Human disturbances such as dams regulate the Rio Grande River and mostly manage water for extending agricultural irrigation and flood control. Studies have predicted that reservoir dams may negatively influence food-chain structures. Investigating taxa communities such as secondary consumers (benthic macroinvertebrates) provides knowledge of the health of the surrounding ecosystem. While few studies exist that considered the effect of reservoir dams, we could not find any studies looking at diversion dams. More research is needed to investigate benthic macroinvertebrates within the Rio Grande and how these dam infrastructures and subsequent flow variations alter their assemblages. We used streamflow data from USGS water discharge gauges. We collected water quality, and aquatic macroinvertebrate data from above and below diversion and reservoir dams in the Rio Grande River (Abiquiu Reservoir through Leasburg Diversion Dam). This project identified macroinvertebrate taxa and evaluated abundance, size, species diversity, and feeding group. Results indicate that reservoir dams tend to negatively impact species diversity but not total abundance of macroinvertebrates. Disturbance resistant species abundance directly after reservoirs was high. Shredders tended to dominate the macroinvertebrate community before a reservoir, while Collectors and Filterers were more abundant directly after the reservoir dam. Diversion dams had less impact on macroinvertebrate assemblages and did not show the same patterns. By recognizing how common aquatic species adapt to changes and disturbances in their environment, this research will aid in future conservation actions to maintain healthy aquatic biodiversity.