Introduction
The northern regions of Mexico are experiencing contrasting storage levels in their principal dams, amidst a severe drought and heightened pressure on water resources in the Rio Bravo basin, according to data from the Rio Bravo Caucus of Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua) and the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) as of December 11, 2025.
Chihuahua’s Dam Situation
In Chihuahua, La Boquilla dam—crucial for agricultural irrigation—reports only 38.3% of its useful capacity, with a storage of 1,091 million cubic meters (Mm³), significantly below its maximum volume. Meanwhile, Francisco I. Madero dam is at 69.7% and Pico del Águila stands at 73.4%. Other dams in the state show intermediate levels: Luis L. León at 49.8%, Chihuahua at 52.6%, and El Rejón at 43.3%. This reflects limited availability for irrigation and urban use in upcoming agricultural cycles.
Durango and Coahuila Dam Situation
In Durango, San Gabriel dam reports a storage of 40.8%, below half of its useful capacity. In Coahuila, the situation is more critical in some dams. Venustiano Carranza dam barely reaches 13.3% of its volume, one of the lowest levels in the system, while Centenario stands at 27.2%. Conversely, San Miguel dam presents 74.4%, and La Fragua exceeds 100% of its useful volume due to specific operational conditions.
International Dams
On the binational front, the key dams of Rio Bravo present low storage levels according to the latest report from the IBWC between Mexico and the United States, as of December 9, 2025.
- La Amistad Dam: Located on the border between Coahuila and Texas, it reports a storage of 979.2 Mm³, equivalent to only 24.2% of its filling capacity.
- Falcón Dam: Shows a more critical situation with 377.4 Mm³ stored, which is merely 11.6% of its total capacity.
Regarding the Mexican tributaries of Rio Bravo, the IBWC records minimal flows in most monitored rivers. Río Conchos had an outflow of -0.09 cubic meters per second, while Río San Rodrigo barely reached 0.02 m³/s. Río Las Vacas and Río Escondido registered flows of 0.04 m³/s each, and Río San Diego and Río Salado showed flows of 0.53 and 0.06 m³/s, respectively.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the main dams mentioned in the article? The key dams discussed include La Boquilla, Francisco I. Madero, Pico del Águila, Luis L. León, Chihuahua, and El Rejón in Chihuahua; San Gabriel and others in Durango; Venustiano Carranza, Centenario, San Miguel, and La Fragua in Coahuila; as well as La Amistad and Falcón on the international level.
- Why are these dams significant? These dams play a crucial role in irrigation for agriculture and urban water supply, especially during upcoming agricultural cycles. The contrasting storage levels indicate varying availability of water resources in the Rio Bravo basin.
- What is the current storage situation in Chihuahua? La Boquilla dam is at 38.3% of its useful capacity, while Francisco I. Madero and Pico del Águila are at 69.7% and 73.4%, respectively. Other Chihuahua dams show intermediate levels, reflecting limited water availability for irrigation and urban use.
- How are the dams situated in Durango and Coahuila? San Gabriel dam in Durango reports 40.8% storage, below half of its useful capacity. In Coahuila, Venustiano Carranza dam is at 13.3%, one of the lowest levels, while Centenario stands at 27.2%. San Miguel dam presents 74.4%, and La Fragua exceeds 100% of its useful volume.
- What is the situation with international dams on the Rio Bravo? La Amistad dam reports 24.2% of its filling capacity, and Falcón dam shows a critical situation with 11.6% of its total capacity.
