An Analysis of the Hydrology of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin

Stretching almost 2,000 miles from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico, the Rio Grande (known as the Rio Bravo in Mexico) is very important socially, economically and politically for both Mexico and the U.S. In recent years, the longest drought on record has made water in the Rio Grande Basin scarce. In 2001, for the first time in recorded history, the Rio Grande failed to reach all the way to the Gulf of Mexico -- it stopped 500 feet from the shore. In this study, the authors first assess the relative magnitude and frequency of drought events in the Basin. Using GIS, a spatial analysis of the unimpaired flows and precipitation time series of the Basin is performed. This assessment will provide the basis for a basin simulation model. The authors then perform an extensive analysis of the effects of the El Ni¤o - Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation on the hydrology of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin. It is anticipated that the results of this research will provide information to water managers that will improve the effectiveness of water resources management policies for the Basin. This research is founded by the NSF fund SAHRA (Science and Technology Center to study and promote the "Sustainability of Water Resources in Semi-Arid Regions" at the University of Arizona).