Water Laws Crash Course: The History of Acequia

Since the dawn of agriculture on this planet, humans have been finding ways to get water to their crops.  Creative solutions in what is now the Southwestern United States have harnessed the waters of the Rio Grande and other areas rivers to bring water to the once parched soils of this arid region.  But when many people need these limited resources, the need for complex water laws and systems becomes apparent.  This primer of water law in the Southwest since 1573 shows the systems of Acequia that became codified after the Spanish came to the North American continent.  Enjoy some history this holiday season and read up on how the Southwest waters their food crops.