When we think of water in the West, we think of conflict and crisis. Recently newspapers have again featured scary headlines about our loss of water rights in the Texas suit against New Mexico and Mexico’s alleged plundering of a cross-border aquifer to serve Juarez.
Having covered environmental issues in the West for a quarter century for the Albuquerque Journal, our guest, UNM Professor John Fleck does not discount the serious problems posed by dwindling water sources. However, in his recent book, Water is for Fighting Over: and Other Myths about Water in the West, he argues for a fresh take on western water by emphasizing the successful collaborations now being forged to solve our most dire water threats.
But, is it really the case that water is not worth fighting for? Please join host Stephen Spitz as we explore whether New Mexico should fight to preserve its water rights and how cooperation can sometimes yield better outcomes than litigation.
Produced with the assistance of Roman Garcia and Lynn Schibeci.
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