In the 2012 President's Budget Request, the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is terminated. As a result, all resources, databases, tools, and applications within this web site will be removed on January 15, 2012. For more information, please refer to the NBII Program Termination page.
Description:Large falcon, medium-sized hawk. Pale brown back and markings. Whitish chest with brown spots and bars. Dark mustache mark on face. Dark ear patch. Long pointed wings. Dark patch in "armpits."
Photo: Red rocks recreation area, Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico Image Credit: Annette Olson, NBII Digital Image Library
The southwestern state of New Mexico, nicknamed the "Land of Enchantment," is bordered by Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, as well as the Mexican States of Chihuahua and Sonora.
Nineteen Pueblos, as well as three other Native Culture groups, are part of the rich history of New Mexico.
Water is an important resource for New Mexico's arid ecosystems. The major river basins of New Mexico, as described by the USGS National Water Information System, include the Arkansas River Basin, Gila River Basin, Mimbres River Basin, Pecos River Basin, Rio Grande River Basin, San Juan River Basin, and Tularosa Valley Basin.
To find out more about regional issues such as wildlife disease, invasive species, fire, and water and drought, including links to state-specific resources, visit the SWIN Regional Themes page.
To find out about geospatial products, databases, and other information for New Mexico and the Southwest, visit the SWIN Live Maps and Data page.
Rio Grande River Basin
Rio Grande River [Photo:Texas Commission on Environmental Quality]
The Rio Grande begins at its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado, flows through New Mexico, and forms the international boundary between Texas and Mexico before flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande Basin includes many different habitats from the mountains and gorges of the upper reaches of the river to the deserts near El Paso, the diverse biota of Big Bend National Park, and coastal barrier islands near the river's mouth.
IMAGE:
Map of the Rio Grande River Basin [Image: NBII CSWGCIN]
What are the issues along the Rio Grande?
Historically, the waters of the Rio Grande flowed into the Gulf of Mexico. However, in recent years intermittent and low flows have occurred below the Elephant Butte dam. Competing uses such as irrigation and municipal water demand, increasing human population, drought conditions, and transboundary issues make the management issues of this binational resource complex. Along with water quantity, other important issues in the Rio Grande Basin include threatened and endangered species, water quality degradation, and exotic species introductions.
![Rio Grande River [Photo:Texas Commission on Environmental Quality]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/nbii/20120113233813im_/http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_25520_1888_6993_43/http%3B/cbi-lap7.cbi.cr.usgs.gov%3B7097/publishedcontent/publish/geographic/southwest/swin_rio_grande_river_basin/swin_rio_grande_basin_highlight__narrow__1.jpg)
