A Thornburg-funded study finds that 52% of annual water use across the Rio Grande-Bravo basin is unsustainable, with New Mexico having lost 71% of its reservoir storage since 2002.
A major new study, funded in part by the Thornburg Foundation and released on Nov. 20, provides the first full accounting of water consumption across the entire Rio Grande–Bravo basin. The findings reveal a systemic crisis, with 52% of annual use being unsustainable, ultimately draining finite reservoirs and aquifers faster than they can be replenished.
While this unsustainable use threatens water security for millions across the Southwest, the impacts are acutely felt in New Mexico. The state has lost 71% of its reservoir storage since 2002, and water scarcity has reduced irrigated farmland by 36% along the Rio Grande. This new data crystallizes the urgent need for basin-wide collaboration, offering a critical roadmap to rebalance our water budget and build resilience for New Mexico's communities, agriculture and ecosystems.