Why is the Rio Grande so special?
The Rio Grande begins at its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado, flows through New Mexico, and forms the international boundary between Texas and Mexico before flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande Basin includes many different habitats from the mountains and gorges of the upper reaches of the river to the deserts near El Paso, the diverse biota of Big Bend National Park, and coastal barrier islands near the river’s mouth. What are the issues along the Rio Grande? Historically, the waters of the Rio Grande flowed into the Gulf of Mexico. However, in recent years intermittent and low flows have occurred below the Elephant Butte dam. Competing uses such as irrigation and municipal water demand, increasing human population, drought conditions, and transboundary issues make the management issues of this binational resource complex. Along with water quantity, other important issues in the Rio Grande Basin include threatened and endangered species, water qual
