Next steps...Active Water Resource Management (rules)

One of my next priorities is to understand the more recent OSE strategy of Active Water Resource Management. This is an attempt to accelerate water management, whether the basin is fully adjudicated (such as the Mimbres Valley), or unadjudicated (Rio Gallinas). Now, if only I could get a hold of someone in each area. What this amounts to, in the best-case scenario, is appointing a "mayordomo" for mayordomos, a Water Master for each basin to negotiate water use.

The sarcastic side of me wants to think of it as "Insert mid-management Pharaoh here (   )" -- The worst-case scenario means that AWRM will break traditional management and authority roles, especially that of mayordomo, along ditches that have pretty much well managed their affairs without this form of governmentality. Are we witnessing the latest incarnation of the "rule of experts" as Timothy Mitchell might put it? As part of this effort, the OSE is installing water meters and flumes for measurement along acequias and the major stream channels, such as the one feature in this photo. And in the Mimbres, adding insult to injuries, senior water rights holders are now making priority calls on junior water rights...to the consternation of the latter.
I tracked down an old NPR story by Fine, regarding how local irrigators feel about AWRM, from the Mimbres and find it still relevant. It's time for some road-trips, soon.