Kagi AI Summary:
The failure of the El Vado dam in New Mexico has disrupted the water supply for the Albuquerque region, forcing the city and nearby farmers to rely on finite groundwater resources. The dam, which has been collecting irrigation water for nearly a century, is suffering from structural issues that have caused it to be out of commission for the past three summers. This has threatened the water supply for both agriculture and the growing Albuquerque metropolitan area, which had previously reduced its groundwater reliance by importing surface water from the dam. With the dam's future uncertain, the region is struggling to balance its limited water resources and find alternative storage solutions. The challenges facing the El Vado dam highlight the broader water infrastructure issues affecting communities across the drought-stricken American West as climate change exacerbates water scarcity.