When will we see water again in the Rio Grande?
El Paso, Texas — Now that spring has arrived in the Borderland, you may be wondering when water will again fill the Rio Grande.
It was 4 years ago, in 2018, when the Borderland last saw water flowing through the river this early in the year.
But since then, the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation hasn't been releasing water into the Rio Grande for Mesilla Valley and El Paso farmers until much later in the spring.
This year, the bureau is once again forecasting that the 2022 irrigation season won't start until June 1st.
That's when water will be released to Borderland farmers from Elephant Butte and Caballo Lakes near Truth or Consequences, NM.
It then takes several more days for the the river to fill up in the El Paso area.
The big reason for the later start to putting water in the Rio Grande in recent years is the megadrought that much of the Southwestern U.S. has now been dealing with for more than 20 years.
As I reported last month, a UCLA climate scientist told the New York Times that the Southwest's current megadrought, which began around the year 2000, is the driest two-decade period since at least the 9th century and researchers say that's as far back as nature's data goes.
Right now, Elephant Butte has less than one-eighth of the water it takes to fill the lake to capacity, which in turn supplies our region's farmers.
Those of us who live in the Borderland may have to get used to living most years with water in the Rio Grande for only around 3 months of the year.