Exactly one week after my last irrigation last Thursday, I was given the water again. The Mayordomo warned me that the water is running low and I replied that I am thankful that we even have water, last year at this time our acequias were dry. The water pressure in the ditch was low, took a long time to get to my house, and the water traveled really slowly down all the rows.
We have been sharing water (repartiendo agua) with the North Side Acequia which means that when we have water, we have an extra 1/3 of volume than when we are not sharing. They likewise get 2/3 of extra water volume when it is their turn. The water volumes balance out in that the North Side gets ALL the water for 1/3 of the week and the South side (and Randall Ditch) get all the water for 2/3 of the week. Well, the Mayordomo from the North side called our Mayordomo and informed him that this coming Monday the water sharing agreement will end and we will just allow 2/3 of the water to come to our side until the water runs out while the North side will take their 1/3 from here on out. This means that come next week, we will have 1/3 less volume of water in our ditch in addition to what just naturally diminishes over time. I will not be able to irrigate with such a low volume of water. I may be able to use a sprinkler pump to get the water out of the ditch and to some of my trees, but I would have to say that this is it, the irrigation season is over…
Now it will be time to be especially hopeful for rain and to cultivate the soil around the plants using a hoe to aerate the soil environment and support the plants. As my father-in-law says “Es mas importante escardar y arrimar la tierra que regar.” (It is more important to cultivate your soil and pile earth around your plants than it is to irrigate).
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