WTH? New Mexico Wants To Realign The Rio Grande?

New Mexico just got a $143 million dollar grant from Uncle Sam to actually change the course of the Rio Grande.

A 15 mile stretch of the Rio Grande in Socorro county's middle Rio Grande valley is getting the makeover which is actually 2 different projects.

The upper San Acacia Reach project only utilizes federally owned land. The lower San Acacia Reach project involves some privately owned land. Negotiations are underway with those land owners.

Don't worry though, this is actually a good thing. The Rio Grande used to change course fairly regularly until all the dams and levees were built in the 1900's to control the flooding.

Now, the waterways get clogged with sediment, especially after heavy rains, and the river doesn't flow as smoothly as it should. Realigning the Rio Grande will basically "open the tap" a little wider by giving the Rio more room to move around on it's own. Read more here.

The Rio Grande is sitting high in the Lower San Acacia Reach, so Reclamation wants to move the river to the lowest part of the valley. That would enable the water to move more efficiently, getting more water to Elephant Butte and beyond to Texas, which could help New Mexico meet its legal obligations under the Rio Grande Compact to deliver water to Texas. - Yahoo

This should help in a number of ways beyond supplying drinking water. It will also benefit farmers, regional wildlife and those looking to have fun at Elephant Butte ... which is getting a makeover of its own ... as the reservoir should see higher water levels once the river "opens up".