Rio Grande water release aims to support Bosque ecosystem

More than 650 million gallons of water have been released into the Rio Grande to combat vegetation die-off in the Bosque ecosystem. The water pulse originated at the Abiquiú Reservoir on the Rio Chama and traveled 119 miles, reaching the area north of Albuquerque on September 3.

The release aims to support struggling cottonwood trees and wildlife facing stress from low snowpack, minimal monsoon rainfall, and high temperatures. Researchers are using this temporary surge to study how the water recharges the local aquifer, which currently provides 100% of Albuquerque’s drinking and irrigation water. Understanding this process is considered vital for future water management strategies during periods of prolonged drought.