Disappearing Rio Grande

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Why Follow the Rio Grande

by Colin McDonald | June 20, 2014

The Rio Grande is disappearing. Demand for water is growing as average temperatures rise faster than they ever have in the past 11,000 years. The water that remains is being fought over by the countries and states that agreed to share the river. At the same time, a border fence is being built along its banks.

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While making his way to the Gulf of Mexico, Colin will be periodically activating a device that uses satellite technology to share his current location. Use this map to see where Colin and Erich traveled on this day.

Check-In Time of Check-In (CST) Latitude Longitude
#1 9:38 a.m. 29.80978 -101.5524

While making his way to the Gulf of Mexico, Colin will be periodically activating a device that uses satellite technology to share his current location. Use this map to see where Colin and Erich traveled on this day.

Check-In Time of Check-In (CST) Latitude Longitude
#1 2:00 p.m. 29.80472 -101.55051
#2 9:59 a.m. 29.78127 -101.75916

While making his way to the Gulf of Mexico, Colin will be periodically activating a device that uses satellite technology to share his current location. Use this map to see where Colin and Erich traveled on this day.

Check-In Time of Check-In (CST) Latitude Longitude
#1 3:57 p.m. 29.78134 -101.75916
#2 3:00 p.m. 29.78766 -101.7858
#3 1:14 p.m. 29.80718 -101.84967
#4 10:19 a.m. 29.79707 -101.96091
#5 8:04 a.m. 29.80246 -102.02139

About

The Rio Grande has been the lifeblood of the valleys and civilizations it flowed through for more than 3,000 years. As cities and farms suck it dry and a warming climate makes it evaporate faster, the river's future has never been more uncertain. Reporter Colin McDonald and photojournalist Erich Schlegel are traveling the length of the Rio Grande, interviewing those who depend on and control it, taking photos and videos, and cataloging the chemistry and biology of the river from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico.

Their work will be uploaded from the banks of the river via satellite and shared here as they spend seven months on this 1,900-mile journey.

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