Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District records
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0252
Scope and Content
The records of the Middle Rio Grande Historical District are divided here into four series: Minutes, Survey, Photographs, and Videotape. The minutes begin with the first meeting held on August 27, 1925 and contain an official record of the government of the district through January 17, 1952. A typewritten report outlines the results of a 1940 survey of economic conditions found in the "...non-Indian rural portion of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District." Photographs show canal construction and other subjects. A 30 minute program on video tape presents the history of the district.
Dates
- 1925-ca. 1985
- 1925-ca. 1985
- Majority of material found in 1925-1952
Language of Materials
English
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.
Copy Restrictions
The copyrights possessed in this collection have not been transferred to New Mexico State University.
Historical Sketch
There is evidence that the Middle Rio Grande was irrigated in prehistoric times. Agricultural communities diverted water from the river and continued to irrigate their lands during the Spanish, Mexican, and Territorial periods. By the end of the nineteenth century silting and aggravation of the river bed caused serious drainage problems which led to the deterioration of irrigated lands.
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District was established in 1925 as a political subdivision of the state under the Conservancy Act of 1923. Its purpose is to provide and maintain river control and flood protection, improve drainage of seeped areas, furnish water storage, apply supplemental water for irrigation needs, and construct and maintain distribution facilities for irrigation waters. The geographic area served is from Cochiti in the north to San Marcial in the south and includes portions of Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, and Socorro counties. The Indian pueblos of Cochiti, Santa Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia, and Isleta are within the district. When the district was formed, there were 128,787 acres of irrigable land; by 1980, this figure was about 123,000 acres. The district originally was governed by a three member board of directors; the board since has been increased to five members.
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District was established in 1925 as a political subdivision of the state under the Conservancy Act of 1923. Its purpose is to provide and maintain river control and flood protection, improve drainage of seeped areas, furnish water storage, apply supplemental water for irrigation needs, and construct and maintain distribution facilities for irrigation waters. The geographic area served is from Cochiti in the north to San Marcial in the south and includes portions of Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, and Socorro counties. The Indian pueblos of Cochiti, Santa Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia, and Isleta are within the district. When the district was formed, there were 128,787 acres of irrigable land; by 1980, this figure was about 123,000 acres. The district originally was governed by a three member board of directors; the board since has been increased to five members.
Extent
5 linear inches, 4 reels 35 mm microfilm (15 volumes).
Abstract
Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District serves portions of Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, and Socorro Counties. Records include official minutes from 1925 to1952, a 1940 economic survey, photographs from the 1930s-1940s and a videotaped documentary from the 1980s.
Acquisition
- RG85-39 Wm. Reese Co.
- RG86-58 Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District
- RG97-175 Anabel Gallegos, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District
General
Contact Information
- Archives and Special Collections
- New Mexico State University Library
- P.O. Box 30006
- Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8006
- Phone: (575) 646-3839
- Fax: (575) 646-7477
- Email: archives@nmsu.edu
- URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/
General
Processing Information
Marah deMeule and Christine Moreland-Bruhnke, Dennis Daily.
Updated by Cassie McClure, November 2005.
Re-arranged and revised by Charles Stanford, July 2007.
Updated by Cassie McClure, November 2005.
Re-arranged and revised by Charles Stanford, July 2007.
- Ditches -- New Mexico -- History -- Photographs.
- Flood control -- New Mexico
- Irrigation -- New Mexico
- Irrigation canals and flumes -- New Mexico -- History -- Photographs.
- Rio Grande -- History -- Photographs.
- Rio Grande -- Regulation
- Water -- Distribution
- Water -- Law and legislation
- Water rights -- New Mexico
- Water supply, Agricultural -- New Mexico -- Bernalillo County
- Water supply, Agricultural -- New Mexico -- Sandoval County
- Water supply, Agricultural -- New Mexico -- Socorro County
- Water supply, Agricultural -- New Mexico -- Valencia County
- Water-storage -- New Mexico
- Title
- Guide to the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District records, 1925-ca. 1985
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Revised by Marah deMeule and Christine Moreland-Bruhnke, and by Charles Stanford
- Date
- © 2008
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository