;m)</span> in the foothill areas of [[Sandia Heights, New Mexico|Sandia Heights]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/2584202 |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619162241/https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/2584202 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[Albuquerque International Sunport]], the elevation is <span style="white-space:nowrap">5,355&nbsp;feet&nbsp;(1,632&nbsp;m)</span> above sea level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facts & Figures |url=https://www.abqsunport.com/facts-figures/#:~:text=sunport%20facilities&text=ABQ's%20elevation%20is%205%2C355%20feet,106%20degrees%2C%2037%20minutes%20West. |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=Albuquerque International Sunport |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619162251/https://www.abqsunport.com/facts-figures/#:~:text=sunport%20facilities&text=ABQ's%20elevation%20is%205%2C355%20feet,106%20degrees%2C%2037%20minutes%20West. |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Rio Grande is classified, like the [[Nile]], as an "exotic" river. The New Mexico portion of the Rio Grande lies within the [[Rio Grande Rift]] Valley, bordered by a system of [[fault (geology)|fault]]s, including those that lifted up the adjacent [[Sandia Mountains|Sandia]] and [[Manzano Mountains]], while lowering the area where the life-sustaining Rio Grande now flows.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Geology and ecology===

{{main|Albuquerque Basin}}
Albuquerque lies in the [[Albuquerque Basin]], a portion of the [[Rio Grande rift]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/resources/water/projects/Albuquerque_basin.html |title=Albuquerque Basin |publisher=The New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources |access-date=September 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107124156/http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/resources/water/projects/Albuquerque_basin.html |archive-date=November 7, 2012 }}</ref>
The [[Sandia Mountains]] are the predominant geographic feature visible in Albuquerque. ''Sandía'' is Spanish for "[[watermelon]]", and is popularly believed to be a reference to the brilliant pink and green coloration of the mountains at sunset. The pink is due to large exposures of [[granodiorite]] cliffs, and the green is due to large swaths of [[conifer]] forests. However, Robert Julyan notes in ''The Place Names of New Mexico'', "the most likely explanation is the one believed by the [[Sandia Pueblo]] Indians: the Spaniards, when they encountered the Pueblo in 1540, called it Sandia, because they thought the squash growing there were watermelons, and the name Sandia soon was transferred to the mountains east of the pueblo."<ref name="julyan">Robert Julyan, ''The Place Names of New Mexico'' (revised edition), UNM Press, 1998.</ref> He also notes that the Sandia Pueblo Indians call the mountain ''Bien Mur'', "Big Mountain."<ref name="julyan"/>

Albuquerque lies at the northern edge of the [[Chihuahuan Desert]] transitioning into the [[Colorado Plateau]]. The Sandia Mountains represent the northern edge of the [[Arizona/New Mexico Mountains ecoregion]].

The environments of Albuquerque include the Rio Grande [[bosque]], (floodplain cottonwood forest), arid scrub, and mesas that turn into the Sandia foothills in the east. The Rio Grande's bosque has been significantly reduced and its natural flood cycle disrupted by dams built further upstream. A corridor of bosque surrounding the river within the city has been preserved as [[Rio Grande Valley State Park]].

[[File:South Diversion Channel, Albuquerque.jpg|thumb|The South Diversion Channel]]

A few remaining natural [[Arroyo (watercourse)|arroyo]]s provide [[riparian]] habitat within the city, though natural arroyos draining into the Rio Grande have largely been replaced with concrete channels. After a series of floods in the 1950s, passage of the "Arroyo Flood Control Act of 1963" provided for the construction of a series of concrete diversion channels.<ref name="AMAFCA">{{cite book |last=Swinburne |first=Bernard H. |title=Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority |date=July 1974 |publisher=Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority |location=Albuquerque |pages=6–8 |url=https://amafca.org/documents/AMAFCABrochureweb.pdf |access-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001005353/https://amafca.org/documents/AMAFCABrochureweb.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The network of channels was built by the Army Corps of Engineers during the 1960s and early 1970s.<ref name="AMAFCA" />

Iconic urban wildlife includes the [[Greater roadrunner|roadrunner]], [[Gunnison's prairie dog]], [[coyote]], and [[New Mexico whiptail]] lizard. The bosque is a popular destination for wildlife viewing, with opportunities to see [[North American porcupine|porcupines]] and [[sandhill crane]]s in the winter.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Albuquerque Critters |url=https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/city-of-albuquerque-critters |access-date=March 20, 2024 |website=City of Albuquerque |archive-date=March 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320052718/https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/city-of-albuquerque-critters |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Cooper's hawks]] are common in city parks.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 6, 2019 |title=Cooper's hawk population booming in Albuquerque |url=https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/coopers-hawk-population-booming-in-albuquerque/ |access-date=March 20, 2024 |website=KRQE NEWS 13 – Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos |language=en-US}}</ref>

Iconic vegetation includes the [[Populus deltoides|Rio Grande cottonwood]] in the bosque, and [[tree cholla]], [[Opuntia|prickly pear]], [[yucca]], [[Ericameria nauseosa|chamisa]], and [[oneseed juniper]] in upland areas. The foothill open space at the eastern border also features [[Sonoran scrub oak]] and [[piñon pine]]. [[Desert willow]]s are commonly planted throughout the city. [[Salsola tragus|Tumbleweeds]] are a common weed in disturbed areas, and are used by the city to make an annual holiday snowman.<ref>{{cite web |title=AMAFCA Tumbleweed Snowman |url=https://amafca.org/snowman-tumbleweed/ |access-date=March 20, 2024 |website=AMAFCA |language=en-US |archive-date=March 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320052719/https://amafca.org/snowman-tumbleweed/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cityscape===
{{wide image|Albuquerque_pano_sunset.jpg|1500px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of the city of Albuquerque looking east}}
[[File:Albuquerque-nighttime-cityscape-from-Sandia-Crest (cropped).jpg|thumb|border|center|600px|alt=Photo shows the nighttime cityscape of Albuquerque as seen looking west by south from the upper terminal of Sandia Peak Tramway|<div style="text-align: center">Nocturnal view of Albuquerque from [[Sandia Peak Tramway]] upper terminal</div>]]

====Quadrants====

Albuquerque is geographically divided into four unequal [[Address (geography)#Quadrants|quadrants]] that are officially part of mailing addresses, placed immediately after the street name. They are Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). Albuquerque's official quadrant system uses Central Ave for the north–south division and the railroad tracks for the east–west division. I-25 and I-40 are also sometimes used informally to divide the city into quadrants.

=====Northeast=====

This quadrant has been experiencing a housing expansion since the late 1950s. It abuts the base of the Sandia Mountains and contains portions of the foothills neighborhoods, which are significantly higher in elevation than the rest of the city. Running from Central Ave and the [[New Mexico Rail Runner Express|Railrunner]] tracks to the [[Sandia Peak Tramway|Sandia Peak Aerial Tram]], this is the largest quadrant both geographically and by population. Martineztown, the [[Maxwell Museum of Anthropology]], [[University of New Mexico]], the Uptown area, which includes three shopping malls ([[Coronado Center]], ABQ Uptown, and [[Winrock Town Center]]), Hoffmantown, Journal Center, and [[Cliff's Amusement Park]] are all in this quadrant.

Some of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city are here, including: [[High Desert, Albuquerque, New Mexico|High Desert]], Tanoan, Sandia Heights, and North Albuquerque Acres. Parts of Sandia Heights and North Albuquerque Acres are outside the city limits proper. A few houses in the farthest reach of this quadrant lie in the [[Cibola National Forest]], just over the line into [[Sandoval County, New Mexico|Sandoval County]].

=====Northwest=====

[[file:KiMo Albuquerque.jpg|thumb|[[KiMo Theater|KiMo Theatre]] in Downtown]]

This quadrant contains historic [[Old Town Albuquerque]], which dates to the 18th century, as well as the [[Indian Pueblo Cultural Center]]. The area has a mixture of commercial districts and low to high-income neighborhoods. Northwest Albuquerque includes the largest section of [[Downtown Albuquerque|Downtown]], [[Rio Grande Nature Center State Park]] and the [[Bosque]] ("woodlands"), Petroglyph National Monument, [[Double Eagle II Airport]], the Paradise Hills neighborhood, Taylor Ranch, and [[Cottonwood Mall (Albuquerque, New Mexico)|Cottonwood Mall]].

This quadrant also contains the [[North Valley, New Mexico|North Valley]] settlement, outside the city limits, which has some expensive homes and small ranches along the [[Rio Grande]]. The city of Albuquerque engulfs the village of [[Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico|Los Ranchos de Albuquerque]]. A small portion of the rapidly developing area on the west side of the river south of the Petroglyphs, known as the "[[West Mesa]]" or "Westside", consisting primarily of traditional residential subdivisions, also extends into this quadrant. The city proper is bordered on the north by the North Valley, the village of [[Corrales, New Mexico|Corrales]], and the city of [[Rio Rancho, New Mexico|Rio Rancho]].

=====Southeast=====
[[file:Lobo Theater, Albuquerque NM.jpg|thumb|[[Lobo Theater]] in Nob Hill]]
[[Kirtland Air Force Base]], [[Sandia National Laboratories]], Sandia Science & Technology Park, the Max Q commercial district, [[Albuquerque International Sunport]], [[American Society of Radiologic Technologists]], [[Central New Mexico Community College]], [[University of New Mexico|UNM South Campus]], Presbyterian Hospital Duke City BMX, [[University Stadium, Albuquerque|University Stadium]], [[Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park]], [[The Pit (arena)|The Pit]], [[Mesa del Sol]], [[Isleta Amphitheater]], [[Albuquerque Studios|Netflix Studios]], Isleta Resort & Casino, the [[National Museum of Nuclear Science & History]], New Mexico Veterans Memorial, and {{not a typo|Talin}}<!-- typo correction wants to correct this to Tallinn, capital of Estonia--> Market are all located in the Southeast quadrant of Albuquerque.

The southern half of the International District lies along Central Avenue and Louisiana Blvd. Here, many immigrant communities have settled and thrive, having established numerous businesses.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Albuquerque's [[Vietnamese American]] community is partly business-centered in this area, as well as the Eubank, Juan Tabo, and Central areas, and other parts of Albuquerque. There is also a [[Laotian American]] temple and a sizable community in parts of this area as well as around Uptown. There is also an African American community around Highland.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The Four Hills neighborhoods are located in and around the foothills on the outskirts of Southeast Albuquerque. The vast newer subdivision of Volterra lies west of the Four Hills area. Popular urban neighborhoods that can be found in Southeast Albuquerque include [[Nob Hill, Albuquerque|Nob Hill]], Ridgecrest, Parkland Hills, Hyder Park, and University Heights.

=====Southwest=====
Traditionally consisting of agricultural and rural areas and suburban neighborhoods, the Southwest quadrant comprises the south-end of Downtown Albuquerque, the [[Barelas]] neighborhood, the rapidly growing west side, and the community of [[South Valley, New Mexico]], often called "The South Valley". The quadrant extends all the way to the Isleta Indian Reservation. Newer suburban subdivisions on the [[West Mesa]] near the southwestern city limits join homes of older construction, some dating as far back as the 1940s.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} This quadrant includes the old communities of Atrisco, Los Padillas, Huning Castle, Kinney, Westgate, Westside, Alamosa, Mountainview, and Pajarito. The Bosque ("woodlands"), the [[National Hispanic Cultural Center]], the [[Rio Grande Zoo]], and [[Tingley Beach]] are also here.

A new adopted development plan, the Santolina Master Plan, will extend development on the west side past 118th Street SW to the edge of the [[Rio Puerco (Rio Grande)|Rio Puerco Valley]] and house 100,000 by 2050.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bernco.gov/planning/proposed-santolina-level-a-master-plan.aspx |title=Adopted Santolina Level A Master Plan-Bernalillo County, New Mexico |work=bernco.gov |access-date=September 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907040938/http://www.bernco.gov/planning/proposed-santolina-level-a-master-plan.aspx |archive-date=September 7, 2016}}</ref>

===Climate===
Albuquerque's climate is classified as a [[cold semi-arid climate]] (''BSk'') according to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, while The Biota of North America Program<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate |url=http://www.bonap.org/Climate%20Maps/climate48shadeA.png |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124115104/http://www.bonap.org/Climate%20Maps/climate48shadeA.png |archive-date=November 24, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2019}}</ref> and the U.S. Geological Survey describe it as warm temperate semi-desert.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3084/ |title=USGS Scientific Investigations Map 3084: Terrestrial Ecosystems—Isobioclimates of the Conterminous United States |website=pubs.usgs.gov |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901232200/https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3084/ |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/ |title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State U |website=prism.oregonstate.edu |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122024305/http://prism.oregonstate.edu/ |archive-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Albuquerque ([[Albuquerque International Sunport]]), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1891–present{{efn|Official records for Albuquerque kept December 1891 to January 22, 1933, at the Weather Bureau Office and at Albuquerque Int'l since January 23, 1933. For more information, see Threadex}}
|single line = Y
|collapsed =
|Jan record high F = 72
|Feb record high F = 79
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 89
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 107
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 72
|Jan avg record high F = 60.9
|Feb avg record high F = 67.5
|Mar avg record high F = 76.8
|Apr avg record high F = 83.2
|May avg record high F = 91.2
|Jun avg record high F = 99.3
|Jul avg record high F = 99.4
|Aug avg record high F = 96.1
|Sep avg record high F = 91.7
|Oct avg record high F = 83.6
|Nov avg record high F = 71.1
|Dec avg record high F = 60.8
|year avg record high F = 100.8
|Jan high F = 48.4
|Feb high F = 54.1
|Mar high F = 62.8
|Apr high F = 70.3
|May high F = 79.9
|Jun high F = 90.4
|Jul high F = 91.2
|Aug high F = 88.8
|Sep high F = 82.5
|Oct high F = 70.6
|Nov high F = 57.3
|Dec high F = 47.3
|year high F = 70.3
|Jan mean F = 37.4
|Feb mean F = 41.9
|Mar mean F = 49.5
|Apr mean F = 56.8
|May mean F = 66.1
|Jun mean F = 76.1
|Jul mean F = 78.9
|Aug mean F = 76.9
|Sep mean F = 70.3
|Oct mean F = 58.4
|Nov mean F = 45.7
|Dec mean F = 36.9
|year mean F = 57.9
|Jan low F = 26.4
|Feb low F = 29.8
|Mar low F = 36.2
|Apr low F = 43.2
|May low F = 52.4
|Jun low F = 61.9
|Jul low F = 66.5
|Aug low F = 64.9
|Sep low F = 58.1
|Oct low F = 46.1
|Nov low F = 34.1
|Dec low F = 26.6
|year low F = 45.5
|Jan avg record low F = 15.4
|Feb avg record low F = 17.6
|Mar avg record low F = 23.9
|Apr avg record low F = 30.5
|May avg record low F = 39.6
|Jun avg record low F = 52.3
|Jul avg record low F = 60.6
|Aug avg record low F = 59.0
|Sep avg record low F = 47.4
|Oct avg record low F = 31.9
|Nov avg record low F = 21.3
|Dec avg record low F = 13.7
|year avg record low F = 10.9
|Jan record low F = −17
|Feb record low F = −10
|Mar record low F = 6
|Apr record low F = 13
|May record low F = 25
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 42
|Aug record low F = 46
|Sep record low F = 26
|Oct record low F = 19
|Nov record low F = −7
|Dec record low F = −16
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.36
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.43
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.46
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.51
|May precipitation inch = 0.44
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.57
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.64
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.31
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.15
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.87
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.57
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.53
|year precipitation inch = 8.84
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.3
|Nov snow inch = 0.9
|Dec snow inch = 2.8
|Jan snow inch = 1.4
|Feb snow inch = 1.5
|Mar snow inch = 0.7
|Apr snow inch = 0.3
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch = 7.9
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.6
|Feb precipitation days = 3.7
|Mar precipitation days = 3.8
|Apr precipitation days = 2.8
|May precipitation days = 3.7
|Jun precipitation days = 3.5
|Jul precipitation days = 8.7
|Aug precipitation days = 8.3
|Sep precipitation days = 5.9
|Oct precipitation days = 4.7
|Nov precipitation days = 3.4
|Dec precipitation days = 4.0
|year precipitation days = 56.1
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.3
|Nov snow days = 0.9
|Dec snow days = 2.5
|Jan snow days = 1.9
|Feb snow days = 1.6
|Mar snow days = 1.0
|Apr snow days = 0.3
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|year snow days = 8.5
|Jan sun = 234.2 |Jan percentsun = 75
|Feb sun = 225.3 |Feb percentsun = 74
|Mar sun = 270.2 |Mar percentsun = 73
|Apr sun = 304.6 |Apr percentsun = 78
|May sun = 347.4 |May percentsun = 80
|Jun sun = 359.3 |Jun percentsun = 83
|Jul sun = 335.0 |Jul percentsun = 76
|Aug sun = 314.2 |Aug percentsun = 75
|Sep sun = 286.7 |Sep percentsun = 77
|Oct sun = 281.4 |Oct percentsun = 80
|Nov sun = 233.8 |Nov percentsun = 75
|Dec sun = 223.3 |Dec percentsun = 73
|year percentsun = 77
|Jan humidity = 56.3
|Feb humidity = 49.8
|Mar humidity = 39.7
|Apr humidity = 32.5
|May humidity = 31.1
|Jun humidity = 29.8
|Jul humidity = 41.9
|Aug humidity = 47.1
|Sep humidity = 47.4
|Oct humidity = 45.3
|Nov humidity = 49.9
|Dec humidity = 56.8
|year humidity = 44.0
|Jan dew point C = −7.8
|Feb dew point C = −6.9
|Mar dew point C = −7.1
|Apr dew point C = −5.9
|May dew point C = −2.3
|Jun dew point C = 1.9
|Jul dew point C = 9.5
|Aug dew point C = 10.2
|Sep dew point C = 6.7
|Oct dew point C = 0.3
|Nov dew point C = −4.6
|Dec dew point C = −7.2
|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)<ref name = NOAA1 >{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=abq |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=October 13, 2021 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430063248/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=abq |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NCEI Summary of Monthly Normals - Albuquerque - 1991-2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023050&format=pdf |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=October 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714063557/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023050&format=pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2023}}</ref><ref name= noaasun >{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72365.TXT |title=WMO Climate Normals for ALBUQUERQUE/INT'L ARPT NM 1961–1990 |access-date=August 29, 2020 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714060206/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72365.TXT |archive-date=July 14, 2023}}</ref><!--<ref name = "Percent Sunshine" >
{{cite web |url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/pctpos.txt |title=Average Percent Sunshine through 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2012 |publisher=[[National Climatic Data Center]]}}</ref>-->

}}
{{Weather box
|location =[[South Valley, New Mexico]] (elevation {{cvt|1510.3|m|order=flip}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1991–2022)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 73
|Feb record high F = 79
|Mar record high F = 86
|Apr record high F = 89
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 101
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 89
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 70
|year record high F = 105

|Jan avg record high F = 64.2
|Feb avg record high F = 70.3
|Mar avg record high F = 79.3
|Apr avg record high F = 84.1
|May avg record high F = 91.7
|Jun avg record high F = 99.9
|Jul avg record high F = 100.3
|Aug avg record high F = 97.2
|Sep avg record high F = 92.9
|Oct avg record high F = 84.5
|Nov avg record high F = 73.0
|Dec avg record high F = 63.5
|year avg record high F = 101.4

|Jan high F = 51.1
|Feb high F = 57.1
|Mar high F = 65.5
|Apr high F = 72.4
|May high F = 80.9
|Jun high F = 90.9
|Jul high F = 92.5
|Aug high F = 90.1
|Sep high F = 83.4
|Oct high F = 72.2
|Nov high F = 59.7
|Dec high F = 49.9
|year high F = 72.1
|Jan mean F = 36.7
|Feb mean F = 41.9
|Mar mean F = 49.3
|Apr mean F = 56.2
|May mean F = 64.5
|Jun mean F = 73.9
|Jul mean F = 78.0
|Aug mean F = 76.0
|Sep mean F = 68.6
|Oct mean F = 56.8
|Nov mean F = 44.6
|Dec mean F = 36.1
|year mean F = 56.9
|Jan low F = 22.3
|Feb low F = 26.8
|Mar low F = 33.1
|Apr low F = 40.1
|May low F = 48.1
|Jun low F = 56.8
|Jul low F = 63.4
|Aug low F = 61.9
|Sep low F = 53.9
|Oct low F = 41.4
|Nov low F = 29.5
|Dec low F = 22.4
|year low F = 41.6

|Jan avg record low F = 9.9
|Feb avg record low F = 13.5
|Mar avg record low F = 19.4
|Apr avg record low F = 27.3
|May avg record low F = 35.6
|Jun avg record low F = 46.4
|Jul avg record low F = 56.1
|Aug avg record low F = 54.1
|Sep avg record low F = 42.3
|Oct avg record low F = 27.9
|Nov avg record low F = 15.8
|Dec avg record low F = 10.4
|year avg record low F = 6.9

|Jan record low F = -4
|Feb record low F = -5
|Mar record low F = 6
|Apr record low F = 22
|May record low F = 26
|Jun record low F = 41
|Jul record low F = 47
|Aug record low F = 44
|Sep record low F = 36
|Oct record low F = 15
|Nov record low F = 9
|Dec record low F = 2
|year record low F= -5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.45
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.47
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.54
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.59
|May precipitation inch = 0.48
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.57
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.53
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.52
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.26
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.02
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.59
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.65
|year precipitation inch = 9.67
|Jan snow inch = 1.4
|Feb snow inch = 1.3
|Mar snow inch = 0.6
|Apr snow inch = 0.3
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.3
|Nov snow inch = 0.6
|Dec snow inch = 2.3
|year snow inch = 6.8
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.9
|Feb precipitation days = 3.6
|Mar precipitation days = 3.7
|Apr precipitation days = 3.0
|May precipitation days = 3.6
|Jun precipitation days = 3.6
|Jul precipitation days = 8.5
|Aug precipitation days = 8.9
|Sep precipitation days = 5.8
|Oct precipitation days = 4.6
|Nov precipitation days = 2.9
|Dec precipitation days = 4.1
|year precipitation days = 56.2
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 1.4
|Feb snow days = 1.0
|Mar snow days = 0.4
|Apr snow days = 0.2
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.2
|Nov snow days = 0.4
|Dec snow days = 1.3
|year snow days = 4.9
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name="NCEI Summary of Monthly Normals - South Valley - 1991-2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00290231&format=pdf |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=October 13, 2021 |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220104006/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00290231&format=pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NOAA1/>
}}
{{weather box
 |location = Albuquerque Foothills (elevation {{cvt|1865.4|m|order=flip}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1991–present)
 |source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA1/><ref name="NCEI Summary of Monthly Normals – Foothills – 1991–2020">{{cite web |url=https://ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00290225&format=pdf |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref>
<!--Q0-->
 |single line = Y |collapsed = Y
 |year low F = 43.0 |year mean F = 55.3 |year high F = 67.6
 |year avg record low F = 8.5 |year avg record high F = 97.7
 |unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |year precipitation days = 75.5
 |precipitation colour = green |year precipitation inch = 14.92
 |unit snow days = 0.1 in |year snow days = 16.0 |year snow inch = 23.7
<!--Q1-->
 |Jan low F = 25.6 |Jan mean F = 35.4 |Jan high F = 45.2
 |Jan avg record low F = 12.4 |Jan record low F = 2 |Jan avg record high F = 57.2 |Jan record high F = 69
 |Jan precipitation days = 5.3 |Jan snow days = 3.4 |Jan precipitation inch = 0.71 |Jan snow inch = 4.0

 |Feb low F = 28.6 |Feb mean F = 39.8 |Feb high F = 51.1
 |Feb avg record low F = 15.2 |Feb avg record high F = 63.7 |Feb record low F = -12 |Feb record high F = 71
 |Feb precipitation days = 5.5 |Feb snow days = 3.1 |Feb precipitation inch = 0.85 |Feb snow inch = 4.4

 |Mar low F = 34.7 |Mar mean F = 47.4 |Mar high F = 60.1
 |Mar avg record low F = 19.8 |Mar record low F = 10 |Mar avg record high F = 73.9 |Mar record high F = 81 
 |Mar precipitation days = 5.4 |Mar snow days = 2.5 |Mar precipitation inch = 1.05 |Mar snow inch = 3.7
<!--Q2-->
 |Apr low F = 40.2 |Apr mean F = 54.4 |Apr high F = 68.5
 |Apr avg record low F = 26.5 |Apr record low F = 20 |Apr avg record high F = 80.2 |Apr record high F = 86
 |Apr precipitation days = 4.2 |Apr snow days = 1.2 |Apr precipitation inch = 0.88 |Apr snow inch = 1.7

 |May low F = 49.1 |May mean F = 63.3 |May high F = 77.6
 |May avg record low F = 35.0 |May record low F = 28 |May avg record high F = 88.8 |May record high F = 96
 |May precipitation days = 5.1 |May snow days = 0.2 |May precipitation inch = 0.70 |May snow inch = 0.0

 |Jun low F = 58.2 |Jun mean F = 72.9 |Jun high F = 87.7
 |Jun avg record low F = 47.5 |Jun record low F = 40 |Jun avg record high F = 96.3 |Jun record high F = 103
 |Jun precipitation days = 4.1 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jun precipitation inch = 0.61 |Jun snow inch = 0.0
<!--Q3-->
 |Jul low F = 62.4 |Jul mean F = 75.6 |Jul high F = 88.7
 |Jul avg record low F = 55.3 |Jul record low F = 48 |Jul avg record high F = 96.6 |Jul record high F = 104
 |Jul precipitation days = 11.7 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Jul precipitation inch = 2.61 |Jul snow inch = 0.0

 |Aug low F = 60.9 |Aug mean F = 73.6 |Aug high F = 86.3
 |Aug avg record low F = 54.1 |Aug record low F = 48 |Aug avg record high F = 93.4 |Aug record high F = 101
 |Aug precipitation days = 10.5 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Aug precipitation inch = 2.66 |Aug snow inch = 0.0

 |Sep low F = 54.8 |Sep mean F = 67.3 |Sep high F = 79.8
 |Sep avg record low F = 41.9 |Sep record low F = 31 |Sep avg record high F = 88.7 |Sep record high F = 95
 |Sep precipitation days = 7.4 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Sep precipitation inch = 1.56 |Sep snow inch = 0.0
<!--Q4-->
 |Oct low F = 43.4 |Oct mean F = 55.6 |Oct high F = 67.7
 |Oct avg record low F = 27.7 |Oct record low F = 17 |Oct avg record high F = 79.9 |Oct record high F = 86
 |Oct precipitation days = 5.8 |Oct snow days = 0.4 |Oct precipitation inch = 1.33 |Oct snow inch = 0.6

 |Nov low F = 32.9 |Nov mean F = 43.6 |Nov high F = 54.3
 |Nov avg record low F = 17.7 |Nov record low F = 10 |Nov avg record high F = 66.8 |Nov record high F = 75
 |Nov precipitation days = 4.7 |Nov snow days = 1.4 |Nov precipitation inch = 0.88 |Nov snow inch = 2.4

 |Dec low F = 25.8 |Dec mean F = 35.2 |Dec high F = 44.5
 |Dec avg record low F = 10.6 |Dec record low F = 3 |Dec avg record high F = 56.9 |Dec record high F = 64
 |Dec precipitation days = 5.8 |Dec snow days = 3.8 |Dec precipitation inch = 1.08 |Dec snow inch = 6.9
}}

{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table = Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Albuquerque, New Mexico.tab
| title = Albuquerque monthly weather statistics
}}
[[file:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Albuquerque Area,NM (ThreadEx).svg|thumb|right|Climate chart for Albuquerque]]

Albuquerque is located near the crossroads of several ecoregions. According to the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregion-download-files-state-region-6 |title=Ecoregion Download Files by State – Region 6 |first=ORD |last=US EPA |date=March 9, 2016 |website=US EPA |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215174613/https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregion-download-files-state-region-6 |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> the city is located in the southeastern edge of the [[Arizona/New Mexico Plateau]], with the [[Arizona/New Mexico Mountains ecoregion]] defining the adjacent Sandia-Manzano mountains, including the foothills in the eastern edges of the city limits, above Juan Tabo Boulevard. Though the city lies at the northern edge of the [[Chihuahuan Desert]] transitioning into the [[Colorado Plateau]], much of Albuquerque area west of the [[Sandia Mountains]] shares similar aridity, temperatures, and natural vegetation more with that of the Chihuahuan Desert, namely the desert grassland and sand scrub plant communities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR374/#1 |title=NMSU: New Mexico Range Plants |website=aces.nmsu.edu |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503163417/https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR374/#1 |archive-date=May 3, 2019}}</ref>

The eastern portion of the greater Albuquerque area are known as the East Mountain area, and they are within the [[Southwestern Tablelands]], sometimes considered a southern extension of the central high plains and northeast New Mexico highlands. To the north is the [[Southern Rockies]] ecoregion in the Jemez Mountains.

The average annual precipitation is less than half of evaporation supporting an [[arid climate]] (''BWk''), and no month's daily temperature mean is below freezing. The climate is rather mild compared to parts of the country further north or further south. However, due to the city's high elevation, low temperatures in winter often dip below freezing. Varied terrain and elevations within the city and outlying areas cause daily temperature differentials to vary. The daily average temperatures in December and January, the coldest months, are above freezing at {{convert|36.9|°F}} and {{convert|37.4|°F}}, respectively.

Albuquerque's climate is usually sunny and dry, with an average of 3,415 sunshine hours per year.<ref name="noaasun" /><ref name="NOAA">{{cite web |url=http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/nm/290041.pdf |title=NCDC: U.S. Climate Normals |access-date=October 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723140613/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/nm/290041.pdf |archive-date=July 23, 2014 }}</ref> Brilliant sunshine defines the region, averaging 278&nbsp;days a year; periods of variably mid and high-level cloudiness temper the sun, mostly during the cooler months. Extended cloudiness lasting longer than two or three days is rare.

Winter typically consists of cool days and cold nights, except following passage of the strongest cold fronts and arctic airmasses when daytime temperatures remain colder than average; overnight temperatures tend to fall below freezing between about 10 pm and 8 am in the city, except during colder airmasses, plus colder spots of the valley and most of the East Mountain areas. December, the coolest month, averages {{convert|36.9|°F|1}}; the median or normal coolest temperature of the year is {{convert|12|°F|0}}, while the average or mean is about {{convert|11|°F|0}}. It is typical for daily low temperatures in much of late December, and January, and February to be below freezing, with a long-term average of 93 days per year falling to or below freezing, and two days failing to rise above freezing. In March, winds dominate as the temperatures began to warm late in the winter.<ref name=NOAA1/>

Spring is windy, sometimes unsettled with rain, though spring is usually the driest part of the year in Albuquerque. Late March and April tend to experience many days with the wind blowing at {{cvt|20|to|30|mi/h|km/h}}, and afternoon gusts can produce periods of blowing sand and dust.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} In May, the winds tend to subside as a summer-like airmass and temperatures begin to occur into with regularity. The warming and drying trend continues into June. By mid-June, temperatures can exceed {{convert|100|°F|0}}.

Summer is lengthy and very warm to hot, relatively tolerable for most people because of low humidity and air movement. The exception is some days during the [[New Mexico monsoon]], when daily humidity remains relatively high, especially in July and August. 2.6 days of {{convert|100|°F|0}} or warmer highs occur annually on average, mostly in June and July and rarely in August due in part to the monsoon; an average of 64 days experience {{convert|90|°F|0}} or warmer highs.<ref name=NOAA1/> Despite the rarity of such heat, 28 days with highs at or above {{convert|100|°F|0}} occurred in the summer of 1980 at Albuquerque's Sunport. In September, the monsoon begins to weaken.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/abq/clifeatures_100degrees |title=100° Facts for Albuquerque and New Mexico |first=NOAA |last=US Department of Commerce |website=www.weather.gov |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215231250/https://www.weather.gov/abq/clifeatures_100degrees |archive-date=February 15, 2020}}</ref> Portions of the valley and West Mesa locations experience more high temperatures above {{convert|90|°F|0}} and {{convert|100|°F|0}} as part of normal or extreme weather each summer.

Autumn is generally cool in the mornings and nights but sees less rain than summer, though the weather can be more unsettled closer to winter, as colder airmasses and weather patterns build in from the north and northwest with more frequency.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Occasionally, snow will fall in late autumn in December; rarely in late November.

Precipitation averages {{convert|8.84|in|mm|0}} per year. On average, January is the driest month, while July and August are the wettest months, as a result of shower and thunderstorm activity produced by the monsoon prevalent over the Southwestern United States. Most rain occurs during the late summer monsoon season, typically starting in early June and ending in mid-September.<ref>{{cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=NWS ABQ Monsoon Awareness Introduction |url=https://www.weather.gov/abq/prepawaremonsoonintro |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=www.weather.gov |language=en-US}}</ref>

Albuquerque averages {{convert|7.9|in|cm|0}} of snow per winter, and experiences several accumulating snow events each season. Locations in the Northeast Heights and Eastern Foothills tend to receive more snowfall due to each region's higher elevation and proximity to the mountains. The city was one of several in the region experiencing a severe winter storm on December 28–30, 2006, with locations in Albuquerque receiving between {{convert|10.5|and|26|in|cm}} of snow.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/abq/climate/Monthlyreports/December/2006/PNS12312006.htm |title=Preliminary total snowfall reports across central and northern New Mexico from the December 28–30 winter storm |date=December 31, 2006 |access-date=August 5, 2009 |publisher=National Weather Service Albuquerque, NM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223134054/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/abq/?n=monthly-summaries |archive-date=February 23, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> More recently, a major winter storm in late February 2015 dropped up to a foot (30&nbsp;cm) of snow on most of the city. Such large snowfalls are rare occurrences during the period of record, and they greatly impact traffic movement and the workforce due to their rarity.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The mountains and highlands east of the city create a [[rain shadow]] effect, due to the drying of air descending the mountains; the Sandia Mountain foothills tend to lift any available moisture, enhancing precipitation to about {{convert|10–17|in|mm|0}} annually.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Traveling west, north, and east of Albuquerque, one quickly rises in elevation and leaves the sheltering effect of the valley to enter a noticeably cooler and slightly wetter environment.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} One such area is considered part of Albuquerque Metropolitan Area, commonly called the East Mountain area; it is covered in woodlands of juniper and piñon trees, a common trait of southwestern uplands and the southernmost Rocky Mountains.

===Hydrology===

Albuquerque's drinking water comes from a combination of Rio Grande water (river water diverted from the [[Colorado River]] basin through the [[San Juan–Chama Project]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Your Drinking Water |url=http://www.abcwua.org/Your_Drinking_Water.aspx |access-date=August 1, 2013 |website=Albuquerque Bernalillo Water Authority |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805163835/http://abcwua.org/Your_Drinking_Water.aspx |archive-date=August 5, 2013}}</ref>) and a delicate [[aquifer]] that has been described as an "underground [[Lake Superior]]". The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) has developed a water resources management strategy that pursues [[water conservation|conservation]] and the direct extraction of water from the Rio Grande for the development of a stable underground aquifer in the future.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Odenwald |first=Arlene Cinelli |date=April 1993 |title=Protecting the aquifer: Albuquerque reacting |journal=New Mexico Business Journal |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=38–39 |issn=0164-6796 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5092/is_n4_v17/ai_13856429 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109101124/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5092/is_n4_v17/ai_13856429 |archive-date=November 9, 2008 |access-date=December 23, 2008}}</ref><ref name="water strategy">{{cite web |title=Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority: Water Resource Management Strategy |website=Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority |date=January 10, 2007 |url=http://www.abcwua.org/pdfs/WRMS_Update_101207.pdf |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029020514/http://www.abcwua.org/pdfs/WRMS_Update_101207.pdf |archive-date=October 29, 2008}}</ref>

[[file:Tingley Beach Albuquerque NM.jpg|thumb|Tingley Beach in Old Town, Albuquerque, a pond in a former watercourse by the Rio Grande]]

The aquifer of the [[Rio Puerco (Rio Grande)|Rio Puerco]] is too [[Brackish water|saline]] to be cost-effectively used for drinking. Much of the rainwater Albuquerque receives does not recharge its aquifer. It is diverted through a network of paved channels and arroyos, and empties into the [[Rio Grande]].

Of the {{convert|62780|acre.ft}} per year of the water in the upper [[Colorado River]] basin entitled to municipalities in New Mexico by the [[Colorado River Compact|Upper Colorado River Basin Compact]], Albuquerque owns 48,200. The water is delivered to the Rio Grande by the [[San Juan–Chama Project]]. The project's construction was initiated by legislation signed by President [[John F. Kennedy]] in 1962, and was completed in 1971. This diversion project transports water under the [[continental divide]] from [[Navajo Lake]] to Lake Heron on the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande. In the past much of this water was resold to downstream owners in Texas. These arrangements ended in 2008 with the completion of the ABCWUA's Drinking Water Supply Project.<ref>The project's page at the United States Bureau of Reclamation's website {{cite web |url=http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=San%20Juan-Chama%20Project |title=Project details – San Juan-Chama Project – Bureau of Reclamation |access-date=October 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925123715/http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=San%20Juan-Chama%20Project |archive-date=September 25, 2012}}</ref>

The ABCWUA's Drinking Water Supply Project uses a system of adjustable-height dams to skim water from the Rio Grande into [[sluice]]s that lead to [[water treatment]] facilities for direct [[Water purification|conversion to potable water]]. Some water is allowed to flow through central Albuquerque, mostly to protect the endangered [[Rio Grande silvery minnow]]. [[Sewage treatment|Treated]] effluent water is recycled into the Rio Grande south of the city. The ABCWUA expects river water to comprise up to seventy percent of its water budget in 2060. [[Groundwater]] will constitute the remainder. One of the policies of the ABCWUA's strategy is the acquisition of additional river water.<ref name="water strategy"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abcwua.org/content/view/34/27/ |title=The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority |publisher=Abcwua.org |date=December 7, 2008 |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507020947/http://www.abcwua.org/content/view/34/27/ |archive-date=May 7, 2010 }}</ref> {{Rp|Policy G, 14}}