Acequias Irrigation System, New Mexico

USACE-Albuquerque District
Published May 4, 2012
ACEQUIAS IRRIGATION SYSTEM, N.M-- Map

ACEQUIAS IRRIGATION SYSTEM, N.M-- Map

ACEQUIAS IRRIGATION SYSTEM, N.M- The completed La Joya Headgate

ACEQUIAS IRRIGATION SYSTEM, N.M- The completed La Joya Headgate

AUTHORIZATION:  WRDA 1986, Section 1113 and WRDA 1996, Section 334

 

TYPE OF PROJECT:  Water supply/Environmental infrastructure

 

PROJECT PHASE:   Construction

 

NON-FEDERAL SPONSOR:    State of New Mexico

 

BACKGROUND:   The community irrigation ditch systems in New Mexico known as acequias provide irrigation water to about 160,000 acres on an estimated 12,000 farms and date from the eighteenth century. There are approximately one thousand acequias throughout the state which provide irrigation to about 160,000 acres on approximately 12,000 small family sustenance farms. In 1986, Congress declared in the Water Resources Development Act that restoration and preservation of these early engineering works, which have significance in the settlement and development of the western United States, has cultural and historic value to the region.

 

STATUS:   The program was unbudgeted in Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013. It received funding in Fiscal Years 2014, 2015 and 2016.