Partnering for a Better Future in the Rio Grande Basin

 

/Madalen Howard, Freshwater Communications Specialist/

/ December 18, 2025 /

Originating in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and flowing through New Mexico and Texas, the Rio Grande-Rio Bravo basin serves as a vital ecological and cultural lifeline for the American West, sustaining diverse ecosystems and shaping the identities of Indigenous, Hispanic, and border communities for millennia. A new study co-authored by Sustainable Waters and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found that more than half of all water consumed in the basin (52%) is unsustainable. Water is being pulled from reservoirs, aquifers, and the river itself faster than nature can replace it, causing prolonged dry stretches along the river, diminishing farmland, and growing conflict between states and nations that share its resources.

In 2024, Texas farmers lost $500 million due to irrigation shortages. Colorado has lost 18% of farmland, New Mexico 36%, and the Pecos sub-basin in New Mexico and Texas 49% since 2000. Farmers have long cared for our lands, and it’s essential that we invest in opportunities that support agricultural communities and strengthen local ecosystems.

WWF is partnering to pilot solutions that balance farmers’ needs with the river’s survival. In Colorado, WWF supports Trout Unlimited’s “winter flows program,” where farmers voluntarily lease unused water to maintain winter river flows critical for trout spawning. Traditionally, irrigation canals shut off after harvest, leaving riverbeds dry during these vital months. Farmers receive compensation while fish, wildlife, and downstream communities benefit from healthier ecosystems. These efforts have restored critical winter flows in stretches of the Rio Grande.

WWF is also collaborating with the University of New Mexico, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and New Mexico Office of the State Engineer to survey farmers in the Middle Rio Grande to help align farming needs with mounting water supply pressures.

Farmers alone cannot ensure sustainable water use; the region needs industries, policymakers, and communities to work together for a secure water future. The new basin-wide research makes clear that action and investment can’t wait. The Rio Grande embodies the resilience of the American West, and it’s a legacy we can’t risk losing.

The Reservoir Center is proud to support changemakers supporting a future where smart, sustainable water use helps its ecosystems flourish while meeting the demands of local communities.

Read additional insights in WWF’s blog.