Reuben Morris, the ditch boss, who might be called a mayordomo elsewhere, has been on the job 21 years. He knows which gates to flip to regulate exactly where the water goes. The farmers have irrigation water from approximately April 1 to the end of September, depending on the weather. The Village gets the first 15 percent and then does its own purification, reports Camille Cunningham, bookkeeper for the group. Water Sometimes Gets Center Stage.
Water is also of concern on the national level.
About a year ago, a live television broadcast arranged through the National League included a panel of experts to answer questions which were phoned in from around the country. Then participation took place at the state, and finally, the local levels. Protection of water and equitable use of water were discussed. The program created much awareness about water problems, reported Mary Thompson, who chaired the League's water study committee then. Las Cruces had the most participation of any place in the state, she noted, and the study later resulted in a forum about wellhead protection.