The Rio Grande Crisis: How Washington’s Failure Endangers America’s Water Security

The Rio Grande, a river with centuries of history spanning from indigenous livelihoods to Spanish conquest, now faces a crisis that should set alarm bells ringing across America. Recent research exposes an uncomfortable reality: more than half of the water consumed in this vital binational basin is unsustainable, draining reservoirs and aquifers at an alarming pace. Why Is the Rio Grande Drying Up—and Who’s to Blame? Water scarcity along the Rio Grande has been brewing since the late 19th century when irrigation in Colorado's San Luis Valley first diminished snowmelt flows downstream. Today, some stretches lie dry for months. This...