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C 1610 valley. Therefore, any component of the aquifer system that influences movement of water within the aquifer is considered a component of the surface-water/ground-water system and is within the scope of this report. Many components of the Rio Grande/Santa Fe Group aquifer system cannot be directly measured-they can only be estimated on the basis of observation and analysis of controlled tests or existing conditions. To apply all of the techniques available to quantify these components, some simplifying assumptions must be made. Therefore, the absolute reliability of estimated values of stream/aquifer components, and estimated effects of ground-water withdrawals on flow in the Rio Grande cannot be assured. However, acquiring additional information on key components of the river/aquifer system can improve these estimates. No study can be proposed that would result in complete understanding of the river/ aquifer system. Additional information and understanding of the system will be acquired into the future. Some of this additional information will invalidate assumptions previously made. Therefore, concepts of the system need to be continually adjusted, The study elements proposed in this report are obtainable objectives that would provide a better base of understanding of the system and therefore a better quantification of the system. To prioritize the study elements outlined in the "Plan of study:' the information needs related to the components of the river/aquifer system (discussed in the "Hydrologic relations between the Rio Grande and Santa Fe Group aquifer system" section of this report) are prioritized. Information that is necessary to improve the understanding or quantification of a system component and the river/aquifer system is prioritized as essential. Information that could provide additional understanding of the system, but would not be necessary to improve the quantification of the system, is prioritized as useful. Study elements are prioritized in the same way: study elements that would provide information considered necessary to improve the quantification of the system are prioritized as essential, and those that could provide information that would add additional understanding of the system, but would not be necessary to improve the quantification of the system, are prioritized as useful. Previous Investigations Current (1995) understanding of the geohydrologic framework of the Albuquerque Basin in the Albuquerque area is described by Hawley and Haase (1992), and Hawley and others (in press). Hawley and Haase (1992, chap, III, p. 1-2) and Hawley and others (in press) list previous geologic works on which the current understanding is based. Hydrologic conditions in the Albuquerque area have been described by various authors. Bloodgood (1930), Theis (1938), and Theis and Taylor (1939) described early ground-water conditions in the middle Rio Grande Valley, and Bjorklund and Maxwell (1961) .and more recently Thorn and others (1993) described hydrologic conditions in the Albuquerque area. Ground-water levels at various times in the Albuquerque area have been reported by Bjorklund and Maxwell (1961), Titus (1961), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1979), Hudson (1982), Kelly (1982), Kues (1986; 1987), Anderholrn and Bullard (1987), Peter (1987), Summers (1992a), Thorn and others (1993), Rankin (1994), and Kues, and Garcia (1995). Reeder and others (1967) projected water-level declines from 1960 to 2000 using an analytical model. Water budgets in the vicinity of Albuquerque were described by Hansen (in press) and P.F. Frenzel (Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, written cornrnun., June 23,1995). A water budget for the Albuquerque Basin was presented by Thorn and others (1993). Gould (1995) calculated surface-water budgets for 1935,1955,1975, and 1993 by subunits in the Albuquerque Basin. A few. numerical ground-water-flow models of the Albuquerque Basin have been constructed. Kernodle and Scott (1986) and Kernodle and others (1987) constructed steady-state 4