Two UNM emeriti professors explore acequia heritage in 'Water for the People'

Enrique Lamadrid, distinguished professor emeritus of Spanish in the department of Spanish & Portuguese, and José Rivera, professor emeritus of community and regional planning, both from The University of New Mexico, released their book Water for the People: The Acequia Heritage of New Mexico in a Global Context in 2023, published by UNM Press.

In February, Project Muse a publication from Johns Hopkins University Press, featured a review and excerpt from the book to highlight its contribution to history, cultural preservation and technological significance.

"This book is written as both history and advocacy, in pursuit of a similar designation for New Mexico's acequias and more broadly for their appreciation and understanding," reviewer Michael Holleran wrote. "The book takes a socio-technical view in which community process comes first and the artifacts of water delivery are its products and tools."

Lamadrid and Rivera were inspired to collaborate on this project after attending the Tribunal de las Aguas of Valencia celebration in Spain in 2014. Twenty-two New Mexican delegates were invited to one of the Water Court sessions to honor the New Mexico Acequia Association with a Medal of Honor in its defense of acequia water rights and preservation of the culture.

"This award and our attendance at the Water Court session, placed New Mexico and our heritage on a world stage," said Rivera. "This book was a way for us to share this experience and story with New Mexicans back home."

When they returned, Lamadrid collected some of the Valencia presentations for a special issue of New Mexico's Green Fire Times. In 2020 UNM Press asked Lamadrid and Rivera to expand it into an anthology of 25 essays from communities worldwide that highlight acequia culture, including northern Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Spain, the Middle East, Nepal and the Philippines. The inclusion of these global stories alongside New Mexico's, places the state's acequia heritage and its inherently sustainable design within a broader context, highlighting its value and meaning.

Acequias are a traditional water management system that has roots in Spanish and Indigenous traditions. These systems rely on community cooperation to thrive. They are more than just irrigation canals; they are a way of life for the communities that maintain them, from annual ditch cleanings or "la limpia, to "water is life" rituals.

Lamadrid shared that "most of the world's water is owned by corporations and nations who dictate its use, sometimes with little regard for the people. In a few places of the world, like New Mexico, people still have a say in how their most important resource is managed."

Their goal was to share the stories with the New Mexico public in an informative, but informal way, making it more of a conversation with a knowledgeable friend. In this light, there are very few scholarly footnotes. The editors wanted their readers to appreciate their storytelling abilities. Who they really hope to reach is New Mexico's youth, as they learn about New Mexico's own "Water Defenders" and the rich history and resilience of "Las Acequias."

For more information about Water for the People, visit UNM Press.