The Middle Rio Grande: History and Restoration

The Middle Rio Grande, a narrow strip of oasis in the southwestern United States desert, has been altered for centuries by humans. From Native Americans to Spanish Conquistadores to American Frontier settlers, the waters of the Rio Grande have been used for irrigation and the trees of the riparian forest (bosque) have been used for building supplies. With development of the American West came managed rivers and the Rio Grande was no exception. Once a river, subjected to extremes of drought and flood, carrying a large sediment load requiring a constant shift in course, the Middle Rio Grande is currently a well-channelized river with a regulated flow. The Middle Rio Grande and its bosque are home to two endangered species while the City of Albuquerque, with the largest populated area in New Mexico, straddles the river. Several governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations have started restoration efforts along the Middle Rio Grande. At the same time, the City of Albuquerque is in the process of changing its main water supply from groundwater to surface water. Although the quantity of water that Albuquerque will use is roughly the quantity of the Colorado River diversion to the Rio Grande, the Rio Grande through Albuquerque will have lower flows. In addition, construction of a small dam and intake structure in the river is underway. With all these constraints and activities, restoration is increasingly difficult in the urbanized areas along the Middle Rio Grande.