The Art of Generosity is a storytelling series made possible through underwriting by the Santa Fe Community Foundation. Each feature shines a light on a local nonprofit shaping the cultural, social, and economic fabric of our region. By elevating these stories, the Foundation furthers its role in connecting people with the organizations and causes that help our shared home thrive.
The New Mexico Acequia Association (NMAA), led by long-time Executive Director Paula Garcia, dedicates its 17 staff, hundreds of volunteers, and budget of approximately $2 million to protecting water rights, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting sustainable land and water practices across New Mexico. Relying on donations, foundation grants, federal funding, state contracts, and membership dues from around 300 acequias, NMAA’s programs include direct technical assistance to the mayordomos and local communities who manage local, traditional irrigation waterways known as acequias, advocate for favorable water policy, provide legal assistance, and coordinate youth education initiatives like the Acequia Culture Youth Leadership Institute and the Sembrando Semillas farm apprenticeship.
Inside the Work of the New Mexico Acequia Association
After the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in 2022 and subsequent flooding that damaged more than 80 acequias across 60 square miles in a dozen watersheds, the NMAA focused on disaster recovery and restoring the health of local watersheds.
Of the group’s work with local communities whose farmers rely on centuries-old acequia systems to bring life-giving water to families, farmers and villages throughout the state, Garcia says “Our work around land and water is a way to honor our land-based culture and ensure future generations can thrive.”
Garcia’s personal journey is rooted in her upbringing on a 100-acre ranch in Mora, where she developed a deep love for land, water, and justice. Over her almost 30 years at the helm, she’s most proud of the fact that because of the collective advocacy she and the organization’s members have done, acequias are respected and appreciated and recognized as an important force in the communities. The NMAA’s efforts have resulted in hundreds of legal reforms, including recognition of acequia water rights and infrastructure funding, which in turn strengthens community self-determination.
She reflects, “Community-based agriculture and watershed restoration are acts of hope and vision, and signal that acequias are not just historical relics but are shaping our future.”
Story by Kelly Koepke
Photos Courtesy of New Mexico Acequia Association (NMAA)
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