Whiskey’s for Drinking

The acequias of Northern New Mexico create a rich network of physical and social features that extends back through the history of Spanish New Mexico to the Moors of North Africa and the Native Americans who independently conceived of moving water through the communal irrigation systems that survive today. They also create a complex system with local agents (parciantes) creating demand for its services, external forces (precipitation and economic development, among others) creating limits on the system, and control points (topography and mayordomos) that influence its operation.

Whiskey’s for drinking, water is for fighting over–Mark Twain (allegedly)

Acequias contradict Mark Twain’s famous (and unverified) description of the role of water in  Western culture. They organize a scarce resource and allocate it among members of a small society that, in New Mexico, is recognized as a legal, quasi-governmental authority.

Michael Cox joins this blender to report on his doctoral work with the acequia systems of Taos county. He will be joined by John Paul Gonzales, a Santa Fe Complex intern and student at Santa Fe Community College. John Paul will describe work he is doing to map the La Cienega area. Michael will describe his research in Taos County and present an interactive model of the acequia network there.