Learn from NM watershed advocates how riparian, wetland and upland forest/landscape restoration improve overall watershed function. Natural water shortage is an indicators of overall watershed functionality with important implications for human water use. In our time of increasing aridification watershed restoration is a key element in statewide water management and use. Healthy watersheds are critical not only for clean water for human consumption but also provide essential habitat for wildlife by creating a diverse ecosystem.
Effective democratic governance of New Mexico's water resources requires more than good intentions — it requires shared vocabulary. Drawing on Elinor Ostrom's Governing the Commons and subsequent scholarship, this essay clarifies what water advocates mean by institutions, collective action, and polycentric governance, and why getting these concepts right matters for building durable, self-governing arrangements across […]