Environmental advocates gathered along the Rio Grande over the weekend demanding for stronger protections to New Mexico’s rivers and waterways as drought conditions continue to strain the state’s largest river earlier than in previous years.
The demonstration, organized by New Mexico Wild, aimed to raise public awareness about the challenges of the Rio Grande. Speakers outlined proposals for future river protection legislation and underscored ongoing initiatives to restore healthy water flows across the state.
Standing hand in hand across the Rio Grande, dozens of activists chanted, “We will protect New Mexico, and we will protect the Rio Grande,” before walking through the Bosque and onto the dry riverbed.
Among them was Cheryl Landgren, who said seeing the river in its current condition inspired her to participate. “The Rio Grande is my river, and it just hurts to see it in crisis,” Landgren said.
Speakers said the river’s declining conditions are affecting communities throughout New Mexico, not just those in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. “It’s communities all across the state. And we’re facing really a massive collision of crises where we’re not just dealing with water quantity issues. We’re not just dealing with the fact that there’s no snowpack, we’re not just dealing with rising heat, we’re not just dealing with rising demands. We’re not just dealing with poor management, we’re also dealing with water quality issues,” one speaker said.
New Mexico Wild River and Waters Program Director Tricia Snyder said worsening drought conditions underscore the need for stronger protections for the state’s waterways. “It’s only getting worse from here. We’re only expecting less water, higher temperatures, and harder times. So we have to figure out how to make that water last for as many folks as possible,” Snyder said.
Snyder urged residents to advocate for stronger river and waterway protections ahead of the 2027 legislative session. “We can shift this paradigm that we are under. It’s going to take all of us, and it’s going to take a lot of work. But we can bring the water back,” she said.
Organizers encouraged attendees to sign a petition urging lawmakers to strengthen protections for New Mexico’s rivers and waterways, saying the state’s water resources deserve better safeguards.
According to New Mexico Wild, the organization has invested more than $20 million this year in New Mexico water resources and has supported multiple water restoration projects across the state.