Conference Summary This conference brought together representatives of non-governmental organizations, agency officials, farmers, lawyers, scientists and others from both Mexico and Texas to discuss the current state of the Río Conchos. The discussions brought out a variety of perspectives, but there was a surprising amount of agreement on steps that can be taken to protect and restore this vital river basin and the rest of the Río Bravo. Dr. Luis Aboites provided the context for the discussions, by reviewing historical development and water management in the Conchos. From early indigenous settlements to an influx of Spanish missionaries, through the development of large ranches and the beginnings of irrigated agriculture, life centered around the river and its tributaries. A private Canadian engineering firm completed the La Boquilla hydroelectric dam and reservoir in the midst of the 1910 revolution. La Boquilla and subsequent reservoirs provided for the expansion of irrigated agriculture and a decent living for thousands of people. Recent years have brought growing municipalities, an increasing number of maquiladora and domestic industrial plants, severe economic challenges for farmers producing corn and basic grains and decentralization of water management authority. Many of these changes can be directly associated with neo-liberal NAFTA reforms. These changes, combined with deforestation in the headwaters of the river, which are located high in the Sierra Tarahumara, have all taken their toll on the river. Flows are now highly regulated, the river has to absorb polluted wastewater from cities and industry and the once lush riverside habitat has been cleared or dried up. The prolonged and severe drought of the last decade has compounded the troubles facing the Conchos. And, of course, management of the Conchos is at the center of the current 1944 Treaty dispute between the United States and Mexico. Yet, even in the face of these challenges, participants offered many ideas about how to protect and restore the Río Conchos and the Río Bravo, a river system that remains the soul of this beautiful desert heartland. (For details, see Recommendations.) Here is just a sample of the "lluvia de ideas" produced at the conference: Participants focused on how to help agriculture in the Conchos basin remain strong and viable, but use less water. Programs such as PROCAMPO Ecológico-in which farmers might receive compensation for reducing water use and restoring habitat instead of planting crops with low economic value-were discussed extensively. Irrigators from the Delicias area noted that they had already made many improvements to the efficiency of their operations, but acknowledged that more could be done with adequate resources or even if current resources were more readily accessible to individual farmers. Ideas were offered about how to support the efforts of Tarahumara ejidos that are trying to protect their forests from over-cutting and how the indigenous communities could be compensated for the "ecological services" their forests provide for the headwaters of the river. There were many ideas about restoring riverside habitat and keeping the river clean and healthy. Participants also recognized the need to consider both groundwater and surface water in developing water management plans and regulations. And, of course, there was full understanding of the reality that "drought" for this region may actually be a more "normal" condition than plentiful rainfall. Participants agreed that drought management plans were desperately needed throughout all parts of the Río Bravo basin, as well as in the Conchos. Not surprisingly, there were also many ideas about what Texas and the U.S. could do to better manage the U.S. portion of the river. Some desirable goals, such as reconnecting the upper and lower parts of the Río Bravo by re-operating the large dams in New Mexico are sure to face stiff political resistance, but they must be investigated. As Dr. Aboites' historical review demonstrated-times change, economies change and rivers change. The challenge is to see what changes are around the corner and to make the best decisions possible in order to avoid a permanent water crisis. The choices won't be easy-and even when the choices are made, large sums of money will be necessary to implement them. But if we are to provide future generations with the advantages both countries have so far enjoyed from the Río Bravo system, as well as preserve its environmental integrity, the choices and investments must be made now.