The Intermountain West Joint Venture and Water 4 are pleased to present a new video highlighting the Rio Grande corridor in Colorado’s San Luis Valley and in Central New Mexico. Called “The Common Thread: People and the Rio Grande,” the video explores the importance of looking across boundaries to conserve the working landscapes that help protect the lifeblood of the region.

Wetlands along the Rio Grande and throughout the Intermountain West are increasingly scarce, with only 2 percent of this historical range remaining. These habitats are typically associated with irrigated agriculture and occur on working ranches and farms. Keeping water connected to the land is a key way to protect our natural resources. Farmers and ranchers, grassroots organizations, and the federal and state agencies responsible for managing our natural resources recognize this urgent need in both urban and rural communities along the Rio Grande Corridor. Connected landscapes aren’t just about natural ecosystems; they’re about communities, economies, and future generations.

This video is the second in a video series exploring the Rio Grande and its importance to people, economies, wildlife, and migratory birds. The first video, “The Fragile Flyway: Conserving the Rio Grande,” can be viewed below.