Acequia Conservation

Taos Soil & Water Conservation District

Acequia Conservation Programs

Taos SWCD has a long history of assisting local acequia associations and parciantes with irrigation improvement projects. In fact, acequia projects account for approximately two-thirds of all assistance requests received by the District. Taos SWCD utilizes experienced staff and consultants as well as state of the art technology to enhance the design and inspection departments contained within its Acequia Construction Cost-Share Program. Nuestra Agua…Nuestra Vida!

Compuerta Installation with Manuel and Martin

Taos SWCD has a long history of assisting local acequia associations and parciantes with irrigation improvement projects. In this short video, field technicians Manuel and Martin showcase some of their recent projects and explain the two different types of acequia cost share applications.

Group Acequia Program

This program is for officially recognized acequia entities located within Taos County only. Please read the information about how the Group Acequia Program works prior to filling out an application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted so please do not submit an application that does not include all of the required information

Information

Information about how the Group Acequia Program works can be found by clicking here

Application

Please click here for the Group Acequia Program Application

Individual Acequia Program

This program is for individual landowners who both own land within Taos County AND are actively using that land for agricultural purposes. Please read the information about how the individual Acequia Program works prior to filling out an application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted so please do not submit an application that does not include all of the required information.

Information

Information about how the Individual Acequia Program works can be found by clicking here

Application

Please click here for the Individual Acequia Program Application

Construction Access Easement

Application

Please click here for the Construction Access Easement Form Application

Acequias: The Legacy Lives

Written and directed by Aracely “Arcie” Chapa.

Acequias: The Legacy Lives On is a visually stunning documentary film about New Mexico’s enduring acequias as seen through the eyes of farmers, advocates, scholars, practitioners, and members of the community. In January of 2023, award-winning filmmaker, Aracely “Arcie” Chapa, began presenting her emotional and reverential tribute to acequias’ past, present, and future. The film unfolds through a series of storylines including the acequias’ current challenges, such as climate change and water rights transfers, their important role in the development of local food sheds, and the economic opportunity they provide for members of rural communities.

This film was funded by the Center for Regional Studies (CRS) at the University of New Mexico. Each year, the New Mexico State Legislature appropriates funding for CRS to accomplish its goals by creating, disseminating, and promoting new sources of knowledge about New Mexico and the Southwest through its mainstay initiatives. For more information, go to crsinfo.unm.edu.