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Acequia Assistance Project student attorneys, along with MENV policy students, went to the San Luis Valley this month to attend the 12th annual Congreso de Acequias. While there, students met with their clients, experienced the local culture, and learned about the generational traditions of ranching and farming in the Valley. This visit allowed students to connect more deeply with the community and gain hands-on legal experience.

The trip to the Valley began on Friday afternoon with client meetings, where students met one-on-one with their clients regarding a variety of issues, such as bylaws and incorporations for acequias. These conversations grounded students' work in real relationships, offering a deeper understanding of the legal questions at hand. The team then rounded out the evening at the infamous Mrs. Rios for a Mexican/Thai dinner. This year, the group was joined by activist Shirley Romero Otero for an engaging dinner speech about the history of the Valley and the ongoing issues the Valley is facing.

Before the start of Congreso de Acequias at the local school, students went on a ditch and farm tour with local fifth-generation farmer, Aquino “Jerry” Gellegos. Students walked the People Ditch, Colorado's oldest continuously used ditch, with court decree priority number one from 1852, while Jerry shared the ditch’s importance to the community. Students then visited Jerry's cattle operation and met the cute new calves.

The main event, Congreso de Acequias, is an annual full-day conference that centers local voices, issues, and plans for the future. The event began with a bendición de las aguas – the blessing of the water – where water from each acequia in attendance was combined and blessed by a priest. The water was then poured into small jars and distributed to the community.The ceremony set the tone for the day, that water is not just as a resource, but something communal, cultural, and deeply relational.

The first presentation was from the Division of Water Resources, which examined the forecasted flows in the area. This bleak forecast was followed by a cautionary presentation from Gerald Romero, who shared about surviving and rebuilding in the aftermath of the Hermit Peak Calf Canyon fire in northern New Mexico. Drawing parallels to the San Luis Valley, he offered both warning and guidance, emphasizing preparation, resilience, and community response in the face of increasing fire risk.
These stimulating presentations were followed by Acequia Assistance Project Director Gregor MacGregor’s invitation to community members in need of legal assistance to fill out a program intake form. The annual student art contest then presented awards to students from kindergarten to high school for the art they made representing water and the community. A delicious lunch, entirely composed of locally sourced food, followed.

The afternoon began with a discussion of beavers. While an integral part of the landscape and providing many watershed benefits, beavers have also been a thorn in the side of many irrigators in the Valley. A variety of solutions, “beaver deceivers,” have been created to promote coexistence between irrigators and beavers, such as culvert protectors and tree wrapping. Attendees then headed out to the field for a demonstration on two methods for improving soil health, no-till and fungal-rich compost.

Throughout the weekend, students took this opportunity to learn, listen, and build relationships with the community. These experiences will shape how they approach their clients and understand the broader significance of their work. The Acequia Assistance Project is grateful to all the community members who provided such a warm welcome to the students this year. Students are already looking forward to their next trip to the Valley!