Historic Flume Repairs Secure Water Access for Questa Families

Over 260 families in Questa rely on a historic wooden flume—a specially shaped channel designed to control and measure the flow of water—to irrigate their gardens, livestock, and wells. Originally built during World War II, the flume was constructed to support the community’s acequia system, but decades without proper maintenance left it deteriorating and leaking.

In irrigation systems, flumes are critical tools for managing water: by constricting the flow, they create measurable changes in water level or velocity that help determine flow rates—essential for allocating water rights and ensuring fair distribution. When leaders of the Citizens Ditch Association saw how the failing flume threatened both access to water and traditional agricultural practices, they developed a plan to modernize the system while preserving its function.

With funding from LOR, the association hired contractors and purchased materials to replace the aging wooden structure with a modern piped system and concrete improvements. These upgrades will ensure reliable water delivery for local parciantes while protecting the acequia system that connects Questa families to their land and cultural heritage.