ABSTRACT
Humans largely control the flow of water in New Mexico. As discussed elsewhere in this book, nearly all major rivers are dammed, with countless irrigation districts and numerous municipalities diverting water to maximize human use. Water resources are fully allocated and water use is strictly enforced. Pressures continue to mount as efforts to adjudicate river systems continue. This current legal and water management framework was not built to protect threatened and endangered species, which represent relatively new and potentially significant players in the competition for limited water resources in New Mexico.
