New Mexico Criteria Development Progress
This page provides information about the progress New Mexico has made towards the development of numeric criteria and shows what statewide and site-specific criteria are currently in effect.
Note: The information on the tabs below reflects the information available on EPA’s
Water Quality Standards Repository. The criteria presented here will be updated as new water quality standards documents are posted to the Repository.
Numeric Criteria Development
The information presented below gives a summary of state progress towards the development of numeric criteria. The information comes from EPA’s “State Adoption of Numeric Nutrient Standards (1998-2008)” report, current water quality standards, program activity measures, and nutrient criteria development plans. Links to the New Mexico’s Nutrient Criteria Plan and state water quality standards are also provided.
Existing Numeric Criteria
| Waterbody Type | N | P | Chl-a | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes & Reservoirs | ||||
| Rivers & Streams | W | |||
| Estuaries | N ⁄ A | N ⁄ A | N ⁄ A | N ⁄ A |
| Wetlands |
S = Statewide W = For selected waterbody N ⁄ A=Not Applicable
Note: See Statewide Criteria and Site-specific Criteria tabs for more information.
Links to Numeric Nutrient Criteria Plan and Existing Nutrient Criteria
Plan:
WQS: New Mexico Water Quality Standards
New Mexico Environment Department: Surface Water Quality Bureau: Water Quality Standards Exit
Milestone Information
Milestone information updated July 2012.
Milestone |
Rivers and Streams | Lakes and Reservoirs | Estuaries and Coastal Waters | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN | TP | TN | TP | TN | TP | |
| Planning for criteria development | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Collection of information and data | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Analysis of information and data | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Proposal of criteria | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Adoption of criteria (EPA-Approved) | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | Not applicable | Not applicable |
TN: Total Nitrogen; TP: Total Phosphorus
Statewide Criteria
The information on this tab shows EPA-approved nutrient criteria for New Mexico’s waterbodies. The language presented below comes directly from state water quality standards and applies to all waterbodies within the state (unless a waterbody type or designated use is noted). Criteria applicable to specific waterbodies within the state can be found on the “Site-specific Criteria” tab. For more information, refer to the New Mexico water quality standards.
The following information reflects New Mexico’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved December 2006).
20.6.4.13 General Criteria:
General criteria are established to sustain and protect existing or attainable uses of surface waters of the state. These general criteria apply to all surface waters of the state at all times, unless a specified criterion is provided elsewhere in this part. Surface waters of the state shall be free of any water contaminant in such quantity and of such duration as may with reasonable probability injure human health, animal or plant life or property, or unreasonably interfere with the public welfare or the use of property.
C. Color:
Color-producing materials resulting from other than natural causes shall not create an aesthetically undesirable condition nor shall color impair the use of the water by desirable aquatic life presently common in surface waters of the state.
D. Organoleptic Quality:
(1) Flavor of Fish: Water contaminants from other than natural causes shall be limited to concentrations that will not impart unpalatable flavor to fish.
(2) Odor and Taste of Water: Water contaminants from other than natural causes shall be limited to concentrations that will not result in offensive odor or taste arising in a surface water of the state or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use of the water.
E. Plant Nutrients:
Plant nutrients from other than natural causes shall not be present in concentrations that will produce undesirable aquatic life or result in a dominance of nuisance species in surface waters of the state.
20.6.4.900 Criteria Applicable to Attainable or Designated Uses Unless Otherwise Specified in 20.6.4.97 through 20.6.4.899 NMAC.
J. Numeric criteria. The following table sets forth the numeric criteria adopted by the commission to protect existing, designated and attainable uses. Additional criteria that are not compatible with this table are found in Subsections A through I of this section.
| Pollutant Total, unless indicated |
Domestic Water Supply ug/L unless indicated |
Livestock Watering ug/L unless indicated |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrate as N | 10 mg/L | |
| Nitrite + Nitrate | 132 mg/L |
Site-specific Criteria
The information on this tab shows EPA-approved site-specific nutrient criteria for New Mexico’s waterbodies. Criteria on this page apply only to the waterbodies listed below. Criteria applicable to all waterbodies within the state are found on the “Statewide Criteria” tab. For more information, refer to the New Mexico water quality standards.
The following information reflects New Mexico’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved December 2006).
20.6.4.109 Rio Grande Basin - Perennial reaches of Bluewater creek, Rio Moquino, Seboyeta creek, Rio Paguate, the Rio Puerco above the village of Cuba and all other perennial reaches of tributaries to the Rio Puerco including the Rio San Jose in Cibola county from the USGS gaging station at Correo upstream to Horace springs.
A. Designated Uses: coldwater aquatic life, domestic water supply, fish culture, irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitat and primary contact.
B. Criteria:
(1) In any single sample: pH shall be within the range of 6.6 to 8.8, temperature 20°C (68°F) or less and total phosphorus (as P) 0.1 mg/L. The use-specific numeric criteria set forth in 20.6.4.900 NMAC are applicable to the designated uses listed above in Subsection A of this section.
20.6.4.123 Rio Grande Basin - Perennial reaches of the Red river upstream of the mouth of Placer creek, all perennial reaches of tributaries to the Red river, and all other perennial reaches of tributaries to the Rio Grande in Taos and Rio Arriba counties unless included in other segments.
A. Designated Uses: domestic water supply, fish culture, high quality coldwater aquatic life, irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitat and secondary contact.
B. Criteria:
(1) In any single sample: specific conductance 400 umhos/cm or less (500 umhos or less for the Rio Fernando de Taos) and pH within the range of 6.6 to 8.8, temperature 20°C (68°F) or less. For the Red river in this segment, total phosphorus (as P) less than 0.1 mg/L. The use-specific numeric criteria set forth in 20.6.4.900 NMAC are applicable to the designated uses listed above in Subsection A of this section.
20.6.4.129 Rio Grande Basin - Perennial reaches of the Rio Hondo.
A. Designated Uses: domestic water supply, high quality coldwater aquatic life, irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitat and secondary contact.
B. Criteria:
(1) In any single sample: specific conductance 400 umhos/cm or less, pH within the range of 6.6 to 8.8, total phosphorus (as P) less than 0.1 mg/L and temperature 20°C (68°F) or less. The use-specific numeric criteria set forth in 20.6.4.900 NMAC are applicable to the designated uses listed above in Subsection A of this section.
20.6.4.208 Pecos River Basin - Perennial reaches of the Rio Peñasco and its tributaries above state highway 24 near Dunken, perennial reaches of the Rio Bonito downstream from state highway 48 (near Angus), the Rio Ruidoso downstream of the U.S. highway 70 bridge near Seeping Springs lakes, perennial reaches of the Rio Hondo upstream from Bonney canyon and perennial reaches of Agua Chiquita.
A. Designated Uses: fish culture, irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitat, coldwater aquatic life and secondary contact.
B. Criteria:
(1) In any single sample: pH within the range of 6.6 to 8.8, temperature 30°C (86°F) or less and total phosphorus (as P) less than 0.1 mg/L. The use-specific numeric criteria set forth in 20.6.4.900 NMAC are applicable to the designated uses listed above in Subsection A of this section.
20.6.4.209 Pecos River Basin - Perennial reaches of Eagle creek above Alto reservoir, perennial reaches of the Rio Bonito and its tributaries upstream of state highway 48 (near Angus) and perennial reaches of the Rio Ruidoso and its tributaries upstream of the U.S. highway 70 bridge near Seeping Springs lakes.
A. Designated Uses: domestic water supply, fish culture, high quality coldwater aquatic life, irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitat, municipal and industrial water supply and secondary contact.
B. Criteria:
(1) In any single sample: specific conductance 600 umhos/cm or less in Eagle creek, 1,100 umhos or less in Bonito creek, and 1,500 umhos or less in the Rio Ruidoso, pH within the range of 6.6 to 8.8, total phosphorus (as P) less than 0.1 mg/L and temperature 20°C (68°F) or less. The use-specific numeric criteria set forth in 20.6.4.900 NMAC are applicable to the designated uses listed above in Subsection A of this section.
20.6.4.404 San Juan River Basin - The Animas river from Estes Arroyo upstream to the New Mexico-Colorado line.
A. Designated Uses: coldwater aquatic life, irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitat, municipal and industrial water supply and secondary contact.
B. Criteria:
(1) In any single sample: pH within the range of 6.6 to 8.8, temperature 20°C (68°F) or less and total phosphorus (as P) 0.l mg/L or less. The use-specific numeric criteria set forth in 20.6.4.900 NMAC are applicable to the designated uses listed above in Subsection A of this section.
20.6.4.406 San Juan River Basin - Navajo reservoir in New Mexico.
A. Designated Uses: coldwater aquatic life, warmwater aquatic life, irrigation storage, livestock watering, wildlife habitat, municipal and industrial water storage and primary contact.
B. Criteria:
(1) At any sampling site: pH within the range of 6.6 to 8.8, temperature 20°C (68°F) or less and total phosphorus (as P) 0.1 mg/L or less. The use-specific numeric criteria set forth in 20.6.4.900 NMAC are applicable to the designated uses listed above in Subsection A of this section.
20.6.4.407 San Juan River Basin - Perennial reaches of the Navajo and Los Pinos rivers in New Mexico.
A. Designated Uses: coldwater aquatic life, irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitat and secondary contact.
B. Criteria:
(1) In any single sample: pH within the range of 6.6 to 8.8, temperature 20°C (68°F) or less and total phosphorus (as P) 0.1 mg/L or less. The use-specific numeric criteria set forth in 20.6.4.900 NMAC are applicable to the designated uses listed above in Subsection A of this section.