Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
This National Rivers Month, we’re introducing you to two farmers whose lives are deeply connected to the Rio Grande basin, one of North America’s most threatened river basins.
For Emilio Borrego, acequia farming is his family history. Traditions passed down from his father now shape how he cares for his land. But as water becomes scarcer, he’s experimenting with different crops and practices, rediscovering the resilience built into acequia farming. Today, the Rio Grande is drying up, fast.
© Zac Shamah
© Madalen Howard/WWF-US
© Diana Cervantes/WWF-US
This National Rivers Month, we’re introducing you to two farmers whose lives are deeply connected to the Rio Grande basin, one of North America’s most threatened river basins.
For Emilio Borrego, acequia farming is his family history. Traditions passed down from his father now shape how he cares for his land. But as water becomes scarcer, he’s experimenting with different crops and practices, rediscovering the resilience built into acequia farming. Today, the Rio Grande is drying up, fast.
© Zac Shamah
© Madalen Howard/WWF-US
© Diana Cervantes/WWF-US
