The challenge

Global climate change is having a tremendous impact in the Rio Grande watershed. Average temperatures in the Rio Grande Basin are increasing at a rate of 0.7 degrees Fahrenheit per decade--a rate approximately twice the global average (Llewellyn & Vaddey 2013). These temperatures are pushing the Rio Grande forest systems past an ecological threshold. This transformation will in turn have dramatic implications for downstream water users. The Rio Grande and its tributaries provide water to about half of New Mexico’s population, including the downstream communities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe and surrounding agricultural areas (Benson et al 2014).

Our collaborative

There are important social-ecological research questions in the watershed, that provide a unique opportunity for the University of New Mexico to develop an ongoing, transdisciplinary research collaborative involving UNM faculty, students at all levels of education, as well as community members and stakeholders.

This project is in its initial stages and is part of the UNM’s Grand Challenge in Sustainable Water Resources. If you are a student, faculty or community member interested in participating, please contact Melinda Morgan.