Rio Chama (USA)
The main water challenges facing the Rio Chama are particular combinations of changing physical conditions and human interventions. Hydrology in the watershed has changed significantly as a result of the construction of dams for hydropower generation and flood mitigation. An overarching concern is the Rio Grande Compact, which requires a certain amount of water from the Rio Chama to enter the Rio Grande in order to provide water to users all the way down the river. Several conflicting governance priorities complicate water management strategies throughout the watershed. Climate change has also altered the timing and quantity of water flowing through the river. One of the primary manifestations of these complex issues is the “flattening” of the hydrograph: dams have reduced flood peaks and rising temperatures have shifted the timing of high snowmelt-driven flows to earlier in spring.