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The Rio Grande Basin is a highly managed system that has been significantly altered by human activities, including river channelization and the construction of storage reservoirs, diversion dams, canals, and drains. The basin is subject to a complex set of laws and regulations, including federal, international, interstate, and state laws. Meeting the competing needs of all water users in the basin requires navigating this complex matrix and the collaboration of water managers.

There are numerous players involved in managing the Rio Grande Basin, including:

• Federal agencies: United States Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
• State agencies: New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (OSE), New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC), and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
• Tribal governments: Pueblos of Cochiti, Santo Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, and Sandia
• Local governments: City of Albuquerque and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD)
• Non-governmental organizations: Audubon New Mexico and the WildEarth Guardians

The Rio Grande Basin is home to a complex system of storage dams and diversion dams, including:

• Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir
• Caballo Dam and Reservoir
• El Vado Dam and Reservoir
• Abiquiu Dam and Reservoir
• Cochiti Dam and Reservoir
• Angostura Diversion Dam
• Isleta Diversion Dam
• San Acacia Diversion Dam

The Pueblo Indians have diverted water from the Rio Grande for irrigation since time immemorial. The Pueblos have claims to past and present water uses and future water needs for all purposes, but none of those claims have ever been fully quantified.

New Mexico follows the doctrine of prior appropriation, but has not historically administered water rights in priority. The water rights in the Middle Rio Grande have not been adjudicated.

The MRGCD is a political subdivision of the state of New Mexico formed to alleviate flooding, reclaim waterlogged land, and provide irrigation to farmlands in the Middle Rio Grande Valley.

The Rio Grande Compact apportions Rio Grande flows among Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. The compact is intended to protect water uses in place in 1938, but does not account for the Pueblos' water rights.

The Rio Grande silvery minnow is listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA requires federal agencies to consult with the FWS to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species.

Climate change is projected to decrease surface water supplies in the Rio Grande Basin. In 50 years, flows in the Rio Grande are projected to be 25% less than today.

The DOI has appointed a Federal Assessment Team to assess the feasibility of resolving the 6 MRG Pueblos water right claims through a negotiated settlement process.

Balancing competing water needs in the Rio Grande Basin requires collaboration and creative solutions to changing conditions and priorities. It is essential to consider the physical alteration of the Rio Grande and the imposition of overlapping authorities and laws.