Alarming drought in Sinaloa, dams at historic lows
Never in the hydro-agricultural history of Sinaloa has there been such a low level in the dam system at this time of year.
AGRICULTURE
Jans De La Vega
3/5/20252 min read
Sinaloa faces an unprecedented water crisis with the state 's 11 dams at 10.8% of their conservation capacity , the lowest level in history (as of this date) with a shortage of rainfall and low reserves in the groundwater .
Agricultural production , supply to the population and ecosystem recovery are at risk for the 20 municipalities and the basins of the 11 rivers.
Currently, the dams store 1,708.6 million cubic meters (mm³), with a general extraction of 181.1 m³/s and contributions of just 11.8 m³/s.
The difference with the same date last year is -1,243.5 mm³, and compared to the historical average, the deficit amounts to -5,294.7 mm³.
In 2020, the dams were at 66.5% of their capacity ; in 2021, at 26.6%; in 2022, at 29%; in 2023, at 46.2%, and in 2024, at 24.4%. The decline has been constant and alarming.
When the autumn-winter 2024-2025 agricultural cycle began on October 1, 2024, the dams were at 31.8%, with 4,999.5 mm³. Since then, extraction has drastically reduced its volumes.
The situation directly affects the Sinaloa countryside , which depends on water from the dams , putting the production of grains and vegetables at risk , which could translate into million-dollar losses .
In addition, the water supply for the communities is also compromised; if the drought persists, the distribution of the resource could be affected in cities such as Culiacán , Guasave and Los Mochis and rural communities in the 20 municipalities, mainly Choix, El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Badiraguato and Cisalá.
If the trend continues, the state could face more severe restrictions on water use, affecting not only agriculture but also human consumption and industry.
The current state of the main dams
Luis Donaldo Colosio (Huites, Choix): 3.1 %
Miguel Hidalgo (The Strong): 12.2 %
Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez (El Fuerte): 13.7%
Gustavo Diaz Ordaz (Bacurato, Sinaloa): 19.2 %
Guillermo Blake Aguilar (Sinaloa municipality): 20.8%
Eustaquio Buelna (Salvador Alvarado): 16.5%
Adolfo López Mateos (Badiraguato): 6.8%
Sanalona ( Culiacan ): 21.3 %
Juan Guerrero Alcocer (Culiacan): 12.2%
Jose Lopez Portillo (Cosala): 10.3%
Aurelio Benassini (Elota): 29.4%
