Is the Rio Grande freshwater or saltwater?

At the river's headwaters, the water is “pristine,” Ganjegunte said. By the time the river reaches El Paso, the salinity of the water is above 1,000 parts per million. Water above 1,000 parts per million is no longer considered freshwater and, while still safe to drink, is above secondary drinking water standards.



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Key Facts & Information
  • The Rio Grande is the fifth longest river in North America (1,900 miles).
  • It forms a border between Texas and Mexico.
  • The Rio Grande begins in the Rocky Mountains and flows into the Gulf of Mexico in the south.
  • The watershed of the Rio Grande is approximately 335,000 square miles.


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Who owns the Rio Grande in Texas? The United States and Mexico share the waters of the Rio Grande. The U.S.-Mexico border lies in the middle of the river from El Paso and Ju?rez to its delta at the Gulf of Mexico east of Brownsville and Matamoros in South Texas. In Mexico, the federal government owns the river water.

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It is legal to float down the Rio Grande in kayaks, canoes, rafts and other non-motorized. In and around Albuquerque there are several places where you can access the river. Most river bridges in the Albuquerque area provide access, with some walking required from the parking areas.

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The river is in decline, suffering from overuse, drought, and contentious water rights negotiations. Urban and rural border communities with poor infrastructure, known as colonias, are particularly vulnerable to the water crisis. Farmers and cities in southern Texas and northern Mexico are also affected.

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Several major drainages feed into the Rio Grande. Predominant surface water features that feed into the Rio Grande above the Otowi gage, in the Upper Rio Grande are the Red River, Rio Hondo, Pueblo de Taos, Santa Barbara, Embudo Creek, and the Rio Chama.

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