World Wildlife Fund

Rio Grande / Rio Bravo

Rio Grande/Rio Bravo river basin.
© WWF/David LAUER READ

Facts

• Called the Rio Grande in the U.S. and the Rio Bravo in Mexico, the river rises in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado and flows 1,885 miles through New Mexico, Texas and Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico.
• The inflow from the Rio Conchos, a primary tributary, accounts for 70 to 90 percent of the water in the portion of the river below Big Bend.

Conservation Issues

• In 2001, for the first time in recorded history, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo failed to reach the Gulf of Mexico. Over-exploitation of water resources is the most serious problem facing the basin. Despite water scarcity, per capita consumption rates are among the highest in the U.S.
• Hundreds of dams and thousands of miles of canals disrupt the river and divert water to support the agricultural industry. Inefficiencies in irrigation systems waste up to 40 percent of water, totaling billions of gallons annually.
• Consistently low water levels increase salinization and worsen pollution in the river. The river has lost half of its native fish, and many other species have also gone extinct or are endangered.

What the Partnership Will Do

• Help ensure the flows of the river to support ecosystems in selected reaches.
• Raise awareness of the conservation project through a partnership with local youth hostels and Fundaciin Coca-Cola.
• Partner with Coca-Cola bottler ARCA to strengthen river management bodies in Mexico.