March 22, 2007 | The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) named the Rio Grande one of the top ten at risk rivers in the world in a report released Monday after conducting a survey to draw attention to the problems pollution, climate change, over-extraction, dams, over-fishing, and invasive species are causing to freshwater ecosystems.

“The most dramatic impact of the crises in freshwater ecosystems is occurring in the major rivers,” said Chris Williams, the director of freshwater programs at WWF. “Water supplies are really starting to get stretched, and if action isn’t taken there could really be problems down the road.”

The second longest river in the United States, the Rio Grande begins in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, winds through New Mexico, and then runs along the bend of Texas before cutting through Mexico and emptying into the Gulf of Mexico—most of the time.

During the summer of 2001 the river dried up before it could empty into the Gulf of Mexico.

“The number one priority is to get the water back in the river,” said Williams. “The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo just needs to be re-operated.”

Along its course, the greatest threat facing the river is water extraction. More than 80 percent of the water taken from the river during its southern journey is mined for agriculture. Droughts also contribute to dry river conditions, and an increasing amount of water is being taken for municipal needs. More than ten million people live in the river’s basin, and there are four major cities along the river growing at a rate between two and four percent.

Nonnative species are also taking their toll on the river. Near the delta, saltwater fish have moved farther upstream and have replaced 32 species of native fish because of increased salinity due to a lower concentration of fresh water. Invasive salt cedar trees suck up massive amounts of water as they spread up the Rio Grande’s shores.

To help combat the problems, the WWF is educating local communities on water conservation, working to develop water saving techniques for cotton, pecan, and chili pepper farms, and moving to eradicate the water-gulping salt cedar.

The WWF chose its top ten based on studies of eight international assessments. It focused its analysis on rivers with high ecological importance affecting large human populations. More than 45 percent of the world’s population lives along river basins under water stress, according to a 2005 Center for Biological Diversity study.

Five of the rivers selected wind their way through Asia. Joining the Rio Grande on the list were the Salween-Nu, Danube, La Plata, Ganges, Indus, Nile-Lake Victoria, Murray-Darling, Mekong-Lancang, and Yangtze. The main threats include climate change, dams, navigation, over-extraction, invasive species, over-fishing, and pollution.

More than 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water around the world and more than 2.6 billion don’t have access to adequate sanitation services, Williams said. Problems in many of the world’s major rivers highlight the freshwater problems.

“The real through-line running across this report is that all these rivers need to be managed in a more optimal way,” said Williams. “They need to be managed as ecological systems, not just as a source of water for people.”

For more on the world water crisis and to read “Leaping Tiger, Drowning River,” a journey along China’s Yangtze, pick up Outside’s 30th Anniversary Special Green Issue, now on stands. Preview the issue here.

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