How did Pueblo Indian ancestors use water from the Rio Grande basin?

Ancestors of the Pueblo Indians utilized the Rio Grande basin primarily to support their agricultural way of life. Since prehistoric times, these groups practiced irrigation to cultivate crops in the river bottoms.21

By settling along the river and its tributaries, they were able to reliably grow corn (maize) and cotton in irrigated fields. This access to water was a critical component of their subsistence strategy, as it allowed them to maintain permanent settlements in an otherwise arid environment where precipitation was often unpredictable. While they also engaged in hunting and gathering, the irrigation of river-bottom lands provided a stable foundation for their traditional culture and economy.12