Bear with me, here. We at Texas Monthly are asking you, current and future readers, to read a very long story. It's called "The War for the Rio Grande." It's by writer Jack Herrera and photographer Jordan Vonderhaar. It is a complicated narrative, involving ecology, international politics, violence, physics, greed, and human thirst. It begins in an idyllic setting in Colorado, travels through New Mexico and along the border of Texas and Mexico and ends—well, we're not quite sure. I think you'll be stunned to find out where the water goes, where it disappears entirely and where it recharges along the way. And why the river is in crisis. The river is long. The story is long. At a time when it is very difficult to get people to sit with a story (or put it down and come back to it), we are asking you to commit. No publishing organization takes that request lightly in 2026. I think this story is worth your time. I know it's worth publishing. And, at the risk of seeming like a huckster, it is itself worth the price of a subscription to Texas Monthly. Texas Monthly gives life to ideas in every which way there is, but we will never abandon our mission to serve those of you who want excellence in reporting and narrative and are willing to commit time to experience it. Before this post itself gets too long, I want to make a couple of promises: We will always make stories that will change the way you see the land and the people around you (even if you're not reading, watching, or listening to us in Texas). We will make stories you will want to talk about with your friends. This is one of those stories, and so many more are on the way. https://lnkd.in/ge5vZ7FK
Aimee Gabay
3w
It’s rare but wonderful to find long-form narrative journalism these days - even more so when it brings a vital topic like water so vividly to life. Incredible work!
Adam Bruns
3w
You will want to bookmark this for reference because of so many tributaries of facts. For example, an underplayed aspect I found in one of the story's excellent slide show widgets is that pecans soak up a lot of water per year (70 billion gallons), but alfalfa needs exactly 7.5 times that amount.
Bill Cole
3w
As a subscriber to Texas Monthly, I had an early opportunity to read this extensive narrative, and was surprised to learn that I had been so ignorant of the water uses, diversions and health of the Rio Grande system. Thanks for the article and for posting the link.
This story stopped me in my tracks at the grocery store checkout counter. I'd seen the Colorado River headlines and knew of El Paso's desalination and water recycle efforts but never knew the whole story. Fantastic article.
Definitely a hot topic at the 'Water in the Desert' Conference hosted by Borderlands Research Institute & Dept. of Natural Resource Sciences, Sul Ross State University this past February. Dr. Louis Harveson and Associates are highly involved and versed in all aspects of this issue. Opportunities in abundance for all interested in donating support.
Will definitely read this. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Would have missed it, otherwise. Water Is Life. We should all care more about this precious resource 🙏🏾
What an incedible piece of work on a subject that affects 15 million people yet no one is talking about it. Thanks for allowing this story to be told but don't let it stop here. Follow up to make sure something is done to address this issue.
Sara Button
3w
Was pleased to get this issue in the mail a couple days ago. Ripped right to and through the Rio stories. Excellent reporting.
I can't wait to read this. I'm in Las Cruces, NM, and for most of the year, the Rio Grande is a sand bar here.
This story is history book/movie material and a masterclass in digital media