Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Many cities are confronting growing water insecurity due to increased demand fueled by rapid population growth and reduced water supplies caused by declining aquifers, drought, or mismanagement. Engineering solutions have historically enabled the Rio Grande/Bravo River to meet increased water demand in the Paso del Norte region, allowing the region’s water supply to support a large agricultural sector alongside bustling riparian cities. Yet an engineered river in an arid land faces serious challenges today: more frequent and severe droughts, reduced run-off in the watersheds feeding the river, reduced reservoir capacity due to sedimentation, impaired water quality and more will test the river’s ability to meet human and environmental demand.

This paper addresses the issue of sustainability in the Paso del Norte region of the Rio Grande/Bravo river, including the water management systems in the cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. The border river is particularly vulnerable to scarcity challenges because of reduced reservoir storage due to sedimentation and recent urban population growth. We consider the engineered river through the lens of sustainability, projecting future water availability using advanced modeling techniques, analyzing formal governance structures, and examining the current status of and future opportunities for stakeholder participation in the region. We link the Rio Grande/Bravo river management to changing conditions in the Elephant Butte reservoir and water stakeholder priorities, and we provide policy proposals to use sound science and stakeholder processes to create more sustainable outcomes in the region.