Taos in Taos County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Acequia Crossings

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, October 22, 2023

1. Acequia Crossings Marker

Inscription.

Acequia Crossings. .

Design: Juanita Lavadie , Concept and Installation: The Paseo Project

, In the fall of 2020, The Paseo Project collaborated with Juanita Lavadie to explore the possible ways that the historical networks of the Acequia Madre del Río Pueblo could be represented on the paved surfaces of downtown Taos. Conceived as 'Acequia Crossings', Lavadie created a series of stencil designs to educate and remind locals and visitors of the disappearing acequias., Acequias are centuries old community-operated water channels used for agricultural irrigation. It is a word that conveys both the physical irrigation ditch and the community that shares and maintains the water that runs through it. Pronounced 'As-SAY-kee-ah, The word derives from the Arabic term, As-Saquiya, it's root "saqa" meaning to irrigate. The approach to the design was to connect to the liquid feeling of water and of water currents. To represent acequias, there are three key elements: water, human interaction with water, and agriculture., Water: , The idea of the design was to depict the flow of water. The water stencil imitates the random course of water flow within the confines of the land banks that flank the acequia., Shovel: , This is how the farmer and acequia parciante manages the water, with the shovel. It is as basic and simple as it gets. With all the complexities of knowing the land, the seasons, the water -the acequia parciante needs and flow and with cooperative work with the community shares the water to prosper and thrive., Seeds: , The three stages are depicted together in a row. They represent the most time-consuming and laborious aspect of being acequia parciantes. The garden, the field of crops, the livestock, and the family members who depend on the harvest are all reliant on the work with land, water, and seed. Once the seeds sprout, the constant care and work is needed with thriving plants all the days, weeks, and months into cosecha (harvest)., Learn more about acequias and acequia culture: www.taosacequias.org

Design: Juanita Lavadie
Concept & Installation: The Paseo Project

In the fall of 2020, The Paseo Project collaborated with Juanita Lavadie to explore the possible ways that the historical networks of the Acequia Madre del Río Pueblo could be represented on the paved surfaces of downtown Taos. Conceived as 'Acequia Crossings', Lavadie created a series of stencil designs to educate and remind locals and visitors of the disappearing acequias.

Acequias are centuries old community-operated water channels used for agricultural irrigation. It is a word that conveys both the physical irrigation ditch and the community that shares and maintains the water that runs through it. Pronounced 'As-SAY-kee-ah, The word derives from the Arabic term, As-Saquiya, it's root "saqa" meaning to irrigate. The approach to the design was to connect to the liquid feeling of water and of water currents. To represent acequias, there are three key elements: water, human interaction with water, and agriculture.

Water:
The idea of the design was to depict the flow of water. The water stencil imitates the random course of water flow within

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the confines of the land banks that flank the acequia.

Shovel:
This is how the farmer and acequia parciante manages the water, with the shovel. It is as basic and simple as it gets. With all the complexities of knowing the land, the seasons, the water -the acequia parciante needs and flow and with cooperative work with the community shares the water to prosper and thrive.

Seeds:
The three stages are depicted together in a row. They represent the most time-consuming and laborious aspect of being acequia parciantes. The garden, the field of crops, the livestock, and the family members who depend on the harvest are all reliant on the work with land, water, and seed. Once the seeds sprout, the constant care and work is needed with thriving plants all the days, weeks, and months into cosecha (harvest).

Learn more about acequias and acequia culture: www.taosacequias.org

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Hispanic Americans • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 2020.

Location. 36° 24.497′ N, 105° 34.424′ W. Marker is in Taos, New Mexico,

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, October 22, 2023

2. Acequia Crossings Marker

in Taos County. It is at the intersection of John Dunn Way and Bent Street, on the left when traveling north on John Dunn Way. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 Bent St, Taos NM 87571, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest

and in the Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Governor Bent House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Alley Cantina (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Casa Espinoza (about 400 feet away); Historic Taos Plaza (about 400 feet away); Don Fernando de Taos Plaza (about 400 feet away); Historic Taos (about 400 feet away); Don Fernando de Taos (about 400 feet away); Old Taos County Courthouse (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Taos.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2023, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 177 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 18, 2023, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.