this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2024
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So I was thinking about some othere thread talking about climate change here. Reminded me that when I was a kid the RGV was a pretty big river. I don't see it often as I don't cross the border often, but it seems like its been dry or very weak for several years now. Has there been any discussion about this anywhere?

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[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

isnt most of the river taken for agriculture now?

[โ€“] Today 8 points 6 months ago

From wiki-

Dams on the Rio Grande include Rio Grande Dam, Cochiti Dam, Elephant Butte Dam, Caballo Dam, Amistad Dam, Falcon Dam, Anzalduas Dam, and Retamal Dam. In southern New Mexico and the upper portion of the Texas border segment, the river's discharge dwindles. Diversions, mainly for agricultural irrigation, have increased the natural decrease in flow such that by the time the river reaches Presidio, little or no water is left. Below Presidio, the Rio Conchos restores the flow of water.[1] Near Presidio, the river's discharge is frequently zero. Its average discharge is 178 cubic feet per second (5 m3/s), down from 945 cubic feet per second (27 m3/s) at Elephant Butte Dam. Supplemented by other tributaries, the Rio Grande's discharge increases to its maximum annual average of 3,504 cubic feet per second (99 m3/s) near Rio Grande City. Large diversions for irrigation below Rio Grande City reduce the river's average flow to 889 cubic feet per second (25 m3/s) at Brownsville and Matamoros.[5]