Report: Future Scenario Planning for Drought and River Drying in the Middle Rio Grande
January 30, 2026
On October 28-29, 2025, the University of New Mexico Accelerating Resilience Innovations in
Drylands (ARID) Institute held a Future Scenario Planning Workshop for Drought and River Drying in the
Middle Rio Grande (MRG). Over the two days, approximately 85 participants convened to consider and
explore the implications of the probable climate future on water resources, ecosystem function, indicator
species, and human water uses in the region.
The workshop was held with funding support from the Thornburg Foundation, Valencia Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. The workshop planning team included members from ARID, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Valencia Soil & Water Conservation District, and Connecting Visions.
The workshop report summarizes the presentations, discussions, and strategies developed over the two-day workshop.
Workshop participants at a field trip at Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area.
