Local Aquifers 101: Although greater than 70% of Earth is covered by water, only about 1% is available for human use in the form of fresh surface water and subsurface groundwater. This talk will explore fresh water as one of our most important resources and provide a context for understanding groundwater in the overall water cycle. In addition, we will investigate some of the key aquifers in the Southwestern U.S. including our own aquifer system in the Mesilla Valley in southern New Mexico.