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{{Short description|Historic aqueduct in San Antonio, Texas}}
⚫ The '''Espada Acequia''' or Piedras Creek Aqueduct was built by ] friars in ] in what is now ]. It was built to supply ] water to the lands near ], today part of ]. The acequia is still in use today and is an ].
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Espada Aqueduct
| nrhp_type = nhl
| nrhp_type2 = cp
| nocat = yes
| image = Espada Acequia.JPG
| caption = The Espada aqueduct as it crosses Piedras Creek.
| location = Espada Rd., E of U.S. 281S
| nearest_city = ]<br>United States
| coordinates = {{coord|29|18|16.4|N|98|28|10|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Texas#USA
| area =
| built = {{start date|1731}}<ref name=nris/>
| architect =
| architecture =
| designated_nrhp_type = July 19, 1964<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=618&ResourceType=Structure|title=Espada Aqueduct|accessdate=2008-06-26|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012050957/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=618&ResourceType=Structure|archivedate=2009-10-12}}</ref>
| added = October 15, 1966<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>
| designated_nrhp_type2 = October 6, 1975<ref></ref>
| partof_refnum = 78003147
| partof = ]
| refnum = 66000809
}}


⚫ The '''Espada Acequia''', or '''Piedras Creek Aqueduct''', was built by ] friars in 1731 in what is now ], United States. It was built to supply ] water to the lands near ], today part of ]. The ] is still in use today and is an ] and a ].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=S.A.'s Acequia System Gets Landmark Tag by Engineering Society |work=San Antonio Express |date=August 27, 1968 |page=26}}</ref>
⚫ ]
⚫ ]


==Irrigation system==
{{US-struct-stub}}

Mission Espada's ''acequia'' (irrigation) system can still be seen today. The main ], or ''acequia madre'', continues to carry water to the mission and its former ]s. This water is still used by residents living on these neighboring lands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davila |first=Vianna |date=2009-10-06 |title=Spanish-era aqueduct finally gets a face-lift |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/spanish-era-aqueduct-finally-gets-a-face-lift-1734943.php |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Chron |language=en-US}}</ref>

The initial survival of a new mission depended upon the planting and harvesting of ]. In south central Texas, intermittent ] and the need for a reliable water source made the design and installation of an acequia system a high priority. Irrigation was so important to ] ] settlers that they measured cropland in ''suertes'' -the amount of land that could be watered in one day.

The use of acequias was originally brought to the arid regions of Spain by the ] and the ]. When Franciscan missionaries arrived in the desert ] they found the system worked well in the hot, dry environment. In some areas, like New Mexico, it blended in easily with the irrigation system already in use by the ] ].

In order to distribute water to the missions along the ], Franciscan missionaries oversaw the construction of seven gravity-flow ditches, ]s, and at least one ]—a {{convert|15|mi|km|adj=on}} network that irrigated approximately {{convert|3500|acre|km2}} of land. The acequia not only conducted potable water and irrigation, but also powered a mill.

Mission Espada has survived from its beginnings to the present day as a community center that still supports a Catholic parish and religious education, however a school originally opened by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament was closed in 1967.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Espada Acequia}}
*{{HABS |survey=TX-322 |id=tx0918 |title=Aqueduct, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX |photos=5 |data=2}}
*{{HAER |survey=TX-1-A |id=tx0014 |title=Espada Acequia, Piedras Creek Aqueduct, Spanning Piedras Creek east of Espada Road, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX |photos=3 |dwgs=1 |cap=1}}
*{{HAER |survey=TX-1-B |id=tx0217 |title=Espada Acequia, Diversion Dam |photos=1 |dwgs=1 |cap=1 |link=no}}

{{National Register of Historic Places in Texas}}
{{San Antonio Conservation Society}}

{{authority control}}

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Latest revision as of 04:11, 1 October 2024

Historic aqueduct in San Antonio, Texas

United States historic place
Espada Aqueduct
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
The Espada aqueduct as it crosses Piedras Creek.
Espada Acequia is located in TexasEspada AcequiaShow map of TexasEspada Acequia is located in the United StatesEspada AcequiaShow map of the United States
LocationEspada Rd., E of U.S. 281S
Nearest citySan Antonio, Texas
United States
Coordinates29°18′16.4″N 98°28′10″W / 29.304556°N 98.46944°W / 29.304556; -98.46944
Built1731 (1731)
Part ofSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park (ID78003147)
NRHP reference No.66000809
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966
Designated NHLJuly 19, 1964
Designated CPOctober 6, 1975

The Espada Acequia, or Piedras Creek Aqueduct, was built by Franciscan friars in 1731 in what is now San Antonio, Texas, United States. It was built to supply irrigation water to the lands near Mission San Francisco de la Espada, today part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The acequia is still in use today and is an National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.

Irrigation system

Mission Espada's acequia (irrigation) system can still be seen today. The main ditch, or acequia madre, continues to carry water to the mission and its former farmlands. This water is still used by residents living on these neighboring lands.

The initial survival of a new mission depended upon the planting and harvesting of crops. In south central Texas, intermittent rainfall and the need for a reliable water source made the design and installation of an acequia system a high priority. Irrigation was so important to Spanish colonial settlers that they measured cropland in suertes -the amount of land that could be watered in one day.

The use of acequias was originally brought to the arid regions of Spain by the Romans and the Moors. When Franciscan missionaries arrived in the desert Southwest they found the system worked well in the hot, dry environment. In some areas, like New Mexico, it blended in easily with the irrigation system already in use by the Puebloan Native Americans.

In order to distribute water to the missions along the San Antonio River, Franciscan missionaries oversaw the construction of seven gravity-flow ditches, dams, and at least one aqueduct—a 15-mile (24 km) network that irrigated approximately 3,500 acres (14 km) of land. The acequia not only conducted potable water and irrigation, but also powered a mill.

Mission Espada has survived from its beginnings to the present day as a community center that still supports a Catholic parish and religious education, however a school originally opened by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament was closed in 1967.

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. "Espada Aqueduct". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
  3. Texas Historic Atlas
  4. "S.A.'s Acequia System Gets Landmark Tag by Engineering Society". San Antonio Express. August 27, 1968. p. 26.
  5. Davila, Vianna (October 6, 2009). "Spanish-era aqueduct finally gets a face-lift". Chron. Retrieved March 8, 2023.

External links

National Register of Historic Places in Texas
Lists
by county

National parks
Other lists
San Antonio Conservation Society
Founders
Downtown properties
King William Historic District
La Villita
Yturri-Edmunds Historic Site
Cessioned properties
Categories: