Acequias
Los Ranchos and the North Valley were historically agricultural settlements. By 1920, however, much land was out of production because of recurrent flooding and poor drainage. In response to this problem, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District was formed in the 1930's from acequia associations to implement drainage and flood control improvements in the area. A vast system of levees, ditches, laterals, drains and canals was created. Besides improving the situation for agriculture, this opened the area to increased development.
Those same ditches (acequias) and canals are used for irrigation today and also provide opportunities for recreation. For more information on our acequias and the very interesting lot configuration found in the Valley called lineas, see our History.