Russell Droke, the mayordomo of Pacheco Community Ditch in Taos, is engaged in an "ongoing water allocation dispute."

It's not with an acequia parciante or a Texan — rather, Droke is talking about beavers, drawn to the area of by the lush Rio Fernando.

Droke has respect for the 45-pound rodents, which he said have helped create habitats for migratory birds in the riparian area, raise the water table and slow the flow of water. In that way, users of the Pacheco Community Ditch and beavers are on the same page: the critters have a similar impact on hydrology that an acequia does.

"We have the same goal in mind, which is to keep the water table recharged and extend the riparian zones, which is effectively what acequias do," Droke said.

It's the season of the beaver in New Mexico. More

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