Sacred Water

Went to the candidates forum at the community center. Judge, trustees and mayoral candidates. All with soft Hispanic voices and most born and raised here and with sons and daughters in Iraq (clap clap clap). The over riding concern of everyone seemed to be water. I'm sure all these people are well meaning and not stupid but what a complex situation! There's the ditch water and the Ditch Committee then the town water system, some of the water being bought from the Ditch. Then there are the possible developers who say they will dig their own wells and use grey water on the proposed golf course. A golf course seems the height of insanity to me. This isn't Phoenix. Then there's the frustration of seeing the millions of gallons of water that roar down from the mountains (never since I've been here) that people would love to capture before it sinks into the desert without trace. Flash flood water would probably destroy the acequia if the water master didn't sprint up the hill to close all the gates. J talks of wetlands. The candidates look at her blankly. There is no money for sophisticated management and I'm told the Ditch doesn't qualify for some grants and loans because it is so out of compliance. Catch 22 or what?
Meanwhile tomorrow J and I will collect water from the springs in the hills that nurture this place. Some people think Cabeza de Vaca followed these springs in his wanderings around 1530. He didn't carve his name anywhere. J is accompanying a group of Hopis who are running from their home to Mexico City bringing water from the sacred springs to the water conference that is about to start. It would be nice if the mystic and spiritual and the scientific and pragmatic could get together. The how can we make money out of water men I have no hope for. Air will be next. Want to take a breath? That will be a dime. Debit or credit?