ABQ Times

Enrique Lamadrid and José Rivera, both emeritus professors from The University of New Mexico, have released a book titled "Water for the People: The Acequia Heritage of New Mexico in a Global Context." Published by UNM Press in 2023, the book explores the cultural and historical significance of acequias, traditional water management systems with roots in Spanish and Indigenous traditions.

In February, Project Muse from Johns Hopkins University Press featured a review and excerpt from the book. Reviewer Michael Holleran noted that the book is "written as both history and advocacy," emphasizing its socio-technical perspective where community processes are prioritized over the physical artifacts of water delivery.

The collaboration between Lamadrid and Rivera began after their participation in the Tribunal de las Aguas of Valencia celebration in Spain in 2014. During this event, twenty-two delegates from New Mexico were invited to honor the New Mexico Acequia Association with a Medal of Honor for defending acequia water rights. Rivera remarked on this experience, stating, “This award and our attendance at the Water Court session placed New Mexico and our heritage on a world stage.”

Following their return to New Mexico, Lamadrid compiled presentations from Valencia for a special issue of Green Fire Times. In 2020, UNM Press encouraged them to expand these works into an anthology featuring 25 essays about acequia culture worldwide. This includes regions such as northern Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Spain, the Middle East, Nepal, and the Philippines. By incorporating global perspectives alongside those from New Mexico, the authors aim to underscore the value and meaning of acequias within a broader context.

Acequias represent more than irrigation canals; they embody a way of life reliant on community cooperation. These systems involve practices like annual ditch cleanings or “la limpia” and rituals emphasizing that “water is life.” Lamadrid commented on water ownership issues globally: “Most of the world’s water is owned by corporations and nations who dictate its use... In a few places like New Mexico, people still have a say in how their most important resource is managed.”

The authors intended to present these stories informally yet informatively to engage readers as if conversing with knowledgeable friends. They particularly hope to reach young people in New Mexico to educate them about local "Water Defenders" and the resilience of “Las Acequias.”

For further details about "Water for the People," interested readers can visit UNM Press.