US EditionRio Grande Water Crisis Imperils 15 Million in US, Mexico
Only 48% of consumed water in the Rio Grande-Bravo basin is naturally replenished, risking shortages for 15 million people and nearly 2 million acres of farmland, researchers said.
- On Nov. 20, a study led by Brian Richter found the Rio Grande–Bravo basin in crisis, supplying 15 million people while 52% of water use is unsustainable.
- Irrigated agriculture consumes the bulk of basin water, accounting for 87% of direct use with cattle‑feed crops such as alfalfa driving overconsumption, while evaporation and vegetation uptake cause more than half of overall consumption.
- Among observed impacts, farmland loss and threatened species stand out as surface water dries by June, with farmers along Pecos and Rio Conchos receiving no surface supplies, Richter said, 'A key part of this is really connecting the urban populations to what's going on out on these farms. These farmers are really struggling. A lot of them are on the brink of bankruptcy.'
- A raft of solutions is being considered across jurisdictions as Colorado water managers threaten well shutoffs and New Mexico’s voluntary fallowing program awaits U.S. Supreme Court settlement approval; researchers propose rotational fallowing and infrastructure investments.
- Across the West, researchers note a broader pattern of overuse, with the Northern Arizona University FEWSION Project linking Rio Grande declines to the Colorado River and Great Salt Lake.
63 Articles
63 Articles
A drying-up Rio Grande basin threatens water security on both sides of the border
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — One of North America’s longest rivers, the Rio Grande — or Rio Bravo as it’s called in Mexico — has a history as deep as it is long. Indigenous people have tapped it for countless generations, and it was a key artery for Spanish conquistadors centuries ago. Today, the Rio Grande-Bravo water basin is in crisis. Research published Thursday says the situation arguably is worse than challenges facing the Colorado River, anot…
Study: Rio Grande basin at serious risk from overuse of water
A new study, powered by Northern Arizona University's FEWSION Project, shows that farmers, communities and ecosystems in the Rio Grande basin are facing a severe water shortage after decades of overconsumption and drought. Without quick and decisive action, especially from farmers, the region is facing a genuine emergency.
A drying-up Rio Grande basin threatens water security on both sides of the border
Researchers have completed a full accounting of water uses and losses in the Rio Grande-Bravo basin as it faces severe shortages throughout its range in the United States and Mexico. The findings released Thursday by the World Wildlife Fund, Sustainable Waters and a team of university researchers show unsustainable use threatens water security for millions of people who rely on the binational basin. They estimate that just 48% of water consumed …
A drying-up Rio Grande basin threatens water security on both sides of the border
One of North America's longest rivers, the Rio Grande—or Rio Bravo as it's called in Mexico—has a history as deep as it is long. Indigenous people have tapped it for countless generations, and it was a key artery for Spanish conquistadors centuries ago.
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