Acequias and Drains
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Jan 05, 2026 01:21 PM
Acequias and Drains
An acequia is a community-based system of irrigation and water governance used for centuries in the southwestern US.
The word acequia describes the system of ditches, dams and water gates used to manage irrigation water. It also refers to the community of farmers that cooperatively maintain the ditch and share water through custom and tradition.
Acequias formed the basis for settlement of New Mexico’s indigenous communities between two and four hundred years ago and continue to be vital to the cultural and economic survival of many traditional communities.
NM Acequia Association website
NM Acequia Commission website
