Glossary

The glossary of terms below are to help in case you come across unfamiliar terminology in the website.


Comisión: The three-member elected commission of each acequia is responsible for certain
decisions concerning the maintenance and operation of the acequia.

Compuerta: Individual farm headgates divert water from the acequia to the fields that are owned
by individual parciantes, or irrigators, who own water rights along the acequia.

Derecho: Each parciante on the acequia has a derechoor water right attached to his or her land.
The derecho may be measured both in terms of approximate acreage and also in terms of time
or flow rate for purposes of water allocation by the mayordomo.
La Acequia: The acequia has both a physical and a social definition. The word acequia refers to
the water canal that carries irrigation water from the stream to fields and refers to the irrigation
infrastructure along the way. The word acequia also refers to the community of families who use
the acequia for irrigation. For example, one would say, “I belong to the Acequia de La Puebla.”
La Sierra: The upper watershed and source of the snowmelt that creates the flow for rivers and
streams that are diverted into the acequias through a diversion structure known as a presa.
The sierra, often under the management of the US Forest Service, is also the location of livestock
grazing permits.

Mayordomo: The mayordomo is the day-to-day caretaker of the acequia and the person who
manages the irrigation system. Acequias differ in their local customs sharing water within
the acequia and between neighboring acequias.

Parciante: Individual irrigators who own water rights are called parciantes. Each parciante owns
a derecho or a water right that is attached to his or her land.

Presa: The presa is a small impoundment, historically made of rock, brush and logs, to divert
water from the river to the acequia madre, or the mother ditch. Modern presas are usually
constructed of concrete.
Regadío: Land that is irrigated along the acequia is often referred to as regadío. Irrigated lands of
the acequias support pasture, orchards, crops and livestock.

Sacar la acequia: Each spring, the mayordomo organizes a work crew of peones (or workers) to
clean the acequia. Each parciante is required to participate in the spring cleaning by
contributing peones in proportion to the amount of derechos owned by each parciante. Currently Acequia de La Puebla
is cleaned by a hired crew and paid for by an assessment from each parciante.