Water scarcity is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the western United States, where prolonged drought, warming temperatures, and reduced snowpack are straining rivers that support both people and ecosystems. The Rio Grande, a lifeline for millions of people and home to endangered fish and forests, is experiencing especially severe stress. Water demands for agriculture, urban areas, and interstate water agreements often leave little for the river itself, resulting in dry riverbeds and degraded habitats. This project brings together scientists, conservation groups, and water managers to answer a critical question: how can we sustain river ecosystems with much less water? This will be accomplished by testing when and how to release limited water to benefit species and ecosystems while meeting human needs. The project will help chart a path toward a more resilient future for rivers in dry regions. The project also provides education and hands-on experiences for students from middle school to graduate researchers, ensuring the next generation of scientists and citizens is engaged in solving real-world environmental problems. The Rio Grande in New Mexico is one of the most heavily managed rivers in the western US. This project will study how a 280-kilometer stretch of this region is affected by different water flow patterns, especially those designed to mimic natural spring floods, affect fish, plants, soil, and carbon storage in the river and its floodplain.