An initiative of the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder

New Mexico and Rio Grande Water Journalism Project

We've expanded our support for water journalism in the Southwest.

Supported by the Thornburg Foundation and the Water Funder Initiative

Project announcements

New Mexico and Rio Grande Journalism Project

This page explains how journalists can apply to The Water Desk for funding to support their coverage of water issues connected to New Mexico and the Rio Grande. We will...

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Stories and reports

Amid a withering drought, New Mexico leaders struggle to plan for life with less...

New Mexico faces tough choices as a dire and historic drought continues and the Rio Grande is unable to give everyone what they want or need.

In New Mexico, Partners Collaborate to End Siege from Megafires

Initiative in the Rio Grande basin intends to thwart catastrophic wildfires that wreck watersheds.

Once a rich desert river, the Gila struggles to keep flowing

Population growth, agricultural withdrawals and climate change have badly diminished the river and threaten its future.

Special Report: Colorado, New Mexico struggle to save the blistered Rio Grande, with lessons...

Cities in New Mexico and Colorado are juggling water scarcity concerns over the Rio Grande.

Grantee stories

Amid a withering drought, New Mexico leaders struggle to plan for life with less...

New Mexico faces tough choices as a dire and historic drought continues and the Rio Grande is unable to give everyone what they want or need.

In New Mexico, Partners Collaborate to End Siege from Megafires

Initiative in the Rio Grande basin intends to thwart catastrophic wildfires that wreck watersheds.

Once a rich desert river, the Gila struggles to keep flowing

Population growth, agricultural withdrawals and climate change have badly diminished the river and threaten its future.

Special Report: Colorado, New Mexico struggle to save the blistered Rio Grande, with lessons...

Cities in New Mexico and Colorado are juggling water scarcity concerns over the Rio Grande.

A century of federal indifference left generations of Navajo homes without running water

A new pipeline will provide running water to some of the 30 to 40% of Navajo Nation residents who still live without it in their homes.

New Mexico and Rio Grande data visualizations

Data viz: Elephant Butte Reservoir levels

Last update: September 21, 2022 Percent of total capacity Source: US Bureau of Reclamation

Data viz: Navajo Lake levels

Last update: September 21, 2022 Percent of total capacity Source: US Bureau of Reclamation

Map: Rio Grande drought tracker

This map depicts data from the National Drought Mitigation Center. Drought intensity categories are based on numerous indicators and local reports from more than 350 expert observers around the...

Map: New Mexico drought tracker

This map depicts data from the National Drought Mitigation Center. Drought intensity categories are based on numerous indicators and local reports from more than 350 expert observers around the...

Map: New Mexico monthly precipitation

This map shows total rain and snowfall in the New Mexico every month from 1981 to the present. The map's color scale runs from white (no precipitation), to blue (significant precipitation) to red (intense precipitation)....

Related multimedia

Photos and videos: Rio Grande near San Antonio, New Mexico, August 2022

This page features drone-captured photos and videos of the Rio Grande near San Antonio, New Mexico. Located in the center of the state, the village of San Antonio has fewer...

Photos and videos: Rio Grande near Fort Craig, New Mexico, August 2022

This page features drone-captured photos and videos of the Rio Grande near Fort Craig, New Mexico Established in 1854, Fort Craig was the site of the largest Civil War battle...

Photos: Heron Lake, New Mexico, August 2022

This page features ground-based photos of Heron Lake, a reservoir that stores water for the San Juan-Chama Project in northern New Mexico. Located along Willow Creek, near its confluence with...

Photos and videos: Elephant Butte Reservoir, August 2022

This page features drone-captured and ground-based photos and videos of Elephant Butte Reservoir, along the Rio Grande near Truth or Consequences, N.M. Elephant Butte Dam, completed in 1916, was built...

Photos and videos: Rio Grande Gorge, August 2022

This page features ground-based and drone-captured images and videos of the Rio Grande Gorge, near Taos, N.M. The Rio Grande Gorge is a striking canyon up to 800 feet deep...