SAN LUIS — The Sangre de Cristo Acequia Association (SdCAA) recently announced it is hosting the 11th annual Congreso de Acequias on Saturday, March 11, at Centennial School in San Luis.

Congreso is a gathering of acequias and community members from across the San Luis Valley and beyond.

“We gather to honor our culture, share knowledge, and plan for our future. We celebrate the people who keep our acequias flowing and the deep connection to land, family, and community,” SdCAA officials stated.

This community event will include workshops relevant to acequia users and flood irrigators, as well as food, music, door prizes, and the bendición de las aguas. Workshop topics include talks on how to preserve and improve the health of your soil, opportunities to enhance acequia infrastructure and wildlife habitat, and how to legally protect your water rights.

Congreso is free and open to all. Registration opens at 8:15 a.m. along with coffee and pastries, and the main event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This event is possible due to donations from the Costilla County Conservancy District, the Trinchera-Blanca Foundation, the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

For more information, contact the SdCAA at [email protected], 719-298-6731 or visit the website at www.coloradoacequias.com.