Restoration of HSFF’s section of the Canyon Road Community Ditch to increase awareness and understanding of the historic acequia culture of water resource management in Santa Fe and throughout northern New Mexico. Courtesy/HSFF
HSFF News:’
Historic Santa Fe Foundation (HSFF) announces that its Annual Garden Party & Members Meeting will be free and open to the public this year– for the first time ever.
HSFF decided to open the event to the public as part of its El Zaguán Master Plan and Capital Campaign, which will transform El Zaguán into a center for educating the public on the importance and benefits of historic preservation.
The first phase of the master plan called for the restoration of HSFF’s section of the Canyon Road Community Ditch to increase awareness and understanding of the historic acequia culture of water resource management in Santa Fe and throughout northern New Mexico.
The next phase will continue on through 2023.
They will convert a portion of El Zaguán into a permanent exhibit placing the home in the context of the residential and agricultural beginnings of Canyon Road, rather than within the current conception of what is Canyon Road today.
About the Event:
Historic Santa Fe Foundation presents the Annual Garden Party & Members’ Meeting with guest speaker BC Rimbeaux. As Mayordomo of Acequia de Muralla, Rimbeaux is well versed in the history of acequias in New Mexico and will join them in unveiling to the public their rebuilt section of the Canyon Road Community Ditch. The talk is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 23, in the garden at El Zaguán located at 545 Canyon Road, Santa Fe. Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP required. LINK TO RSVP
About the Speaker:
BC Rimbeaux is the Mayordomo of Acequia de la Muralla, one of the last functioning acequias in Santa Fe. Rimbeaux came into his role with the acequia through his love of moving water, forests and mountains, and his appreciation for the history of a place. After Rimbeaux’s college years in the Bay Area, he moved to the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies where he spent his summers as a whitewater river guide. During those years, Rimbeaux also started, together with two college friends, what turned out to be a book publishing company called Klutz Press. In 1987 he followed his heart to Santa Fe, and after an early retirement, he and his wife moved to a property in the Santa Fe River canyon in 2007.
Rimbeaux’s home was not only near the SF River, it had the Acequia de la Muralla running through it. He began learning about the acequia and at the same time trying to rehabilitate its deteriorating headgate. Soon after, the Acequia members elected Rimbeaux their Mayordomo, which could very loosely be defined as Ditch Boss or Arbiter of Irrigation Disputes. And now Rimbeaux is going into his 14th year as Mayordomo.
Becoming a member helps HSFF preserve, protect and promote the historic properties and diverse cultural heritage of the Santa Fe area, and allows them to create educational experiences for the public on Santa Fe’s history and the importance of preservation.
For more information, contact Hanna Churchwell at hanna@historicsantafe.org
