On Saturday, April 12, families and neighbors came together to clean the acequias (irrigation canals), just like their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents did many years ago. The acequias carry water from the mountains to area farms and gardens in the community. This work is a tradition, and it helps everyone in the community grow food, flowers, and tend to their livestock. This was only one of the several cleaning days held in Questa through April into May.
Every spring, the parciantes—people who use the water from the acequias—gather to clean out the ditches. They pull out leaves, branches, and dirt that had built up over the winter. It’s hard work, but it’s also a time for people to laugh, share stories, and help one another. This year, the sun was shining, and the sound of shovels and rakes filled the air as everyone worked side by side.
But this year is different. Northern New Mexico is navigating a severely bad drought. That means there hasn’t been much rain or snow, and the rivers and streams are much lower than normal. The snowpack in the mountains, which usually melts and fills the acequias with water, is very small this year. Without enough snow to melt, there won’t be enough water for a full irrigation season.
Larry Cisneros, the mayordomo of the Cabresto Irrigation Ditch Association, explained the situation. “We’re going to have a shorter season this year,” he said. “We all need to work together and be smart about how we use the water.”
Larry has been helping manage the water for a year as the elected Mayordomo for the Association. He knows that when water is low, it’s important for the whole community to share and use it carefully. That means making sure no water is wasted, and that it reaches as many parciantes as possible.
Some families may only get to water their fields once or twice this year. That makes it harder to grow crops like hay, corn, and peas. It also affects the animals that rely on the grass in the fields. But even with less water, this community is strong and willing to help one another.
The parciantes are planning to take turns using the water and are thinking of ways to save it, like fixing leaks in the ditches and planting crops that don’t need as much water. These steps will help everyone get through the dry season.
Even though the drought is tough, the people of Questa are tougher. The tradition of cleaning the acequias continues, and the spirit of working together lives on. As Larry says, “When we take care of the water, the water takes care of us.”
In times like these, it’s more important than ever to honor the old ways, help our neighbors, and protect the land and water that support us all.
