diff --git a/alembic/versions/f1a2b3c4d5e6_add_nma_formation_zone_to_thing.py b/alembic/versions/f1a2b3c4d5e6_add_nma_formation_zone_to_thing.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b9cce433
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/f1a2b3c4d5e6_add_nma_formation_zone_to_thing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+"""Add nma_formation_zone to Thing.
+
+Revision ID: f1a2b3c4d5e6
+Revises: f3b4c5d6e7f8
+Create Date: 2026-03-01 00:00:00.000000
+"""
+
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy import inspect
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = "f1a2b3c4d5e6"
+down_revision: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = "f3b4c5d6e7f8"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    """Upgrade schema."""
+    bind = op.get_bind()
+    inspector = inspect(bind)
+    if inspector.has_table("thing"):
+        columns = {col["name"] for col in inspector.get_columns("thing")}
+        if "nma_formation_zone" not in columns:
+            op.add_column(
+                "thing",
+                sa.Column("nma_formation_zone", sa.String(length=25), nullable=True),
+            )
+    if inspector.has_table("thing_version"):
+        columns = {col["name"] for col in inspector.get_columns("thing_version")}
+        if "nma_formation_zone" not in columns:
+            op.add_column(
+                "thing_version",
+                sa.Column("nma_formation_zone", sa.String(length=25), nullable=True),
+            )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    """Downgrade schema."""
+    bind = op.get_bind()
+    inspector = inspect(bind)
+    if inspector.has_table("thing_version"):
+        columns = {col["name"] for col in inspector.get_columns("thing_version")}
+        if "nma_formation_zone" in columns:
+            op.drop_column("thing_version", "nma_formation_zone")
+    if inspector.has_table("thing"):
+        columns = {col["name"] for col in inspector.get_columns("thing")}
+        if "nma_formation_zone" in columns:
+            op.drop_column("thing", "nma_formation_zone")
diff --git a/db/thing.py b/db/thing.py
index 8340de81..8283bdc4 100644
--- a/db/thing.py
+++ b/db/thing.py
@@ -134,6 +134,11 @@ class Thing(
         "This indicates the target formation for the well, not the full stratigraphic column. "
         "For detailed depth-interval stratigraphy, see formation_associations.",
     )
+    nma_formation_zone: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(
+        String(25),
+        nullable=True,
+        comment="Raw FormationZone value from legacy WellData (NM_Aquifer).",
+    )
     # TODO: should this be required for every well in the database? AMMP review
     is_suitable_for_datalogger: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(
         nullable=True,
diff --git a/schemas/thing.py b/schemas/thing.py
index 9f2a084e..7c3214dc 100644
--- a/schemas/thing.py
+++ b/schemas/thing.py
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ class CreateWell(CreateBaseThing, ValidateWell):
     well_pump_type: WellPumpType | None = None
     is_suitable_for_datalogger: bool | None
     formation_completion_code: FormationCode | None = None
+    nma_formation_zone: str | None = None
 
 
 class CreateSpring(CreateBaseThing):
@@ -248,6 +249,7 @@ class WellResponse(BaseThingResponse):
     construction_notes: list[NoteResponse] = []
     permissions: list[PermissionHistoryResponse]
     formation_completion_code: FormationCode | None
+    nma_formation_zone: str | None
 
     @field_validator("well_purposes", mode="before")
     def populate_well_purposes_with_strings(cls, well_purposes):
@@ -409,6 +411,7 @@ class UpdateWell(UpdateThing, ValidateWell):
     well_casing_diameter: float | None = None  # in inches
     well_casing_depth: float | None = None  # in feet
     well_casing_materials: list[str] | None = None
+    nma_formation_zone: str | None = None
 
 
 class UpdateSpring(UpdateThing):
diff --git a/tests/test_thing.py b/tests/test_thing.py
index 87a016c0..f60a32f7 100644
--- a/tests/test_thing.py
+++ b/tests/test_thing.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 from main import app
 from schemas import DT_FMT
 from schemas.location import LocationResponse
-from schemas.thing import ValidateWell
+from schemas.thing import UpdateWell, ValidateWell
 from tests import (
     client,
     override_authentication,
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ def test_validate_hole_depth_casing_depth():
         ValidateWell(hole_depth=100.0, well_casing_depth=110.0)
 
 
+def test_update_well_allows_nma_formation_zone():
+    payload = UpdateWell(nma_formation_zone="FZ-001")
+    assert payload.nma_formation_zone == "FZ-001"
+
+
 # this is not a valid test because measuring_point_height is not related to hole_depth
 # def test_validate_mp_height_hole_depth():
 #     with pytest.raises(
diff --git a/transfers/well_transfer.py b/transfers/well_transfer.py
index 48186f6e..17b98026 100644
--- a/transfers/well_transfer.py
+++ b/transfers/well_transfer.py
@@ -439,6 +439,7 @@ def _add_formation_zone(self, row, well, formations):
         formation_code = row.FormationZone
         if formation_code:
             formation_code = formation_code.strip()
+            well.nma_formation_zone = formation_code
             if formation_code in formations:
                 # Formation exists: Set association
                 well.formation_completion_code = formations[
@@ -1325,6 +1326,7 @@ def _step_parallel_complete(
         if formation_code:
             formation_code = formation_code.strip() if formation_code else None
             if formation_code:
+                well.nma_formation_zone = formation_code
                 if formation_code in local_formations:
                     well.formation_completion_code = local_formations[
                         formation_code