WATER

New Mexico’s Most Important Resource

Major Sources• Rivers

– Rio Grande– Pecos River– San Juan River– Gila River– Rio Chama

• Lakes– Elephant Butte Reservoir– Caballo Reservoir– Navajo Lake– Ute Lake– Conchas Lake

• Aquifers (ground water)

How New Mexico Gets Water

Flow of Water (Water Sheds)

Water Use In New Mexico

Aquifers

Acequias

• Spanish word (stolen from Arabic) for “barmaid”.

• In all reality, acequias are ditches used for irrigation.

• In NM, they are registered bodies (meaning they can employ people and earn money).

• Led by a mayordomo or “ditch rider.”

Acequias

• They are communal , not individually owned.

• The mayordomo decides who gets water and how much water they get.– How do they come up

with this decision?

Acequias

• Mayordomo: elected by acequia members.

• Acequia members get one vote (popular vote).

• Mayordomo settles water rights disputes, and his/her word is final.– How would you settle

disputes like this?

Acequias

• All members are responsible for repairing and maintaining the acequia.

• What happens to NM agriculture – and cultural distinction – if we run out of water?

Water Crisis

• http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/25/nation/la-na-texas-water-20130126

• http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2013/06/13/32232/small-new-mexico-town-of-magdalena-runs-out-of-wat/

• http://stopthewatergrab.blogspot.com/

• http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/52269004#52269004