Acequia Madre

The Acequia Madre is an irrigation canal running through Santa Fe from a reservoir and lined with stone along its path. The waterway is shallow, roughly 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 m) deep, and shaded by tall cottonwood trees that grow along its banks.

Spanish settlers built this water system before 1610, bringing irrigation techniques and water management methods from their homeland to this region. The system has remained in continuous use and operation for more than 4 centuries, making it one of the oldest of its kind in the United States.

The canal's Spanish names and terms are still used by residents today to identify different sections and water rights along its path. This shared language keeps the connection to the community's past alive and shows how water management is woven into local identity.

The canal is most active during spring months when residents perform maintenance and distribute water to adjacent properties. Visitors can walk along the waterway, but should be aware that the water is in use for irrigation and some areas may be actively managed during this season.

Properties along the canal were historically divided into long, narrow parcels so that each owner could have equal access to water. This division system was an early form of fair resource distribution that ensured every neighbor had a stake in the water supply.