Acequias have delivered water — and life — for generations in Northern New Mexico. And caring for them has been a community tradition for residents of all ages.
David Ortega and John Trujillo in 1989 at the dam that feeds the Chimayó acequia, which was dug in 1706.
New Mexican archive photo
Robert Moya at the Acequia Madre in 1988.
New Mexican archive photo
Volunteers help clean the Acequia Madre in 1984.
New Mexican archive photo
Peter Lambert, left, and his brother Chris walk across the Acequia Madre near Ashbaugh Park in 1988.
New Mexican archive photo
Volunteers work on cleaning the Acequia Madre in 1989.
New Mexican archive photo
Kids help remove debris from the Acequia Madre in an undated photo.
New Mexican archive photo
Volunteers Ellyn Feldman and Brian Drypolcher helped clean the Acequia Madre in 2005.
New Mexican archive photo
Residents of La Cienega participate in the annual cleaning of the Acequias La Cienega in 2004.Â
New Mexican archive photo
Wildlife biologist Lauren Mabry helps students from United World College clean San Miguel County's La Fragua de Puertocito y Saiz Acequia in 2006.
New Mexican archive photo
Certified organic farmer Loretta Sandoval pulls weeds at one of the acequias near her fields in Northern New Mexico in 2011.Â
New Mexican archive photo
Jake Roybal, mayordomo of the acequia in El Rancho, opens a gate at the irrigation ditch in 2016.Â
New Mexican archive photo
The annual cleaning of ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe's Acequia Madre in 2010.
New Mexican archive photo
Old mill on the Acequia Madre above Manhattan Street, circa 1920-30.
William H. Roberts/Courtesy of the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives (NMHM/DCA) Negative No. 149931
Acequia Madre at Canyon Road, circa 1925.
T. Harmon Parkhurst/Courtesy of the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives (NMHM/DCA), Negative No. 014107
