February22_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Photos - This is the life blood of the San Agustin, San Sabastian and Vista Hermosa villages. The El Rio river is tapped with a three foot wide canal higher up in the El Rio Valley and directed into these cement lined holding tanks (frame left) just as they have been for many generations. Each of the 8 cubes of water you see here in the photos are drained into minor canals which lead to various portions of the villages so that the farmers can divert the water for their crops. It happens like clock work, every day, a different section gets their allotted water. These small tanks are filled from the main reservoir (frame right) That's Picacho Mountain reflecting in the reservoir looking like a huge pyramid in the background. The portion of village you also see in background is part of Vista Hermosa. On the shoulder of the hill at the base of the mountain a dirt road leads back into the El Rio Valley which used to be the supply road the power station and dam. About fifty years ago there was a textile mill there that supplied the area with full time work. Center frame shows one of the many gates that allows water to flow from the small water cubicles to the minor canals for the daily water rations.

Photos - Details of the main reservoir at Vista Hermosa village - I ask myself about the adobe houses situated at the reservoir edge: Do these folks use an outhouse? Or do they have indoor plumbing? How does that effect the water reserve?

Photos - The small footbridge shown in frames right and left marks the end of the water canal that winds itself along the El Rio Valley at a relaxed rate to slowly pour into the reservoir. The reservoir and the canals are a remarkable engineering accomplishment that has been in operation for hundreds of years.

Click here for more photos of San Agustin Etla for this day.