US invests $60M to conserve Rio Grande water amid rising demand
TL/DR –
The US government plans to dedicate $60m to projects along the Rio Grande to improve resilience in the face of climate change and growing demands. The funding, the first from the Inflation Reduction Act for a basin outside the Colorado River system, will be used for various projects including capturing more stormwater runoff and improving existing infrastructure. The Rio Grande has been hit by a decades-long drought leading to record low water levels, affecting drinking water for millions and crop irrigation for thousands of farmers.
U.S. Government Allocates $60m for Rio Grande Climate Change Resilience Projects
The U.S. government is set to invest $60 million on projects along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico and West Texas. The goal is to increase resilience to climate change and escalating demands, with the first funding from the Inflation Reduction Act going out of the Colorado River system. The Colorado River has dominated news, but other communities, including Native American reservations, growing cities, and agricultural regions, are also feeling the impact of record droughts.
U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the value of water conservation, drawing on her personal experiences from Laguna Pueblo. Haaland noted that areas of the Rio Grande have dried up in recent years due to a prolonged drought, resulting in record-low water levels in the basin.
The Rio Grande, one of North America’s longest rivers, provides drinking water to millions and supports thousands of farmers. Legal battles over the river’s management have ensued over decades, with a current case pending at the U.S. Supreme Court involving New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado seeking approval for a settlement to guarantee future flexibility.
Irrigation districts in southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas will collaborate with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to develop projects to protect the river and its endangered species. These projects include capturing more stormwater runoff and improving existing infrastructure, which could save tens of thousands of acre-feet of water annually.
The Inflation Reduction Act provides $4 billion to mitigate drought in 17 western states, prioritizing the Colorado River Basin. The Act also reserves $500 million for water management and conservation projects in other basins experiencing severe, long-term drought. Plans for this funding will be announced later this year.
On the Rio Grande, ongoing drought and high dependence on groundwater pumping have decreased surface water supplies, leading to efficiency losses and wildlife habitat destruction. With increased stormwater capture and storage, officials hope to recharge aquifers and lower irrigation demands.
These efforts are already underway in the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, serving approximately 5,000 farmers in southern New Mexico. Several water-saving projects, flood protection measures, and habitat restoration initiatives have been proposed by the district to federal officials. District representatives described the efforts as “re-plumbing” the West to adapt to changing conditions, emphasizing that bold thinking is crucial to addressing the climate crisis.
—
Read More US Economic News